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KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Deer hunting season starts Saturday and Friday night Missouri Governor Jay Nixon kicked of his first ever Missouri Governor's Youth Deer Hunt.

The governor was at the Missouri Department of Conservation and had dinner with local youth who were invited to kick off the deer hunting season.

He talked to the youth about the importance of hunting in Missouri.

“Well we've seen such a great success across the state (with) our conservation department,” Gov. Nixon said. “As we get to the 75th year it's an honor to have the first Governor's Youth Deer Hunt. For the last four years we've had a Youth Turkey Hunt, which has been highly successful…not only at getting more kids out, but also teaching them the safety of hunting. This is an important value in our state and (a) strong economic generator. And, it's a lot of fun.”

Charter Hunters:

Quin Allen, Brashear

Madisyn Blunk, Kirksville

Haley Bunch, Kirksville

Jayson Findling, Greentop

Chloe Harden, Kirksville

Bryce Hazen, Kirksville

Lauren Taylor Hoffman, Centralia

Kasey Jones, Kirksville

Bennett William Lopez, Columbia

Jacob Moore, Palmyra

Millie Moyer, Boonville

Kristen Pagliai, Kirksville

Andrew Pruett, Macon

Haiden Ream, Lavonia

Sadie Roy, Trenton