By Blake Jackson
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is offering a virtual educational series to help hunters learn more about pursuing deer on MDC conservation areas in the Ozarks.
Wildlife biologist Matthew Peter and Conservation Educator Dwight Warnke will lead the online sessions, beginning September 30, 2026. The programs will cover scouting techniques, deer behavior, stand placement, and hunting strategies designed to help participants better prepare for the season.
The series is open to anyone who will be at least 18 years old by September 30. Advance registration is required for each session.
The schedule includes deer scouting with online mapping on September 30; on-the-ground scouting and stand placement on October 5, 2026; pre-rut deer sign on October 13, 2026; deer movement patterns during the rut on October 21, 2026; and post-rut and winter deer hunting on November 30, 2026. Each program will run from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
In addition to the online programs, MDC will host a hands-on deer processing workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. October 10, 2026, at the MDC office in Rolla.
Participants will learn practical techniques for handling harvested deer, including skinning, deboning, and preparing venison for freezer storage.
The processing workshop is open to participants age 11 and older. Anyone younger than 11 must attend with a registered adult.
For more information, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/events.
Photo Credit: pexels-jim-fawns
Categories: Missouri, Education, General