Hunting Seasons

Allowed Methods

• Dogs may not be used
• Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
• Foot-hold trap
• Conibear or other killing-type trap with a jaw spread greater than 5 inches may be set underwater, but not in any dry-land set.
• Foot-enclosing trap
• Cage-type trap
• Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
• Cable restraint devices
• Snares set underwater, have a loop 15 inches or less in diameter when set, have a stop device that prevents snare from closing to less than 2 1/2 inches in diameter, mad with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Prohibited Methods

• Snares on land
• Pitfalls
• Deadfalls
• Nets
• Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals
• Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

Allowed Methods

Pelts must be delivered to a conservation agent for registration or tagging by April 10. Find contact information for a conservation agent near you.

Hunting Methods

• Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
• Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
• Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to no more than three shells.
• Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.
• Crossbows
• Atlatls
• Slingshots
• Dogs may be used.
• Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used.

During fall deer season, hunters must have an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit and a permit to hunt small game.

Trapping Methods

• Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
• Foot-hold trap
• Conibear or other killing-type trap
• Foot-enclosing trap
• Cage-type trap
• Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
• Cable restraint devices
• Snare set underwater

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Prohibited Methods

• Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive
• Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, or explosives
• Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive, or molest wildlife
• Artificial lights to search for, harass, or disturb wildlife
• You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow
• Snares set on land
• Pitfalls
• Deadfalls
• Nets
• Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals
• Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

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

Dogs may not be used during daylight hours from Nov. 1 through the end of the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties.

Allowed

• Shotguns, 10 gauge or smaller. Must not hold more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
• Hunting dogs
• Motor boats or sailboats may be used, but only if the motor has been shut off and/or the sails furled, and the boat’s progress therefrom has stopped.

Prohibited

• Rifles and pistols
• Firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge
• Punt guns, battery guns, swivel guns, fully automatic firearms, traps, snares, nets, fish hooks, poisons, drugs, explosives, and stupefying substances
• Lead shot is prohibited at some conservation areas
• Motor vehicles or aircraft. Paraplegics and people missing one or both legs may hunt from a stationary vehicle
• Sink boxes or any other type of low-floating device that conceals the hunter beneath the surface of the water
• Electronic calls or electronically activated calls
• Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
• Night vision or thermal imagery equipment
• Live decoys
• Bait

Allowed Hunting Methods

• .22 or smaller caliber rimfire rifle or pistol
• Pellet gun
• Bow
• Crossbow
• Atlatl
• Hand or handnet
• Artificial lights

Allowed Fishing Methods

• Atlatl
• Hand or handnet
• Gig
• Bow
• Trotline
• Throwline
• Limb line
• Bank line
• Jug line
• Snagging
• Snaring
• Grabbing
• Pole and line
• Artificial lights

Prohibited Methods

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

Allowed

• Pistols
• Revolvers
• Rifles
• Shotguns
• Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used

Allowed

• Shotguns, 10 gauge or smaller. Must not hold more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
• Hunting dogs
• Motor boats or sailboats may be used, but only if the motor has been shut off and/or the sails furled, and the boat’s progress therefrom has stopped.

Prohibited

• Rifles and pistols
• Firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge
• Punt guns, battery guns, swivel guns, fully automatic firearms, traps, snares, nets, fish hooks, poisons, drugs, explosives, and stupefying substances
• Lead shot is prohibited at some conservation areas
• Motor vehicles or aircraft. Paraplegics and people missing one or both legs may hunt from a stationary vehicle
• Sink boxes or any other type of low-floating device that conceals the hunter beneath the surface of the water
• Electronic calls or electronically activated calls
• Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
• Night vision or thermal imagery equipment
• Live decoys
• Bait

Allowed Methods

Hunting Methods

• Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
• Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
• Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to no more than three shells.
• Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.
• Crossbows
• Atlatls
• Slingshots
• Dogs may be used
• Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used

During fall deer season, hunters must have an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit and a permit to hunt small game.

