Regulations

General Hunting Regulations

Methods

Seasons, permits, and species have specific rules governing the type of firearm, bow, atlatl, and slingshot which may be used to hunt. Review the information in those areas before hunting.

Fully automatic weapons are prohibited for all hunting.

Firearm restrictions during deer firearms season

During the November and antlerless portions, other wildlife may be hunted only with a shotgun and shot not larger than No. 4 or a .22 or smaller caliber rimfire rifle. This does not apply to waterfowl hunters, trappers, or to landowners on their land.

If you are hunting furbearers during daylight hours during firearms deer season, only deer hunting methods may be used.

Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, and explosives

Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, and explosives may not be used to take wildlife.

Motor driven transportation

Motor driven transportation may not be used to take, drive or molest wildlife.

A motorboat may be used to hunt wildlife, except deer, if the motor is shut off and the boat’s forward progress has stopped.

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)

It is illegal for anyone (except landowners and lessees on land they own or lease and certain agricultural workers) to drive all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Missouri’s streams and rivers unless the ATV is on a crossing that is part of the highway system. Violators could lose their fishing and hunting privileges.

With limited exceptions, all-terrain vehicle use is prohibited on conservation areas. Other vehicles are restricted to graveled and paved roads and established parking areas, unless otherwise posted.

Artificial lights

Artificial lights may be used to hunt:

bullfrogs
green frogs
raccoons and other furbearing animals when treed with the aid of dogs

Landowners and lessees may use artificial lights on their property, but while doing so may not be in possession of — or be in the company of someone who possesses — a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.

Artificial lights may not be used to search for, spot, illuminate, harass, or disturb other wildlife than the above.

You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.

Calls

Mouth and hand calls may be used any time.

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used to pursue and take crows and furbearers. They may also be used to take light geese during the Conservation Order. Electronic calls may not be used with artificial light or night-vision equipment.

Dogs

Dogs may be used in hunting wildlife -- except deer, turkey, muskrat, mink, river otter, and beaver. Learn more about the rules for hunting with dogs.

During a hunt

Furbearer dens or nests

The dens or nests of furbearers shall not be molested or destroyed.

Hunter orange

For your safety, you are urged to wear hunter orange whenever you are hunting. You are required to wear hunter orange at certain times and locations. Learn more about the hunter orange rules.

Hunting near flood waters or fire

Wildlife, except waterfowl, may not be pursued or taken while trapped or surrounded by floodwaters or while fleeing from floodwaters or fire.

Hunting and trapping on public roadways

You may not take any wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow or crossbow. A Conibear-type trap may be used adjacent to public roadways only if set underwater in permanent waters.

After a successful hunt

Excessive waste

It is illegal to intentionally leave or abandon any portion of any wildlife that is commonly used as human food.

Possessing, transporting, and storing wildlife

You must keep any wildlife you take separate or identifiable from that of any other hunter.

You can possess and transport wildlife as part of your personal baggage. It may be stored at your home, camp, place of lodging or in a commercial establishment.

Proper labeling

When storing deer and turkey, it must have the hunter's:

Full name
Address
Date taken
Telecheck confirmation number

When storing wildlife other than deer or turkey, it must have the hunter’s:

Full name
Address
Permit number
Species
Date it was placed in storage

When transporting wildlife other than deer or turkey, it must have the hunter’s:

Full name
Address
Permit number
Date it was taken

Buying and selling pelts, feathers, and other parts

Unless federal regulations prohibit, you may buy, sell or barter:

feathers
squirrel pelts
rabbit pelts
groundhog pelts
turkey bones
turkey heads
deer heads
antlers
hides
feet

They must be accompanied by a bill of sale showing:

the seller’s full name, address
the number and species of the parts
the full name and address of the buyer

Wildlife and wildlife parts, after mounting or tanning, also may be bought and sold.

People who receive or purchase deer heads or antlers attached to the skull plate must keep the bill of sale as long as the heads or antlers are in their possession. The bill of sale must include the transaction date and a signed statement from the sellers attesting that the deer heads and antlers were, to their knowledge, taken legally.

Giving away wildlife

You may give wildlife to another person, but it will continue to be a part of your daily limit for the day when taken. Wildlife received as a gift will be included in the possession limit of the person you give it to.

