Photo by CoCo Walters / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

Joey Collins unmounts a scope from a customer’s gun at Dean’s Gun Shop on Northeast U.S. Highway 169 Thursday afternoon. Dean’s Gun Shop, along with most gun shops around the country, are suffering due to a nationwide ammunition shortage. Owner Dean Parr thinks business is down this deer season, compared to last year, because of the economy.

A sluggish economy may hamper the usual robust activity that businesses notice from Missouri’s firearms deer season that kicks off today.

At Dean’s Gun Shop, for instance, owner Dean Parr said nationwide ammunition manufacturers are unable to keep up with consumer requests — a phenomenon that’s filtered down to the local level. The shortage consequently impacts ammunition for deer hunting season.

“It’s a lot slower than last year,” Mr. Parr said of hunting-related business at the shop. “I think it’s probably the economy.”

More hunters have come into the business to repair their current guns rather than buy new, he said.

Craig Dungan — owner of Dungan’s B & B Meats in Oregon, Mo. — said he’s noticed an increase in beef processing, but also forecasts a potential downturn in deer processing. A late corn harvest could also deter deer hunting, Mr. Dungan added.

“I think a bad economy’s probably not going to help,” he said of the season. “It’s impossible to predict. (But) it helps.”

Cole Cruickshank of Timberland Taxidermy near Cameron, Mo., said a mating season in “full swing” and expectations of good weather are reasons enough to give him hope.

“I expect it to be a good season,” he said. “I think there’ll be a lot of bucks killed.”

The 2008 season turned out to be lackluster, while Mr. Cruickshank termed 2007 as huge for his taxidermy business. His volume has grown each year since he opened a decade ago.

The staff at the Squaw Creek Eagle Nest Plaza near Mound City, Mo., is preparing for a usual onslaught of orange-clad hunters starting this morning.

“It’s pretty busy through rifle season,” said complex manager Gary Herring. “Hunting season is good.”

The restaurant typically opens its doors at 6 a.m.

“If they want us to open earlier, we will,” Mr. Herring said.

Tim Hatfield, owner of Hatfield’s Sporting Goods, also admitted there is a shortage of ammunition for the most popular rifle calibers. He termed customer interest in hunting supplies as about average.

“It’s supposed to be a good season,” he said.

Hatfield’s will sponsor a deer contest at the store for the 43rd year. Hunters can have their kill weighed and photographed at the business. A photo to be drawn out of a fishbowl at the end of the season will win a rifle for a lucky hunter, Mr. Hatfield said.

“That always gives me a good idea” of the success of firearms deer season, he said.

Mitch Miller, wildlife regional supervisor at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s St. Joseph office, said he anticipates a good deer harvest thanks to favorable weather predictions.

“I guess I’m more optimistic than I was in late October,” he said.

Ray Scherer can be reached

at rscherer@npgco.com.