Hunting & Trapping Seasons (by Species)

Badger

Badger crawls through grass

Season Not Open
  • November 15, 2023 to January 31, 2024

Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number

Special Provision for Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion and Antlerless portion in open counties, furbearer hunters must also possess an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit if hunting during daylight hours.

Small Game Hunting and Fishing Permit, Small Game Hunting Permit, Resident Trapping Permit, Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit, Nonresident Daily Small Game Permit, Military Reduced Cost Permit, Lifetime Conservation Partner (Hunting and Fishing) Permit (residents only), Lifetime Small Game Hunting Permit (residents only)

Furbearers: Hunting: Allowed Methods

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 not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.

Crossbows

Atlatls

Slingshots

Dogs may be used (Dogs may not be used during daylight hours of elk season, from Nov. 1 through the end of November portion statewide, the antlerless portion, and CWD portion in open areas.)

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used.

Additional Info

During spring turkey season, coyotes may be taken only during legal shooting hours for turkey hunting, using only methods allowed for spring turkey hunting, and hunters must have an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.

During the November portion statewide and the antlerless and CWD portions in open counties, furbearers may be hunted within the established furbearer hunting season during daylight hours using any legal deer hunting method. Hunters must have an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.

Additional Allowed Methods For Coyotes (Feb. 1 - March 31)

During this time the below equipment is allowed in conjunction with other legal hunting methods to pursue and take coyotes.

  • Artificial light
  • Night vision equipment
  • Infrared or thermal imagery equipment

Furbearers: Hunting: Prohibited Methods

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 (see special allowed methods for coyote)

You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow

Additional Info

Night Vision or Thermal Imagery

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

  • Landowners may use on their property to kill feral swine.
  • Hunting coyotes from Feb 1. through March 31

Additional Prohibited Methods (Date Specific)

Furbearers cannot be chased, pursued, or taken with the aid of dogs

  • during the daylight hours of Elk Season in open counties
  • during the daylight hours Nov 1 through the end of the main November portion of Deer Season
  • during the daylight hours of the Antlerless portion of Deer Season in open counties
  • during the daylight hours of the CWD portion of Deer Season in open counties

 

 

 

Furbearers: Trapping: Allowed Methods

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

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, made with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.

From March 1 through April 14 only foot-hold traps, foot-enclosing traps, and cage-type traps may be used to trap coyote, opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk.

From August 1 through October 15 only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used to trap opossum, raccoon,

Additional Info

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.

Furbearers: Trapping: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Dogs may not be used for aquatic furbearers (beaver, muskrat, mink, otter) 

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.

Traps may not be placed or set before midnight of the first day of the applicable trapping season and must be removed by midnight of the last day of the applicable trapping season.

Additional Info

 

 

Bear

Black Bear

Season Not Open
  • October 16, 2023 to October 25, 2023
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

One black bear of either sex with the following restrictions:

  • You are required to call 800-668-4045 to determine the daily season quota/closure status prior to hunting each day. In addition, if the harvest has reached or exceeded 80 percent of the harvest quota, the director of the Conservation Department may close hunting within that Black Bear Management Zone on the following day.
  • Once the harvest quota is met or the Director closes the season for the BMZ in which you are hunting, the season is over, and you may not harvest a black bear.
  • Black bears that have taken refuge in a den may not be harvested or harassed.
  • Only lone black bears may be harvested. You may not harvest a bear that is with one or more other bears, including female bears with cubs.
Beaver

Photo of a beaver crouched on land

Season Open
  • November 15, 2023 to March 31, 2024

Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number

Furbearers: Trapping: Allowed Methods

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

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, made with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.

From March 1 through April 14 only foot-hold traps, foot-enclosing traps, and cage-type traps may be used to trap coyote, opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk.

From August 1 through October 15 only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used to trap opossum, raccoon,

Additional Info

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.

Furbearers: Trapping: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Dogs may not be used for aquatic furbearers (beaver, muskrat, mink, otter) 

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.

Traps may not be placed or set before midnight of the first day of the applicable trapping season and must be removed by midnight of the last day of the applicable trapping season.

Additional Info

 

 

Bobcat

Bobcat sitting in a tree

Season Not Open
  • November 15, 2023 to February 29, 2024
Notes

Bobcat pelts must be registered or tagged. Tagged bobcats and otters or their pelts may be possessed by the taker throughout the year.

Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number

Special Provision for Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion, Antlerless portion and CWD portion in open counties, furbearer hunters must also possess an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit if hunting during daylight hours.

Small Game Hunting Permit, Small Game Hunting and Fishing Permit, Resident Trapping Permit, Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit, Archer's Hunting Permit, Lifetime Conservation Partner (Hunting and Fishing) Permit (residents only), Lifetime Small Game Hunting Permit (residents only)

Furbearers: Hunting: Allowed Methods

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 not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.

