The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is looking for a few good men — and women, as well as some youth — to fill this year’s assortment of managed deer hunts being offered. With the new weighted, random-drawing system, hunters now have a better chance of being drawn if they remain persistent.

While summer temperatures are just now becoming scorchers, the last thing on most people’s minds is deer hunting. But for those interested in taking advantage of MDC’s Managed Deer Hunts, the closing date for applications is coming up on Aug. 15.

MDC’s managed hunts are scattered throughout the state and offer something for just about every type of hunter. There are archery only, archery and crossbow, historic and modern muzzleloader and cap and ball, shotgun and modern firearms hunts available.

In the Northwest Region of Missouri, offerings include Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Watkins Mill State Park and Smithville Lake. These are just three of more than 80 possible choices.

Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge has been a local favorite for years. Last season’s hunt was held Jan. 5-7, and 92 hunters ended up taking 155 deer, including three nice bucks. Squaw Creek this year will have a limit of four antlerless deer per hunter during the hunt. This is a change from the past, when hunters were allowed to harvest a buck after checking in three antlerless deer.

Watkins Mill State Park (near Excelsior Springs) will once again host a muzzleloader/cap and ball hunt on Dec. 13 and 14. Watkins Mill didn’t have quite the success rate as Squaw Creek. A total of 56 hunters participated and harvested only 30 deer total. This year’s managed hunt at Watkins will have the same bag limit of three antlerless deer as previously.

Youth hunters will want to check out the Smithville Lake hunt, which is scheduled for Dec. 20-21. While only 30 hunters are drawn for this hunt, this is a modern firearms hunt in areas that are normally off limits to hunting. If successfully drawn, participants must attend a pre-hunt orientation on Dec. 13, or they will be disqualified.

Hunters who are permanently confined to a wheelchair are automatically allowed to participate in MDC managed deer hunts at one of 10 different locations throughout the state. If interested, applicants need to mail a written request by Aug. 15 indicating hunt preference with attached physician’s statement to the Jefferson City Headquarters, (Attn: Managed Deer Hunts).

Interested hunters may apply for only one managed hunt per year. Those who apply and are not drawn will earn a preference point, which will give them an advantage in future drawings.

Preference points are like extra pieces of paper in a hat, according to MDC. Hunters who apply for the first time or who were drawn for hunts the previous year have only one piece of paper with their name on it in the hat. Those who entered but were not drawn the previous year get an extra piece of paper in the hat for each unsuccessful year.

The conservation department reminds applicants to ensure they use the same Conservation ID Number each year or they may not get credit for previous preference points earned. One’s Social Security number is not the same as their Conservation I.D. number, so be sure to fill out applications correctly.

Those looking to maximize their odds of being drawn can go online to www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/managed and check out the odds for drawing a particular hunt. Success rates and hunter turnouts for previous years’ hunts are also available online to help fine tune your choice of locations for which to apply.

All successful applicants will be mailed an area map and other necessary information about their hunt. If you can’t wait for the notification from MDC, you can call (800) 829-2956 or log on at their web site from Sept. 11 through Dec. 31 to find out if you or your group were drawn.