Deer and turkey must be properly labeled as outlined above.

All other wildlife being given away must be labeled with:

your full name
address
permit number
species
date taken

Related Content:

Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information (pdf, 4 MB)

Find out what's new with fall deer and turkey hunting regulations this year. Download the annually updated Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet.

Turkey

Hunting

Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information (pdf, 2 MB)

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Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest (pdf, 2 MB)

Download the Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest

Share the harvest

Trapping Regulations

General Provisions

The homes, nests or dens of furbearers must not be molested or destroyed.
No person shall accept payment for furbearers taken by another.
Wildlife held in traps, snares, or cable restraint devices may be killed or removed only by the user.
Bobcats and otters or their pelts must be delivered to an agent of the Conservation Department for registration or tagging before selling, transferring, tanning or mounting by April 10. Tagged bobcats, otters or their pelts may be possessed by the taker throughout the year and may be sold only to licensed taxidermists, tanners or fur dealers. It is illegal to purchase or sell untagged bobcats, otters or their pelts. Tagging tip: To make it easier to tag a pelt without damaging it, put a pencil or stick through the upper lip and eye socket before freezing the skin. The tag can be easily placed in those holes when the pelt is registered.
Restrictions on possession do not apply to tanned pelts, mounted specimens or manufactured products.
Skinned carcasses of legally taken furbearers may be sold throughout the year.

Special-Use Permit Required to Trap on Conservation Areas

Trapping with dog-proof style and other traps is allowed on many conservation areas. A Special Use Permit is required and these must be applied for at least 30 days before trapping begins. Contact the area manager at the regional office to see what opportunities are available in your area.

Traps

May be placed and set for furbearers at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 15 and must be removed by midnight of the last day of trapping season
Must have smooth or rubber jaws only, and may include foot-hold, Conibear, or other killing-type, foot-enclosing-type, cage-type, colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide, snares set underwater only, and cable restraint devices.
Must be plainly labeled on durable material with the user’s full name and address or Conservation Number.
Wildlife must be removed or released from traps daily, except for colony and killing-type traps, which must be checked every 48 hours.
May not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals. Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways, except underwater in permanent waters. Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing-type traps may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building
May be used in conjunction with electronic calls

Conibear or Killing-type traps must comply with the following:

With a jaw spread greater than 5 inches, may be set underwater, but not in any dry land set
With a jaw spread not greater than 8 inches, may be set 6 feet or more above ground level in buildings

Snares must comply with the following:

Be set underwater
Have a loop 15 inches or less in diameter when set
Have a stop device that prevents the snare from closing to less than 2 1/2 inches in diameter
Be made with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter
Have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel

Cable Restraint Regulations

When used correctly, cable restraint devices hold animals alive and allow trappers to release non-target animals unharmed. The devices can be used to take furbearers from November 15 through January 31.

Cable restraint devices MUST:

Be made of stranded steel cable, not greater than 5 feet long (not including extension, with a diameter of not less than 5/64 inch and equipped with a commercially manufactured breakaway rated at 350 pounds or less, a relaxing-type lock, a stop device that prevents it from closing to less than 2 1/2 inches in diameter, and an anchor swivel. Note: Compression-type chokes and other mechanically powered springs are prohibited.
Have a loop size of 12 inches diameter or smaller when set
Have the bottom of the cable loop set at least 6 inches or greater above the ground
Be anchored solidly or staked in a location not allowing entanglement
Be checked daily.

Cable restraint devices must NOT be:

Capable of extending to within 12 inches of a fence
Set using a drag
Set with a kill-pole
Used within 150 feet of any dwelling or driveway leading to a dwelling.

Note: Trappers may not possess live coyotes, red fox, and gray fox after March 15.

Hunter-Orange Requirement

For your safety, you are urged to wear hunter orange whenever you are hunting.

When Hunter Orange is Required

You must wear hunter orange if:

You are hunting any species of game during firearms deer season. Some exceptions are allowed. See below.
You are hunting on an area that is having a managed firearms deer hunt.
You are serving as a mentor to another hunter during firearms deer season or on an area that is having a managed firearms deer hunt.

To satisfy this rule, you must wear both a hunter-orange hat and a hunter-orange shirt, vest, or coat. The hunter-orange color must be plainly visible from all sides. Camouflage orange does not satisfy this rule.

