While doing a little historical research into the archives of the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), I stumbled upon a chronology of the department that outlined the beginnings of archery hunting in Missouri.

The sport so many of hunters cherish today is one that has withstood the test of time. The original concept of creating a special archery deer season was first proposed in January of 1945 by two St. Louis men.

At the time, MDC records show that 19 other states had already created special archery only deer seasons. Commissioners with MDC approved a special trial season in Crawford County in 1946, and The Show Me State’s archery season was born.

This first season was held at the end of October and lasted only three days. The trial season permit cost hunters $3. The three-day season must have been somewhat of a success as it was carried on through 1947, when it was increased to five days.

The following year, MDC moved the trial season to Taney County and expanded it to a whopping nine days. The season was also moved back further in the year to Nov. 26–Dec. 4.

By 1951 the season had survived but had been moved back to Crawford County and dropped back to only three days. Just as it appeared MDC was phasing out the season, the commission reversed course, and in 1952 approved a 16-day season in five counties.

Just one year later, MDC officials decided it was time to expand and offered the same 16 days at the end of October strictly to archery deer hunters, and the zone was increased to include 41 counties.

Things appeared to be looking up for archery hunters, and in 1954 the season was increased to include the whole month of October.

This continued for another three years until MDC Commissioners further increased the season and added the full month of November to the season. The following year it expanded more, so that archers could now hunt from Oct. 1–Dec. 15.

No significant changes were documented in Missouri’s archery season again until 1961, when MDC began allowing hunters to take one deer with a gun and one with a bow. Prior to this time only one deer could be taken by any method, forcing hunters to decide which route to pursue.

By 1966 the season was expanded to include the entire state, and several years later, archers produced a new record of 559 deer killed by a mere 15,510 hunters.

Keep in mind, up to this point, hunters weren’t using compound bows. They were using recurves and longbows. It wasn’t until November of 1970 that MDC first approved the use of compound bows for archery hunting.

The next 15 years brought little change in the way of regulations. Then, in 1975 MDC approved a fall archery season for turkeys. During its initial year, 54 turkeys were taken during the month-long season.

In 1976 the season underwent yet another change, when MDC began splitting the archery hunt into two periods to allow the firearms season to be held during the middle of November.

The last major change in Missouri’s archery season came in December of 1978 when the archery deer season and permit was combined with the archery turkey season and permit so that both ran concurrently with only one permit.

Things have come along way in the past 62 seasons. Equipment, techniques, camouflage, scouting, trail cameras and food plots all have evolved so much that our ancestors would likely not be able to grasp the changes.

With whitetail populations healthier than ever, today’s archery hunters have an excellent chance of harvesting a mature deer. In fact, last season, 44,434 total deer were taken by bow and arrow alone, this includes over 16,434 antlered bucks.

Compare that with harvest rates from even the golden years of the late 60’s, when a record total harvest was just over 15,000.

The upcoming season runs Sept. 15 to Nov. 13, then reopens after rifle season from Nov. 25 to Jan. 15.