Crossbows

Atlatls

Slingshots

Dogs may be used (Dogs may not be used during daylight hours of elk season, from Nov. 1 through the end of November portion statewide, the antlerless portion, and CWD portion in open areas.)

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used.

Additional Info

During spring turkey season, coyotes may be taken only during legal shooting hours for turkey hunting, using only methods allowed for spring turkey hunting, and hunters must have an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.

During the November portion statewide and the antlerless and CWD portions in open counties, furbearers may be hunted within the established furbearer hunting season during daylight hours using any legal deer hunting method. Hunters must have an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.

Additional Allowed Methods For Coyotes (Feb. 1 - March 31)

During this time the below equipment is allowed in conjunction with other legal hunting methods to pursue and take coyotes.

  • Artificial light
  • Night vision equipment
  • Infrared or thermal imagery equipment

Furbearers: Hunting: Prohibited Methods

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 (see special allowed methods for coyote)

You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow

Additional Info

Night Vision or Thermal Imagery

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

  • Landowners may use on their property to kill feral swine.
  • Hunting coyotes from Feb 1. through March 31

Additional Prohibited Methods (Date Specific)

Furbearers cannot be chased, pursued, or taken with the aid of dogs

  • during the daylight hours of Elk Season in open counties
  • during the daylight hours Nov 1 through the end of the main November portion of Deer Season
  • during the daylight hours of the Antlerless portion of Deer Season in open counties
  • during the daylight hours of the CWD portion of Deer Season in open counties

 

 

 

Furbearers: Trapping: Allowed Methods

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

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, made with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.

From March 1 through April 14 only foot-hold traps, foot-enclosing traps, and cage-type traps may be used to trap coyote, opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk.

From August 1 through October 15 only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used to trap opossum, raccoon,

Additional Info

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.

Furbearers: Trapping: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Dogs may not be used for aquatic furbearers (beaver, muskrat, mink, otter) 

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.

Traps may not be placed or set before midnight of the first day of the applicable trapping season and must be removed by midnight of the last day of the applicable trapping season.

Additional Info

 

 

Coyote

Coyote in the winter

Season Open
  • January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

Coyotes may not be taken:

  • during the daylight hours of Spring Turkey Season
Notes

Coyotes, except as otherwise provided in this section, may be taken by hunting, and pelts and carcasses may be possessed, transported, and sold in any numbers throughout the year.

Special method restrictions apply during spring turkey season, elk season and deer season. See Allowed & Prohibited methods.

Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number

Special Provision for Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion, Antlerless portion and CWD portion in open counties, furbearer hunters must also possess an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit if hunting during daylight hours.

During spring turkey season, coyote hunters must also possess an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit.

Small Game Hunting Permit, Small Game Hunting and Fishing Permit, Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit, Archer's Hunting Permit, Lifetime Conservation Partner (Hunting and Fishing) Permit (residents only), Lifetime Small Game Hunting Permit (residents only), Military Reduced Cost Permit

Furbearers: Hunting: Allowed Methods

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 not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.

Crossbows

Atlatls

Slingshots

Dogs may be used (Dogs may not be used during daylight hours of elk season, from Nov. 1 through the end of November portion statewide, the antlerless portion, and CWD portion in open areas.)

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used.

Additional Info

During spring turkey season, coyotes may be taken only during legal shooting hours for turkey hunting, using only methods allowed for spring turkey hunting, and hunters must have an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.

During the November portion statewide and the antlerless and CWD portions in open counties, furbearers may be hunted within the established furbearer hunting season during daylight hours using any legal deer hunting method. Hunters must have an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.

Additional Allowed Methods For Coyotes (Feb. 1 - March 31)

During this time the below equipment is allowed in conjunction with other legal hunting methods to pursue and take coyotes.

  • Artificial light
  • Night vision equipment
  • Infrared or thermal imagery equipment

Furbearers: Hunting: Prohibited Methods

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 (see special allowed methods for coyote)

You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow

Additional Info

Night Vision or Thermal Imagery

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

  • Landowners may use on their property to kill feral swine.
  • Hunting coyotes from Feb 1. through March 31

Additional Prohibited Methods (Date Specific)

Furbearers cannot be chased, pursued, or taken with the aid of dogs

  • during the daylight hours of Elk Season in open counties
  • during the daylight hours Nov 1 through the end of the main November portion of Deer Season
  • during the daylight hours of the Antlerless portion of Deer Season in open counties
  • during the daylight hours of the CWD portion of Deer Season in open counties

 

 

 

Season Not Open
  • November 15, 2023 to February 29, 2024
Notes

Extended trapping season on private land from March 1 to April 14. Only foot-hold traps, foot-enclosing traps, and cage-type traps may be used.

Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number

Furbearers: Trapping: Allowed Methods

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

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, made with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.

From March 1 through April 14 only foot-hold traps, foot-enclosing traps, and cage-type traps may be used to trap coyote, opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk.