When Hunter Orange Is Not Required

You don’t have to wear hunter orange during firearms deer season or on an area that is having a managed firearms deer hunt if:

You are hunting migratory game birds.
You are archery hunting within municipal boundaries where the discharge of firearms is prohibited.
You are hunting on federal or state land where deer hunting is restricted to archery methods.
You are using an archery permit during the alternative methods portion.
You are hunting in a county that is closed during the urban zones and antlerless portions.
You are hunting small game or furbearers during the alternative methods portion.

Deer Hunting Regulations

Allowed hunting methods vary by season

Allowed hunting methods vary by season. Be sure to view season information and the General Hunting Regulations before you hunt.

Hunter-orange requirement

Hunter orange is required during the firearms deer season. Read all the hunter-orange requirements before hunting.

Baiting regulations

Prohibited

Use of bait — which includes grain or other feed placed or scattered so as to attract deer or turkeys — while hunting is illegal.

An area is considered baited for 10 days after complete removal of the bait.

A hunter can be in violation if they take or attempt to take a deer or turkey by the aid of bait where the hunter knows or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited.

It is illegal to place bait in a way that causes others to be in violation of the baiting rule.

Mineral and salt blocks are not allowed on conservation areas.

Additional rules apply in the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zones.

Allowed

Doe urine and other scents, such as apple, acorn, and persimmon, may be used to attract deer while hunting, as long as the scents are not used on or with grain and other food products.

Mineral blocks, including salt, are not considered bait. However, mineral blocks that contain grain or other food additives are prohibited. Mineral and salt blocks are not allowed on conservation areas.

It is legal to hunt over a harvested crop field, but it is not legal to add grain or other crops, such as apples, to the field after it has been harvested.

Manipulating crops, such as mowing or knocking them down, is not considered baiting for deer and turkeys.

Limits

Check your permit and hunting season for information about limits. Also check to determine if antler point restrictions apply to the area where you are hunting.

Antlered deer limits

You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
Archery hunters may take only one antlered deer before the November portion of firearms deer hunting season.
Only one antlered deer may be taken during firearms deer hunting season (all portions combined).
If you are drawn to participate in a managed hunt, you may take as many antlered deer as allowed at that specific hunt. Deer taken at a managed hunt do not count toward your firearms or archery season limits.

Chronic Wasting Disease

If you hunt in Adair, Barry, Benton, Boone, Callaway, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Franklin, Gasconade, Hickory, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Ozark, Polk, Putnam, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Warren, and Washington counties, you are in the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zones. Learn the best practices for harvesting deer in these counties.

Assisting other deer hunters

You must have a filled or unfilled deer hunting permit to assist others in taking deer, which includes participating in deer drives or enticing deer with calls or rattling antlers. It is illegal to shoot or take a deer for another hunter. Party hunting where hunters pool their tags is prohibited.

Tree stands placed on Conservation Department areas

Portable tree stands may be placed or used only between September 1 and January 31 on Conservation Department areas. Unattended stands must be plainly labeled on durable material with your full name and address, or Conservation number. You may not use nails, screw-in steps, or any material that would damage the tree. Tree stands must be removed from the area before February 1.

Retrieval of game

If you kill or injure a deer, you must make a reasonable effort to retrieve and include the animal in your season limit. However, this does not authorize trespass. It is illegal to leave or abandon commonly edible portions of game.

Use of dogs to hunt and recover game

Dogs may not be used to hunt deer. However, you may use leashed dogs to track and recover mortally wounded deer, provided you:

Have exhausted other reasonable means of finding the animal,
Contact a conservation agent,
Do not possess firearms or bows during dog-tracking activities, and
Maintain control of the leashed dog at all times.

Using dogs to recover game does not authorize trespass.

Read regulations on hunting with dogs.

Keep deer carcasses out of streams and lakes

It is illegal to place a deer carcass or any of its parts into any well, spring, brook, branch, creek, stream, pond, or lake.

Possession and sale

Properly checked deer and turkeys may be possessed by anyone if labeled with the taker’s full name, address, date taken, and Telecheck confirmation number. The Telecheck confirmation number must remain attached to the carcass until a meat processor begins working on the animal.