Trapping Methods

• Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
• Foot-hold trap
• Conibear or other killing-type trap
• Foot-enclosing trap
• Cage-type trap
• Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
• Cable restraint devices
• Snare set underwater

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Prohibited Methods

• Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive
• Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, or explosives
• Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive, or molest wildlife
• Artificial lights to search for, harass, or disturb wildlife
• You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow
• Snares set on land
• Pitfalls
• Deadfalls
• Nets
• Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals
• Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment.

Dogs may not be used during daylight hours from Nov. 1 through the end of the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties.

Methods depend on the type of permit (archery or small game hunting).

Allowed

Archery Permit Methods

• Longbow, compound bow, or recurve bow of any draw weight
• Atlatls, which are defined as a rod or narrow board-like device used to launch, through a throwing motion of the arm, a dart 5 to 8 feet long
• Hand-held string releasing devices
• Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights
• Crossbow

Small Game Hunting Permit Methods

• Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
• Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
• Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge
• Crossbows
• Shotguns with the magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to not more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. This restriction does not apply during the Conservation Order for light geese.
• Shotguns are the only firearm allowed for hunting game birds (except crow). Pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns may be used to hunt crow.
• Bows, which include longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows, illuminated sights, scopes, quickpoint sights and hand-held string releasing mechanisms may be used.
• Atlatls
• Slingshots

You may take groundhogs with a cage-type trap at any hour during the open hunting season if you possess a hunting permit. The cage-type trap must be labeled with your full name and address, or Conservation ID number; must be attended daily; and have an opening of 144 square inches or smaller.

Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties, 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.

Prohibited Methods

• Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical or explosive.
• Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive or molest wildlife. 
• Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
• Artificial lights may be used only to hunt bullfrogs and green frogs, or to hunt raccoons and other furbearing animals when treed with the aid of dogs. Using lights to search for, spot, illuminate, harass, or disturb other wildlife is a violation of the Wildlife Code of Missouri. 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.
• You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.

Allowed Methods

• Dogs may not be used
• Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
• Foot-hold trap
• Conibear or other killing-type trap with a jaw spread greater than 5 inches may be set underwater, but not in any dry-land set.
• Foot-enclosing trap
• Cage-type trap
• Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
• Cable restraint devices
• Snares set underwater, have a loop 15 inches or less in diameter when set, have a stop device that prevents snare from closing to less than 2 1/2 inches in diameter, mad with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Prohibited Methods

• Snares on land
• Pitfalls
• Deadfalls
• Nets
• Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals
• Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

Allowed Methods

• Dogs may not be used
• Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
• Foot-hold trap
• Conibear or other killing-type trap with a jaw spread greater than 5 inches may be set underwater, but not in any dry-land set.
• Foot-enclosing trap
• Cage-type trap
• Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
• Cable restraint devices
• Snares set underwater, have a loop 15 inches or less in diameter when set, have a stop device that prevents snare from closing to less than 2 1/2 inches in diameter, mad with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Prohibited Methods

• Snares on land
• Pitfalls
• Deadfalls
• Nets
• Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals
• Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

Allowed Methods

• Dogs may not be used
• Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
• Foot-hold trap
• Conibear or other killing-type trap with a jaw spread greater than 5 inches may be set underwater, but not in any dry-land set.
• Foot-enclosing trap
• Cage-type trap
• Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
• Cable restraint devices
• Snares set underwater, have a loop 15 inches or less in diameter when set, have a stop device that prevents snare from closing to less than 2 1/2 inches in diameter, mad with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Prohibited Methods

• Snares on land
• Pitfalls
• Deadfalls
• Nets
• Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals
• Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

Allowed Methods

Hunting Methods

• Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
• Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
• Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to no more than three shells.
• Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.
• Crossbows
• Atlatls
• Slingshots
• Dogs may be used
• Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used

During fall deer season, hunters must have an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit and a permit to hunt small game.

Trapping Methods

• Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
• Foot-hold trap
• Conibear or other killing-type trap
• Foot-enclosing trap
• Cage-type trap
• Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
• Cable restraint devices
• Snare set underwater

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Prohibited Methods

• Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive
• Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, or explosives
• Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive, or molest wildlife
• Artificial lights to search for, harass, or disturb wildlife
• You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow
• Snares set on land
• Pitfalls
• Deadfalls
• Nets
• Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals
• Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

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

Dogs may not be used during daylight hours from Nov. 1 through the end of the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties.

