How Climate Change Is Affecting Deer Hunting in Missouri

Whitetail Buck

And What Hunters Need to Know in Each MDC Region

Missouri deer hunters have always adapted to changing weather, shifting food sources, and the natural rhythm of the rut. But in recent years, hunters across the state have noticed new patterns—warmer falls, unpredictable storms, erratic acorn crops, and health issues in local herds. These changes aren’t random. They reflect broader climate trends that are reshaping whitetail behavior and the landscapes they depend on.

Understanding these impacts can help hunters make better decisions, plan more effective strategies, and support conservation efforts that protect Missouri’s deer population for future generations.

Warmer Falls Are Changing Deer Movement

One of the most noticeable effects is simply temperature. Whitetails are built for cool weather, and when November afternoons feel more like September, deer reduce daytime movement. Hunters often see:

• More deer activity in low-light hours

• Bucks showing fewer visible rut behaviors

• Deer bedding longer in thick, shaded cover

• A drop in response to calls, rattling, and scents

The rut is still triggered by photoperiod, but warm spells suppress the visible chasing and daylight movement hunters rely on.

Unpredictable Food Sources Shift Patterns Year to Year

Climate variability affects crops and forest foods:

• Acorn cycles are more erratic, with late freezes or drought wiping out mast crops.

• Drought-stressed native vegetation pushes deer toward water sources and higher-quality browse.

• Farming shifts—early or late harvests depending on weather—change how deer use corn and soybean fields in early fall.

Hunters must increasingly scout each year rather than relying on familiar historical patterns.

Habitat Changes and Invasive Plants Alter Where Deer Live

Warmer seasons and shifting rainfall patterns influence vegetation:

• Bush honeysuckle and other invasives spread more rapidly, altering bedding and feeding cover.

• Flood-prone regions of Missouri see more frequent and prolonged high-water events, displacing deer from bottomland habitat and concentrating them in uplands.

• Stressed forests see more oak decline and storm damage, changing the quality of food and cover.

Disease and Parasites Are Expanding

Climate patterns directly influence disease:

• EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease) thrives in drought years followed by sudden rain—weather patterns Missouri is seeing more often.

• Milder winters mean more ticks, which can reduce fawn survival and overall herd health.

Localized die-offs can affect hunting quality for several seasons.

Predation and Competition Are Increasing

Longer warm seasons help boost survival for:

• Coyotes, which increases fawn predation.

• Feral hogs, especially in southern Missouri, competing for acorns and disturbing habitat.

These indirect effects compound changes in food availability.

Weather Volatility Impacts Hunter Access and Success

Hunters are increasingly dealing with:

• Sudden temperature swings

• Intense thunderstorms

• Long dry spells followed by flooding

These conditions affect deer behavior and sometimes hunter access—especially in river bottoms and heavily wooded areas.

Regional Breakdown: Climate Impacts Across MDC’s 8 Regions

Missouri’s landscapes vary widely, and so do the effects of shifting climate patterns on deer hunting. Here’s what hunters can expect in each of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s eight regions.

1. Northwest Region

Landscape: Prairie, crop fields, rolling timber

Climate impacts:

• More frequent warm spells during the November firearms season

• Larger swings in crop production affecting early-season patterns

• Occasional EHD outbreaks tied to droughtHunter takeaway: Scout fields heavily—deer patterns shift quickly with crop conditions.

2. Northeast Region

Landscape: Agriculture mixed with forested corridors

Climate impacts:

• Increasing river bottom flooding affecting deer distribution

• Highly variable acorn crops influencing rut-time travel routes

• Heat-suppressed daytime rut activity

• Hunter takeaway: Use mobile setups to follow deer from flooded areas back into uplands.

3. Central Region

Landscape: Forest, pasture, crop fields, major rivers

Climate impacts:

• Unpredictable mast years leading to major changes in movement

• More invasive species reducing native understory

• Increased tick pressure during warm spells

• Hunter takeaway: Focus on terrain funnels and fresh sign rather than traditional stand sites.

4. Kansas City Region

Landscape: Suburban-rural mix, fragmented habitat

Climate impacts:

• Extended growing seasons favoring invasive plants

• More heat stress reducing daytime deer movement

• Increased storm damage altering wooded cover

• Hunter takeaway: Early-season hunts near water are becoming more productive.

5. Southwest Region

Landscape: Ozark foothills, pasture, glades

Climate impacts:

• Drought cycles stressing vegetation and pushing deer to limited water sources

• Expanded feral hog presence in some counties

• More intense thunderstorms during fall

• Hunter takeaway: Identify reliable water sources—these are becoming key travel hubs.

6. Ozark Region

Landscape: Rugged hills, big timber, clear streams

Climate impacts:

• Oak decline and storm damage changing forest structure

• Longer warm periods prolonging tick season

• Increased risk of EHD in dry years

• Hunter takeaway: Scout mast trees year-to-year; old “rut roads” may no longer be reliable.

7. Southeast Region

Landscape: Mississippi River lowlands, wetlands, hardwood forests

Climate impacts:

• Major shifts from repeated flooding in bottomlands

• Warmer winters reducing late-season deer concentration

• High tick loads in warm autumns

• Hunter takeaway: Seasonal flooding dictates access—have backup hunt plans.

8. St. Louis Region

Landscape: Urban edge, parklands, fragmented woodlots

Climate impacts:

• Heat islands near cities reducing daytime deer movement

• More erratic storms knocking down timber or altering habitat

• Extended growing seasons favor brushy cover

• Hunter takeaway: Target travel corridors between suburban food sources and secluded bedding cover.

How Missouri Hunters Can Adapt

A few strategies help offset climate-related changes:

• Hunt aggressively on cold fronts—temperature drops still produce the best movement.

• Diversify stand locations, including shaded bedding edges, water sources, and thick cover.

• Use mobile tactics like saddles, climbers, or ground hunts to adjust quickly.

• Check mast and crop conditions every year—patterns change more than they used to.

• Stay tick-aware even into late fall.