Deer left at commercial processing or cold storage plants must be claimed by May 1 following the season taken.

Any person who finds a dead deer with antlers still attached to the skull plate may take the antlers, but must report the find to a conservation agent within 24 hours to receive authorization to possess the antlers.

No authorization is needed to possess, buy, or sell shed antlers not attached to the skull plate.

Read general regulations about giving away, possessing, storing and selling wildlife.

Turkey Hunting Regulations

Check permits and seasons for hunting dates and allowed methods

You can find dates, allowed methods and valid permits on the turkey hunting seasons section.

Assisting other turkey hunters

You must have a filled or unfilled turkey hunting permit to call turkeys for another hunter.

Baiting regulations

Use of bait - which includes grain or other feed placed or scattered as to attract turkeys – while hunting is illegal.
An area is considered baited for 10 days after complete removal of the bait.
A hunter can be in violation if they take or attempt to take a turkey by the aid of bait where the hunter knows or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited.
It is illegal to place bait in a way that causes others to be in violation of the baiting rule.
Mineral blocks, including salt, are not considered bait, but mineral blocks that contain grain or other food additives are prohibited.
It is legal to hunt over a harvested crop field, but it is illegal to add grain or other crops, such as apples, to the field after it has been harvested.
Manipulating crops, such as mowing or knocking them down, is not considered baiting for turkeys.

Voiding permits

Hunters who harvest a turkey must void their permit immediately by notching the month and day of harvest.

Tagging and checking

As long as you stay with your harvested turkey, you don't need to attach your notched permit to the bird, but you must keep your permit on hand. If you leave your turkey, you must attach your permit to the turkey's leg. Visit the Telecheck page for more information on how to properly tag and check your bird.

Hunter Ethics

All hunters should treat the outdoors with respect and follow ethical hunting practices. These include:

If you hunt on private land, be sure to obtain permission from the landowner and respect his or her property as if it were your own. Scout the area you plan to hunt so you know where the boundaries, houses, roads, fences and livestock are located on the property.
If you do not kill your game instantly, make every effort to find the wounded animal. Permission is required to enter private land.
Clean and care for your game properly.
Pick up all litter, including spent ammunition. Leaving an area better than the way you found it is a sign of thanks for the privilege of hunting.
Report observed violations of the law to a conservation agent or local sheriff as soon as possible.
If you are involved in a firearms-related accident, the law requires that you identify yourself and render assistance; failure to do so is a Class A misdemeanor.
Develop your skills and knowledge, and share them with others.
Know and obey all wildlife laws.
Know and follow the rules of gun safety.
Respect the rights of hunters, non-hunters and landowners.
Make every effort to retrieve and use all game.
Respect the land and all wildlife.
Be sensitive to others when displaying harvested game.
Remember, hunting is not a competitive sport.

Related Content:

Hunter Education & Skills Training

Hunter education is required for firearms hunting in Missouri. Find opportunities near you.

Tree Stand Safety

Follow these safety tips to avoid getting hurt when you hunt from elevated tree stands.

Safe Deer Hunting

Browse tips for safe Missouri deer hunting using firearms or archery methods.

Kansas City Deer Hunting Zone

Kansas City urban zone

Portion of Platte County south of Hwy 92
Portion of Cass County north of Route 2
All portions of Clay and Jackson counties

Questions? Contact our regional office

Kansas City Region
12405 SE Ranson Road
Lee’s Summit, MO 64082
816-622-0900

Antler Point Restrictions

What are antler point restrictions?

In Missouri counties with antler restrictions, an antlered deer must have at least four points on one side to be taken.

How to count antler points

Each of the following counts as a point:

The end of the main beam
An antler point, if it is at least 1 inch long
Any broken tine that is at least 1 inch long
The brow tine, if it is at least 1 inch long

Tines, main beams and brow tines all count as a point if they are at least 1-inch long. A buck with seven points is a legal deer in counties with antler-point restrictions.

Counties with a 4 antler point minimum

These counties require that bucks you harvest have at least four antler points on one side of their rack. This rule applies to both the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons. It does not apply to youth hunts.