Allowed Methods

Hunting Methods

• Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
• Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
• Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to no more than three shells.
• Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.
• Crossbows
• Atlatls
• Slingshots
• Dogs may be used.
• Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used.

During fall deer season, hunters must have an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit and a permit to hunt small game.

Trapping Methods

• Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
• Foot-hold trap
• Conibear or other killing-type trap
• Foot-enclosing trap
• Cage-type trap
• Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
• Cable restraint devices
• Snare set underwater

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Prohibited Methods

• Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive
• Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, or explosives
• Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive, or molest wildlife
• Artificial lights to search for, harass, or disturb wildlife
• You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow
• Snares set on land
• Pitfalls
• Deadfalls
• Nets
• Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals
• Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

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

Dogs may not be used during daylight hours from Nov. 1 through the end of the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties.

Methods depend on the type of permit (archery or small game hunting).

Allowed Methods

Archery Permit Methods

• Longbow, compound bow, or recurve bow of any draw weight
• Atlatls, which are defined as a rod or narrow board-like device used to launch, through a throwing motion of the arm, a dart 5 to 8 feet long
• Hand-held string releasing devices
• Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights
• Crossbow 

Small Game Hunting Permit Methods

• Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
• Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
• Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge
• Crossbows
• Shotguns with the magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to not more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. This restriction does not apply during the Conservation Order for light geese.
• Shotguns are the only firearm allowed for hunting game birds (except crow). Pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns may be used to hunt crow.
• Bows, which include longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows, illuminated sights, scopes, quickpoint sights and hand-held string releasing mechanisms may be used.
• Atlatls
• Slingshots

You may take squirrels with a cage-type trap at any hour during the open hunting season if you possess a hunting permit. The cage-type trap must be labeled with your full name and address, or Conservation ID number; must be attended daily; and have an opening of 144 square inches or smaller.

Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties, 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.

Prohibited Methods

• Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical or explosive.
• Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive or molest wildlife. 
• Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
• Artificial lights may be used only to hunt bullfrogs and green frogs, or to hunt raccoons and other furbearing animals when treed with the aid of dogs. Using lights to search for, spot, illuminate, harass, or disturb other wildlife is a violation of the Wildlife Code of Missouri. 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.
• You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.

Allowed Methods

Hunting Methods

• Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
• Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
• Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to no more than three shells.
• Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.
• Crossbows
• Atlatls
• Slingshots
• Dogs may be used
• Artificial lights are allowed if raccoons are treed with the aid of dogs.
• Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used.

During fall deer season, hunters must have an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit and a permit to hunt small game.

Trapping Methods

• Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
• Foot-hold trap
• Conibear or other killing-type trap
• Foot-enclosing trap
• Cage-type trap
• Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
• Cable restraint devices
• Snare set underwater

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Prohibited Methods

• Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive
• Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, or explosives
• Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive, or molest wildlife
• Artificial lights to search for, harass, or disturb wildlife
• You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow
• Snares set on land
• Pitfalls
• Deadfalls
• Nets
• Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals
• Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

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

Dogs may not be used during daylight hours from Nov. 1 through the end of the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties.

Allowed Methods

Hunting Methods

• Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
• Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
• Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to no more than three shells.
• Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.
• Crossbows
• Atlatls
• Slingshots
• Dogs may be used
• Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used

During fall deer season, hunters must have an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit and a permit to hunt small game.

Trapping Methods

• Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only
• Foot-hold trap
• Conibear or other killing-type trap
• Foot-enclosing trap
• Cage-type trap
• Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide
• Cable restraint devices
• Snare set underwater

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Prohibited Methods

• Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive
• Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, or explosives
• Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive, or molest wildlife
• Artificial lights to search for, harass, or disturb wildlife
• You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow
• Snares set on land
• Pitfalls
• Deadfalls
• Nets
• Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals
• Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

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

Dogs may not be used during daylight hours from Nov. 1 through the end of the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties.