Missouri Muzzeloader Mayhem ‘25
Season ‘25 | Episode 14
Ralph and Hoppy make their way to Missouri, Traditions Pro-Series Muzzleloaders in hand, and whitetails in their sights.
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Weapon: Traditions Muzzleloaders
Binos / Range Finder: Cabela’s Optics
Outfit: Cabela’s Instinct / SHE
Pack: Alps OutdoorZ Pack
Bug Repellant: Thermacell
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Location: Missouri
Species (Harvested): Whitetail Deer
Sex: Male (Buck)
Average Size & Physical Traits
Bucks: 160-220+ lbs
Does: 100-140 lbs
Northern and Central Missouri bucks tend to be larger-bodied thanks to ag-rich diets and better habitat.
Diet & Feeding Patterns
Primary Foods: Corn, Soybeans, Acorns (White & Red), Persimmons, Browse
Fall Favorites: Acorns and ag fields early; switch to standing crops, green plots, or woody browse later.
Winter Diet: Cedar Tips, Honeysuckle, Crop Residue (Corn Especially)
Whitetails in Missouri shift fast between mast and ag depending on pressure and food availability.
Seasonal Behavior by Phase
Early Season (Sept 15 - Early Oct)
Bucks still in bachelor groups, predictable
Feed-focused: Hunt green fields, alfalfda, and acorns
Pre-Rut (Mid-Late Oct)
Rubs/scrapes explode; bucks begin daylight cruising
Hunt staging areas, inside corners, and fresh scrapes
Peak Rut (Nov 5-15)
Bucks travel far & wide, nost responsive to calling, decoying, rattling
All-day sits near pinch points, saddles, doe bedding
Post-Rut (Late Nov-Early Dec)
Bucks worn down, move less - secondary rut possible
Hunt recovery food sources and thick cover edges
Late Season (Dec-Jan 15)
Cold = food is king. Target corns, beans, and brassicas
Bucks become more patternable again, often in daylight
Hunting Pressure & Deer Reaction
Missouri has liberal seasons and high hunter density, especially during rifle season
Mature bucks adapt bu going nocturnal, using secondary trails, and moving midday or post-pressure cold fronts
Whitetail Resilience & Wintering
Missouri deer are tough and adaptable to cold snaps
Bucks lose 25-30% of body weight by January
Winter bedding is often in south-facing slopes, cedar thickets, and brush piles
Hunting Method Effectiveness
Archery: Most effective Sept-Oct and Dec-Jan on food sources
Rifle: Peak rut chaos - high movement, but pressure spikes fast
Muzzleloader: Late season, quiet, effective in cold over food plots
Deer Density & Habitat
Estimated 1.4-1.5 million whitetails statewide
Habitat varies from river bottoms and hardwood ridges in the north, to rolling oak hills and thick brush in the south
Deer density is high across much of the state - even public land holds quality bucks
Missouri is one of the top whitetail states for both opportunity and trophy potential!
Recipe
Whitetail Deer Steak & Eggs
High Protein , Fast, and Full of Flavor
Prep: 5 Minutes | Cook: 10-12 Minutes | Total Time: ~15 Minutes
Servings: 2 People
Ingredients:
2 Small Whitetail Deer Steaks (Backstrap or Tenderized Round)
Salt & Pepper
1 tsp Garlic Powder or Steak Seasoning Blend
1 tbsp Butter or Bacon Grease
2-4 Eggs
Optional: Hot Sauce, Salsa, or Chopped Green Onion
Directions:
1. Prep the Meat
Pat steaks dry and season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (or a premade steak rub).
2. Sear the Steaks
Heat a cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add butter or bacon grease and let it melt.
Add steaks and sear 2-3 minutes per side (medium-rare is ideal for venison - ~130ºF interal).
Remove steaks and let them rest.
3. Fry the Eggs
In the same pan, crack in eggs and reduce heat to medium.
Cook sunny side up, over easy, or however you like ‘em. Spoon a little fat over the tops for flavor.
4. Serve
Plate with the steaks, drizzle with hot sauce or salsa if desired.
Optional sides: toast, skillet potatoes, or nothing at all - it’s perfect as-is!