Andrew
Atchison
Audrain
Barton
Bates
Buchanan
Caldwell
Camden
Cass (applies to part of county)
Clark
Clinton
Daviess
DeKalb
Gentry
Harrison
Henry
Holt
Howard
Johnson
Lafayette
Lewis
Lincoln
Maries
Marion
Monroe
Montgomery
Nodaway
Pettis
Phelps
Pike
Platte (applies to part of county)
Pulaski
Ralls
Ray
Saline
Vernon
Worth

Legal

Does, button bucks and bucks with spikes less than 3 inches are legal to take on Antlerless or Any-Deer Permits; but for deer management, it is better to take does.

Protected

Protected deer include all antlered deer (defined as having at least one antler 3 inches or longer) that do not have a minimum of at least four points on one side.

County Restrictions on Antlerless Deer Hunting

Antlerless Permits

Archery antlerless permits can be used during the archery deer season in open counties. Firearm antlerless permits can be used during all portions of firearms deer season. However, some areas are closed to firearms hunting during the urban zones and antlerless portions.

How many Archery Antlerless Permits can you fill?

Hunters may purchase and fill any number of Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits during the archery deer season in all counties BUT: Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, and Scott counties.

Missouri counties (in orange where any number of archery antlerless deer permits can be used.

How Many Firearms Antlerless Permits Can You Fill?

You may purchase as many antlerless permits as you want, but each county or county section has a limit on the number of antlerless permits you may fill. Resident landowners and lessees with at least 75 acres may harvest additional antlerless deer using no-cost Resident Landowner Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits.

Firearms Antlerless Permits Map

Counties in gray: These counties or county sections are closed to firearms hunting during the antlerless portion: Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Iron, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Reynolds, Scott. Stoddard, and Wayne.
Counties in blue: You may fill two firearms antlerless deer hunting permits in these counties during firearms deer season (all portions combined): Adair, Bary, Barton, Benton, Boone, Callaway, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Clay, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Howell, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Perry, Putnam, Polk, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Warren, and Washington. You may fill two firearms antlerless deer hunting permits in parts of these counties during firearms deer season (all portions combined): Cass and Platte. Resident landowners and lessees with at least 75 acres may harvest additional antlerless deer using no-cost Resident Landowner Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits.
Counties in orange: You may fill one firearms antlerless deer hunting permit in these counties or county sections during firearms deer season (all portions combined). Resident landowners and lessees with at least 75 acres may harvest additional antlerless deer using no-cost Resident Landowner Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits.

Antlerless Portion of the Firearms Season

Firearms hunting is allowed only in counties or county sections shaded blue or orange in the map below. Areas in white are closed to firearms hunting during the antlerless portion.

Firearms Antlerless Portion Permits Map

Counties in white: These counties are closed to firearms hunting during the antlerless portion: Andrew, Atchison, Barton, Butler, Carter, Christian, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Holt, Iron, Jasper, Lawrence, Maries, Mississippi, New Madrid, Newton, Nodaway, Oregon, Pemiscot, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Wayne, Webster, and Wright.

Counties in orange: You can fill two firearms antlerless deer permits during firearms deer season (all portions combined) in these counties: Adair, Barry, Benton, Boone, Callaway, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Clay, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Grundy, Hickory, Howell, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Livingstone, Macon, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Ozark, Perry, Polk, Putnam, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis County, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Warren, and Washington.

You can fill two firearms antlerless deer permits in parts of these counties: Cass and Platte.

Remaining counties (in gray): You can fill one firearms antlerless deer permit during firearms deer season (all portions combined) in all other counties or portions of counties.

Chronic Wasting Disease Regulations

The CWD Management Zone includes counties within approximately 25 miles of CWD Detections.

The Zone includes these counties within or that touch a radius of approximately 25 miles from where the disease has been found: Adair, Barry, Benton, Bollinger, Boone, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Franklin, Gasconade, Grundy, Hickory, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Madison, Mercer, McDonald, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Ozark, Perry, Polk, Putnam, Randolph, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, St. Louis, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Warren, and Washington.

Fall 2018 Mandatory CWD Sampling

Hunters who harvest deer in certain CWD Management Zone counties on November 10 and 11 must present their deer, or the head with at least six inches of the neck in place, to an MDC CWD sampling location on the day of harvest. The testing is free and hunters can also get free results.

Hunters may bring the entire carcass or just the head with six inches of neck attached.
Hunters may go to any MDC sampling station.