From August 1 through October 15 only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used to trap opossum, raccoon,

Additional Info

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.

Furbearers: Trapping: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Dogs may not be used for aquatic furbearers (beaver, muskrat, mink, otter) 

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.

Traps may not be placed or set before midnight of the first day of the applicable trapping season and must be removed by midnight of the last day of the applicable trapping season.

Additional Info

 

 

Crow

Photograph of American Crow

Season Not Open
  • November 1, 2023 to March 3, 2024
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number

Crow: Hunting: Allowed Methods

Methods

Pistols

Revolvers

Rifles

Shotguns

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used

Additional Info

Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties, only pistols, revolvers, rifles, or shotguns may be used. These firearms must fire .22 caliber or smaller rimfire cartridges or shot no larger than No. 4. This restriction does not apply to landowners hunting on land they own.

Deer

deer

Season Not Open
  • November 27, 2024 to December 1, 2024
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Notes

Only select counties are open to firearms hunting during the CWD portion. See map.

  • You may take only one antlered deer during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
  • You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season (all portions). See map.

Deer: Firearms: Allowed Methods

Methods

Centerfire pistols, revolvers or rifles using expanding-type bullets; legal ammunition includes lead bullets, copper bullets and bullets made of other material designed to expand.

Shotguns (including .410) with slugs only

Air-powered firearms, .40 caliber or larger, charged only from an external high compression power source (external hand pump, air tank, or air compressor)

Muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms, .40 caliber or larger and capable of firing only a single projectile at one discharge; in-lines and scopes are allowed.

Multiple-barreled muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms and/or muzzleloading or cap-and-ball handguns, including revolvers, .40 caliber or larger, are allowed and may be carried in addition to a muzzleloading or cap-and-ball rifle.

Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight; hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights are allowed.

Crossbows

Atlatls

Deer: Firearms: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Self-loading firearms with capacity of more than 11 cartridges in magazine and chamber combined

Ammunition propelling more than one projectile at a single discharge (such as buckshot)

Full hard metal case projectiles

Fully automatic firearms

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls

Night vision equipment

Use of bait

Use of dogs

Additional methods may be prohibited by local ordinances.

Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive or molest wildlife. Deer may not be hunted from a boat with a motor attached.

Season Not Open
  • September 15, 2024 to November 15, 2024
  • November 27, 2024 to January 15, 2025
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

  • Archer's Hunting Permit: two deer of either sex. Only one antlered deer may be taken before Nov. 11.
  • Hunters may purchase and fill any number of archery antlerless deer hunting permits in all counties except Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Pemiscot counties.
  • An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.
  • You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.

Deer: Archery Allowed

Methods

Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight

 

Crossbows

Hand-held string-releasing devices

Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights

Atlatls

Deer: Archery Prohibited

Methods

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

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

Use of electronic calls, electronically activated calls, bait, dogs, or night vision equipment

Live decoys may not be used to take turkeys.

Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive or molest wildlife. Deer may not be hunted from a boat with a motor attached; however, a motorboat may be used to hunt other wildlife if the motor is shut off and the boat’s forward progress has stopped.

Archers hunting deer or turkeys during the archery season may not be in possession of a firearm. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.432 and 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

Season Not Open
  • November 16, 2024 to November 26, 2024
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Notes

An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.

If you harvest a deer from certain counties in the CWD Management Zone during the opening weekend, Nov. 16-17, you must take your deer to a designated CWD sampling station.

  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
  • You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
  • An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See map.

A resident or nonresident youth age 6-15 are eligible to purchase a half-priced Resident Firearms Any-Deer Permit or Resident Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit.

Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit, Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit

Deer: Firearms: Allowed Methods

Methods

Centerfire pistols, revolvers or rifles using expanding-type bullets; legal ammunition includes lead bullets, copper bullets and bullets made of other material designed to expand.

Shotguns (including .410) with slugs only

Air-powered firearms, .40 caliber or larger, charged only from an external high compression power source (external hand pump, air tank, or air compressor)

Muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms, .40 caliber or larger and capable of firing only a single projectile at one discharge; in-lines and scopes are allowed.

Multiple-barreled muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms and/or muzzleloading or cap-and-ball handguns, including revolvers, .40 caliber or larger, are allowed and may be carried in addition to a muzzleloading or cap-and-ball rifle.

Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight; hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights are allowed.

Crossbows

Atlatls

Deer: Firearms: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Self-loading firearms with capacity of more than 11 cartridges in magazine and chamber combined

Ammunition propelling more than one projectile at a single discharge (such as buckshot)

Full hard metal case projectiles

Fully automatic firearms

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls

Night vision equipment

Use of bait

Use of dogs

Additional methods may be prohibited by local ordinances.

Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive or molest wildlife. Deer may not be hunted from a boat with a motor attached.