In early October, hunters across Missouri gathered once again for a unique tradition — one that blends mentorship, conservation and camaraderie in the field. The 2025 Missouri Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt, endorsed by Governor Mike Kehoe, marked its third successful year during the state’s early antlerless rifle season, welcoming new adult hunters to experience deer hunting for the first time.
While many mentored hunts across the country focus on youth, the Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt takes a different approach. The emphasis is on adult-onset hunters — individuals who have never hunted before but have the interest, ability and independence to make it part of their lifestyle.
“Youths were not excluded from participation if there were spots available, but the focus of these hunts was to provide this opportunity to older individuals wanting to give hunting a try,” said John Burk, NWTF district biologist for Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. “However, a youth can only repeat the experience if someone takes them again. Conversely, when you invite an adult that has never hunted previously and you spark that interest in them, they have the resources and ability to repeat the experience on their own. The hunting bug, once caught, is pretty infectious, so when you create that spark in an adult hunter, they are very likely to spread the hunting bug amongst their friends and family.”
The concept is simple: Adults are more likely to have the time, means and motivation to keep hunting once they’ve been introduced to it. They can buy licenses, acquire gear and even mentor others — multiplying the impact of a single event and helping to sustain the hunting tradition for generations to come.
This year’s hunts took place across ten counties in the Show Me State, and the program not only gave newcomers a hands-on introduction to hunting and conservation but also helped landowners manage growing deer populations on their properties.
“Deer populations have been on the rise across Missouri, particularly in areas where intensive wildlife management practices are in place or regions with a significant agricultural component,” Burk said. “Landowners with larger properties have found it challenging to achieve the necessary doe harvest to stabilize or reduce deer populations. The Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt seeks to address this issue by providing access to these properties during the special antlerless-only rifle season.”
The hunt brought together a strong coalition of partners, including the NWTF, Missouri Department of Conservation, Conservation Federation of Missouri, National Deer Association, Friends of the NRA, Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation, Missouri Disabled Sportsmen, Missouri’s Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, Whitetails Unlimited, ALPS Outdoorz, Dead End Game Calls, Missouri Woods and Wildlife, Kansas City Safari Club International and Missouri Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
“This event is a perfect marriage of providing opportunities that help accomplish agency and organizational R3 objectives while at the same time assisting landowners with large land holdings and high deer densities to accomplish harvest goals determined in their property-specific plans designed to achieve and maintain optimal herd health for their properties,” Burk said.
The weekend-long experience included an educational clinic and two days of guided hunting. Each property hosted small groups of two to six participants paired with experienced mentors. Hunters learned not only how to pursue deer safely and ethically, but also how their participation directly supports conservation funding and wildlife management.
By the weekend’s end, the numbers spoke for themselves — 33 participants took part, 17 deer were harvested, and countless memories were made.
As evening campfires crackled and the excitement of first hunts filled the air, participants left with more than venison for the freezer — they left with a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of America’s hunting heritage.
Through programs like the Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt, Missouri continues to show how mentorship and conservation can go hand in hand, ensuring that the hunting tradition — and the stewardship it inspires — remain strong for generations to come.
For more information about the Governor’s Mentored Deer Hunt, contact MDC Outreach and Education Coordinator Rob Garver at 573-522-4115 ext. 6507 or [email protected].
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