Special Regulations for the CWD Management Zone

Prohibition on feeding

Grain, salt products, minerals and other consumable products used to attract deer are prohibited year-round within CWD Management Zone. The following exceptions are allowed:

Feed placed within 100 feet of any residence or occupied building
Feed placed in a manner that excludes access by deer
Feed and minerals used solely for normal agricultural, forest management, or wildlife food plot production practices

Attracting deer using grain, salt, or minerals artificially concentrates deer in a small area, increasing the chance of spreading CWD from one deer to another or from the environment to deer.

Removal of the antler-point restriction and increase in available antlerless permits

Antler-point restrictions have been removed and hunters can purchase two antlerless permits in all CWD Management Zone counties for the 2018 season.

Antler-point restrictions protect young males, who are at a greater risk of spreading CWD as they establish new home ranges. Harvesting more antlered deer may help slow the spread of CWD. Because CWD can be transmitted from deer to deer, limiting local population increases in the CWD Management Zone may help slow the spread of the disease.

What Else Can Hunters do to slow the Spread of CWD?

Don’t Move Deer Carcasses

Deer hunters are encouraged to avoid moving whole deer carcasses outside of the CWD Management Zone. Decrease the risk of spreading CWD by moving only these deer parts:

Meat that is cut and wrapped
Meat that has been boned out
Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spine or head attached
Hides or capes from which all excess tissue has been removed
Antlers, including antlers attached to skull plates or skulls cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue
Finished taxidermy products

Report Sick Deer

If you see a sick deer, please call your local conservation agent or your regional Conservation Department office.

Related Content:

Mandatory CWD Sampling - 2018

Get details on MDC mandatory sampling activities, counties included in mandatory sampling, sampling locations, an interactive map to find locations, mandatory sampling instructions and tips, and details on mandatory sampling.

Voluntary CWD Sampling Statewide All Season

MDC offers free, voluntary CWD sampling of hunter-harvested deer taken in counties of its CWD Management Zone during the entire deer-hunting season.

Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit and Stamp Requirements

To pursue, take, possess, and transport ducks, coots, and geese in Missouri, except during the Conservation Order, you must possess and carry the following, unless exempt:

1) a Missouri permit to hunt small game is required of:

Missouri residents age 16 through 64
Nonresidents age 16 and older

An annual permit is available to residents for $10 and to nonresidents for $80 from any permit vendor. A daily permit is also available to nonresidents from any permit vendor for $11 per day.

Exemption: Missouri resident landowners hunting on their own land do not need a Missouri small game hunting permit, but the Migratory Bird Hunting Permit and Duck Stamp are required (see below).

2) Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit is required of:

Residents and nonresidents age 16 and over.

This permit is available for $6 from any permit vendor. Purchase of this permit satisfies requirements for Migratory Game Bird Harvest Registration.

3) Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp is required of: Residents and nonresidents age 16 and over. To be valid, the federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (duck stamp) must be signed in ink across the face.

Stamps are available for $25 at some U.S. Post Offices, MDC regional offices, nature centers, and visitor’s centers, but not at permit vendors or waterfowl hunting conservation areas.

Duck stamps are also available online at the Buy e-Permits link below or at Missouri permit vendors. The electronic duck stamp, or e-Stamp, allows customers to purchase the Federal Duck Stamp online and use it immediately. The e-Stamp costs $28.50 and is valid for 45 days from the date of purchase. Within that time, a physical duck stamp will be mailed to the customer. After 45 days, the customer must carry their Federal Duck Stamp while hunting. Retail vendors will still be able to process e-Stamp transactions for hunters.

Permit Requirements for Hunters Younger Than 16

Resident and nonresident hunters age 15 and younger are not required to purchase any permits to hunt ducks, coots or geese in Missouri. However, they must have in their possession a valid Hunter Education Certificate Card while hunting or be in the immediate presence of an adult age 18 or older who possesses a Missouri small game hunting permit and is hunter education certified or born before Jan. 1, 1967.

