The firearms opening weekend for deer hunting brought successful hunters to the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) testing site on 13 Highway near Richmond. According to Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Statewide News Services Coordinator Joe Jerek, preliminary data showed Missouri deer hunters harvested 68,312 deer over the weekend, which consisted of 42,283 antlered bucks, 5,105 button bucks and 20,924 does compared to 90,253 last year. The drop in harvest this year was due to a combination of factors, including a large acorn crop and warmer weather, according to MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle. “The calendar shift this year put the November portion a week later than last year, which results in lower deer harvest,” said Isabelle. “The peak of the rut in Missouri occurs around Nov. 10. When the calendar shifts, it puts the opener about a week past peak rut when deer movement isn’t as high as it is earlier in the month.” The Ray County testing site operated smoothly…