MDC has increased the number of firearms antlerless permits hunters can fill in most counties.
New for the 2023-24 deer season: Hunters will be able to fill one firearms antlerless permit in Butler, Carter, Scott, and Wayne counties and two firearms antlerless permits in Bollinger County. MDC has also increased the number of firearms antlerless permits that a hunter can fill from two to four in 85 counties. Prior to 2014, firearms antlerless permit numbers were unlimited in 74 counties. Firearms antlerless permit numbers were reduced after the severe hemorrhagic disease outbreak in 2012. However, Missouri's deer population has steadily increased during the last decade, requiring more antlerless harvest to slow population growth and keep the deer population at socially acceptable levels. See the map below for firearms antlerless permit numbers allowed in each county during the 2023-24 deer season.
Counties in white: During the 2023-24 deer season, hunters may not fill firearms antlerless permits in Atchison, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Pemiscot counties.
Counties in blue: During the 2023-24 deer season, hunters may fill one firearms antlerless permit in Andrew, Butler, Carter, Holt, Iron, Nodaway, Reynolds, Scott, Stoddard, and Wayne counties.
Counties in orange: During the 2023-24 deer season, hunters may fill two firearms antlerless permits in Bollinger, Buchanan, Clinton, Dade, DeKalb, Dent, Douglas, Lawrence, Madison, Maries, Newton, Phelps, Shannon, and Texas counties.
Counties in tan: During the 2023-24 deer season, hunters may fill four firearms antlerless permits in Adair, Audrain, Barry, Barton, Bates, Benton, Boone, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Clay, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dallas, Daviess, Franklin, Gasconade, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Howard, Howell, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Laclede, Lafayette, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Perry, Pettis, Pike, Platte, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Ripley, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Vernon, Warren, Washington, Webster, Worth, and Wright counties.