Permit Requirement for Light-Goose Conservation Order

During the Conservation Order residents and nonresidents age 16 and older only need a Conservation Order Permit to chase, pursue and take snow, blue and Ross’s geese. This permit costs $5 for residents and $40 for nonresidents. Hunters with either a Resident Lifetime Conservation Partner Permit or a Resident Lifetime Small Game Hunting Permit do not need to purchase a Conservation Order Permit to hunt light geese during the Conservation Order.

Hunters 15 years old and younger do not need a Conservation Order Permit, but must possess a valid hunter-education certificate card or hunt in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult 18 years old or older who is hunter-education certified or was born before January 1, 1967.

Note: A Missouri small game hunting permit, Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit and Federal Duck Stamp are not required during the Conservation Order.

Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Hunting Regulations

Hunting Methods

Firearms

Only shotguns, 10 gauge or smaller, are allowed for hunting migratory game birds.

If a shotgun can hold more than three shells, it must be plugged with a one-piece filler that cannot be removed without disassembling the gun.

Concealment devices

You can't use a sink box or anything else that conceals you below the surface of the water.

Motorized transportation

Hunting from a motor vehicle, including aircraft, is not allowed. Paraplegics and persons missing one or both legs are exempted from this regulation.

Motorized vehicles, including aircraft, or motor boats or sailboats may not be used to round up migratory birds.

You can't hunt from a motorboat or sailboat unless the motor is off or sails furled.

Decoys and calls

Live decoys are prohibited. All tame or captive ducks and geese must be removed 10 days prior to hunting. All tame or captive ducks and geese must be kept where migratory waterfowl cannot see them and their calls are quieted.

Recorded or amplified bird calls or amplified imitations of bird calls are not allowed.

Baiting

You can't bait your hunting area. All bait must be removed 10 days prior to hunting.

Hunting over freshly planted food plots is prohibited.

Possession and Transportation

Wanton Waste

All hunters must make a reasonable effort to retrieve any bird killed or crippled while hunting. The bird must be in the hunter's custody until it is brought back to the hunter's lodging or a taxidermist.

Opening Day Of A Season

On the opening day of the season, no person shall possess any freshly killed migratory game birds in excess of the daily bag limit.

Field Possession Limit

No person shall have more than the daily bag limit of migratory game birds, tagged or not tagged, at or between the place where taken and either (a) one’s automobile or principal means of land transportation; or (b) one’s personal abode or temporary or transient place of lodging; or (c) a migratory bird preservation facility; or (d) a post office; or (e) a common carrier facility.

Tagging Requirements

All hunters must tag migratory birds before giving the bird to another person for processing, storage, or for taxidermy. The tag will have the hunter's address, number and species of birds, and the date the birds were killed, and be signed by the hunter.

All birds must be tagged before the hunter gives the birds as a gift, or are transported by another person. If the birds are mailed or shipped, the box must have the tagging information.

Species Identification Requirement

All waterfowl must have the head or one fully-feathered wing attached while the bird is in transit to the hunter's home or taxidermist.

Youth Waterfowl Regulations

Each year, there are two youth-only waterfowl hunting days in each zone for ducks, geese and coots. Youth hunters must be:

age 15 or younger
accompanied by an adult 18 years old or older who is not allowed to hunt ducks but who can participate in other open seasons.

No permits are required for youth hunters. If the youth possesses a valid hunter-education certificate card, the accompanying adult does not need a permit or hunter-ed certification. However, if the youth is not hunter-ed certified, the accompanying adult must be hunter-ed certified unless they were born before Jan. 1, 1967, and possess a Missouri permit to hunt small game or be exempt.

Shooting hours and limits are the same as the regular duck, goose, and coot seasons.

Nontoxic Shot Regulations

When is Nontoxic shot required?

All waterfowl hunting (ducks, geese, teal, and coots)
Hunting dove, rails, snipe, and woodcock on public areas with nontoxic shot requirement posted.
Hunting with a shotgun (including dove, turkey, quail, rabbit, squirrel) on twenty-one conservation areas.

Waterfowl hunters in Missouri have used nontoxic shot since 1991.

Approved types of nontoxic shot

These shot types have been approved as nontoxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (as of January 2014):

Bismuth-tin
Iron (steel)
Iron-tungsten
Iron-tungsten-nickel
Copper-clad iron
Tungsten-bronze (two types)
Tungsten-iron-copper-nickel
Tungsten-iron-polymer
Tungsten-matrix
Tungsten-polymer
Tungsten-tin-bismuth
Tungsten-tin-iron
Tungsten-tin-iron-nickel

Nontoxic shot is required on 21 Conservation Areas

Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited for hunting on the Conservation Areas listed below. These are larger wetlands where waterfowl and shorebirds concentrate in the fall and spring.

