Agricultural Land and Deer in Missouri Survey Results Summary

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Agricultural Land and Deer in Missouri Survey – Results Summary
Missouri Department of Conservation – 23 April 2021
This document provides a summary of results obtained from a survey of agricultural producers in
Missouri conducted in January 2020. The survey was conducted jointly by the Missouri Department of
Conservation and the United States Department of Agriculture. The survey sampled 9,000 non-agribusiness farm operations in Missouri that operate on at least five acres of land. Objectives of the survey
were to obtain input from agricultural producers about deer populations and deer population
management. This input, along with input from hunters and other stakeholders is important in assessing
status of the deer population and informing harvest management decisions. Response to the survey was
voluntary.
1. Which one of the following best describes your farm affiliation?
Landowner and operator – 91.44%
Operator but not landowner – 2.83%
Other – 5.73%
2. Which statement best describes the deer population trend on and around the land you
own/operate?
The deer population is increasing – 29.28%
The deer population is stable – 48.23%
The deer population is decreasing – 11.28%
Don’t know – 11.20%
3. On the land you own/operate, do you feel there are:
Too many deer – 23.09%
About the right number of deer – 51.12%
Too few deer – 14.34%
Don’t know – 11.45%
4. Generally, how do you feel about having deer on the land you own/operate?
I enjoy having them around – 55.81%
I enjoy deer, but their presence causes some problems at times – 31.04%
I generally regard deer as a nuisance – 7.69%
No opinion – 5.46%
5. Which best describes how you feel the deer population should be managed in the future? The
deer population should be managed so that there is a:
Large increase in deer numbers – 3.48%
Slight increase in deer numbers – 16.45%
Stable number of deer – 55.40%
Slight decrease in deer numbers – 16.47%
Large decrease in deer numbers – 8.20%
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6. How would you describe the level of financial loss suffered by deer on the operation in 2019?
No financial loss – 48.37%
Slight financial loss – 28.59%
Moderate financial loss – 11.41%
Severe financial loss – 2.70%
No opinion/don’t know – 8.93%
7. What level best describes the financial loss caused in 2019 by deer for the following crops
produced on the land operated?

Did Not Plant
Crop

No Financial
Loss

Slight
Financial
Loss

Corn

57.67%

6.91%

17.79%

8.75%

2.56%

6.31%

Soybeans

53.10%

7.75%

20.32%

9.21%

2.97%

6.64%

Hay

25.18%

32.75%

26.16%

5.72%

1.54%

8.64%

Wheat/Oats

74.97%

9.18%

5.87%

2.28%

0.45%

7.25%

Orchards

73.54%

9.55%

5.98%

2.05%

0.89%

7.99%

Tree
Plantations

77.95%

8.74%

3.53%

1.22%

0.41%

8.15%

Timber

58.25%

27.13%

4.14%

0.85%

0.31%

9.31%

Pasture

24.70%

37.88%

22.97%

4.42%

1.07%

8.96%

Nursery

79.51%

8.98%

1.42%

1.19%

0.32%

8.57%

Other

76.89%

0.97%

4.77%

2.66%

0.84%

13.88%

Crops

Moderate
Financial
Loss

Severe
Financial
Loss

No
opinion/Don’t
know

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8. During the three-year period 2017 through 2019, has the amount of financial loss from deer
on the land operated increased, decreased, or stayed the same?
Increased – 12.63%
Stayed the Same – 61.24%
Decreased – 3.96%
Don’t know – 22.18%
9. Are you aware of options through the Missouri Department of Conservation to help address
deer damage concerns on the land you own/operate?
Yes – 35.38%
No – 64.62%
10. Did you hunt deer during the 2019 deer season in Missouri?
Yes – 46.73%
No – 53.27%
11. Which of the following deer control methods were used on this operation in 2019?
Control
Methods

Used in operation in 2019?

No control
methods used in
2019

Did this action achieve desired results?

68.27%

Yes

No

Don’t know

Yes

No

Don’t know

Electric fence

31.13%

63.91%

4.96%

28.13%

43.75%

28.13%

Deer proof
fences

11.11%

83.39%

5.50%

22.41%

36.21%

41.38%

Allow more
hunters on your
farm

43.26%

53.33%

3.42%

30.34%

42.13%

27.53%

Encourage
neighbors to
allow more
hunting

24.64%

70.35%

5.01%

14.66%

46.04%

39.30%

Chemical
repellants

5.62%

89.08%

5.30%

13.46%

46.15%

40.38%

Changed
farming
practices to
discourage deer

6.02%

89.14%

4.84%

11.67%

47.08%

41.25%

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Devices to scare
deer away

8.92%

86.52%

4.56%

11.36%

48.35%

40.29%

Other

3.28%

84.66%

12.07%

11.40%

48.70%

39.90%

12. How many deer were harvested on the land you own/operate in 2019, including deer you
harvested and deer harvested by other hunters?
Mean – 4.22 deer
13. How do you manage deer hunting and deer harvest on the land you own/operate?
I do not allow deer hunting – 20.88%
I restrict both buck and doe harvest – 8.63%
I restrict doe harvest but not buck harvest – 2.60%
I restrict buck harvest but not doe harvest – 6.69%
I do not restrict the number or type of deer harvested – 44.76%
I do not make decisions about deer management – 16.44%
14. Do you charge fees for access to hunt deer on the land you own/operate?
Yes – 2.67%
No – 97.31%
Don’t know – 0.02%
15. How do you feel about the way the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) manages
deer?
Very satisfied – 13.97%
Satisfied – 27.96%
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied – 21.57%
Dissatisfied – 9.44%
Very dissatisfied – 4.20%
No opinion – 22.86%
16. Which of the following best describes how current antlerless permit availability impacts your
ability to manage deer on the land you own/operate?
Appropriate – 32.09%
Too restrictive – 12.28%
Too liberal – 3.36%
No opinion – 52.27%

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17. Regarding the deer on and around the land you own/operate, how much of a problem is each
of the following?
Not a problem

Somewhat of a
problem

A great problem

Don’t know/not
applicable

53.46%

31.43%

7.00%

8.12%

48.80%

34.22%

9.22%

7.77%

67.64%

17.01%

4.36%

10.99%

37.63%

36.65%

18.32%

7.40%

53.99%

21.34%

8.88%

15.79%

Crop/property
damage
Deer hunters who
trespass
Dogs running deer
Deer/vehicle
collisions
Road
hunting/spotlighting

18. In which county is most of the land you own/operate located?
All counties were represented with between 0.17% and 1.97% of the total respondents.
19. The primary use of the land you own/operate is:
Crop production – 28.26%
Livestock production – 52.22%
Hunting/fishing/wildlife – 8.29%
Timber production – 1.81%
Other – 9.42%
20. How many acres of land do you own/operate?
Mean – 357.20 acres
21. Your Age:
Under 18 – 0.13%
18-30 – 0.88%
31-40 – 4.29%
41-50 – 8.67%
51-60 – 19.89%
Over 60 – 66.15%
22. Are you currently working with one or more of your neighbors to manage deer on the land
you own/operate?
Yes – 13.18%
No – 86.82%
23. If no, would you be willing to work with your neighbors to manage deer on the land you
own/operate?
Yes – 49.88%
No – 50.12%
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