Hitting a bull's-eye from half a century away.  That's exactly what hunters are crediting the Missouri Department of Conservation with the week before gun season.

Starting a half hour before day break on Saturday, you can expect the quiet calm of the woods to be broken.

Thousands of hunters will celebrate 50 years of managed hunting in Missouri with a bang.

Jackie Phenix is one of those hunters.  He has his sights set. "I'm going hunting on Saturday," he said. "I figured I better come sight my rifle.  So if i get a chance to shoot one, I can shoot it."

Phenix will hitting the woods in hopes of taking down the flourishing deer numbers.

"It's a good time to be a deer hunter in Missouri," Francis Scalicky with Missouri Department of Conservation said.

Through proper management, the Conservation Department estimates the deer population is about 1.4 million.

"Missouri deer hunting is a hot ticket right now," Scalicky.  "Not just in Missouri, but in other states.  That too is a positive reflection we've had on deer management in Missouri."

The Conservation Department credits the thriving wildlife population to managed hunts, antler restrictions, and deer adaptability.  "All those factors show deer season has made a lot of progress since the first statewide deer season was held in 1959," Scalicky said.

Through increased pressure from hunters like Phenix. The Conservation Department hopes the next 50 years will be just as successful.

"Just being out there is real relaxing," Phenix said. "If you kill something it's just a plus."

The Conservation Department says these next 11 days can be very exciting for hunters, but they need to remember safety first.

Conservation experts say hunters need to go over safety practices like tree stand safety, or something as simple as wearing the orange vest before they head outdoors.