Bob Brown Conservation Area
Black Island Conservation Area
Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
Cooley Lake Conservation Area
Coon Island Conservation Area
Duck Creek Conservation Area
Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area
Fountain Grove Conservation Area
Four Rivers Conservation Area
Grand Pass Conservation Area
B. K. Leach Memorial Conservation Area
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area
Little River Conservation Area
Marais Temps Clair Conservation Area
Montrose Conservation Area
Nodaway Valley Conservation Area
Otter Slough Conservation Area
Schell-Osage Conservation Area
Settle’s Ford Conservation Area
Ted Shanks Conservation Area
Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area

Nontoxic shot is safer for wildlife and people

The nontoxic shot regulation reduces incidence of lead shot ingestion, which is often fatal to all vertebrates, waterfowl, doves, and scavenging birds, like eagles, which feed on waterfowl with lead shot in the carcass. Mounting evidence points to lead poisoning occurring in more than 134 species, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Don't Shoot a Swan

Trumpeter swans are protected by federal and state laws and may not be shot. Trumpeter swans are twice the size of Canada geese and four times the size of snow geese. Young swans are gray.

Identification tips:

image of Trumpeter Swan

Trumpeter Swan

All white plumage
Long white neck
Length: 4 ft.
Wingspan: 7 ft.
Weight: 20-30 lbs.

image of Canada Goose

Canada Goose

Gray and white body and wings
Black head and neck with white chin strap
Length: 2 ft.
Wingspan: 5 ft.
Weight: 10-12 lbs.

image of Snow Goose

Snow Goose

White, with black wing tips
Short neck
Length: 1 1/2 ft.
Wingspan: 3 1/2 ft.
Weight: 5-6 lbs.

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Regulations

Hunting

General Hunting Regulations

Methods

Firearm restrictions during deer firearms season

Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, and explosives

Motor driven transportation

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs)

Artificial lights

Calls

Dogs

During a hunt

Furbearer dens or nests

Hunter orange

Hunting near flood waters or fire

Hunting and trapping on public roadways

After a successful hunt

Excessive waste

Possessing, transporting, and storing wildlife

Proper labeling

Buying and selling pelts, feathers, and other parts

Giving away wildlife

Related Content:

Trapping Regulations

General Provisions

Special-Use Permit Required to Trap on Conservation Areas

Traps

Conibear or Killing-type traps must comply with the following:

Snares must comply with the following:

Cable Restraint Regulations

Cable restraint devices MUST:

Cable restraint devices must NOT be:

Hunter-Orange Requirement

When Hunter Orange is Required

When Hunter Orange Is Not Required

Deer Hunting Regulations

Allowed hunting methods vary by season

Hunter-orange requirement

Baiting regulations

Prohibited

Allowed

Limits

Antlered deer limits

Chronic Wasting Disease

Assisting other deer hunters

Tree stands placed on Conservation Department areas

Retrieval of game

Use of dogs to hunt and recover game

Keep deer carcasses out of streams and lakes

Possession and sale

Turkey Hunting Regulations

Check permits and seasons for hunting dates and allowed methods

Assisting other turkey hunters

Baiting regulations

Voiding permits

Tagging and checking

Hunter Ethics

Related Content:

Kansas City Deer Hunting Zone

Kansas City urban zone

Questions? Contact our regional office

Antler Point Restrictions

What are antler point restrictions?

How to count antler points

Counties with a 4 antler point minimum

Legal

Protected

County Restrictions on Antlerless Deer Hunting

Antlerless Permits

How many Archery Antlerless Permits can you fill?

How Many Firearms Antlerless Permits Can You Fill?

Antlerless Portion of the Firearms Season

Chronic Wasting Disease Regulations

Fall 2018 Mandatory CWD Sampling

Special Regulations for the CWD Management Zone

Prohibition on feeding

Removal of the antler-point restriction and increase in available antlerless permits

What Else Can Hunters do to slow the Spread of CWD?