Hunting: General Provisions

What's new in 2012

• To allow hunters and trappers more opportunities to sell their furs, the Resident Fur Handlers Permit was rescinded on July 1, 2011. Now, people with a valid permit to hunt or trap may possess, transport and sell furs throughout the year.
• Hunters with developmental disabilities who have taken a hunter-education course but failed to pass the certification tests now may purchase firearms permits. However, they must carry a physician’s statement as proof of their disability and hunt in the immediate presence of a properly licensed hunter age 18 or older who is hunter-education certified.
• Any member of the U.S. military currently assigned as a patient to a Warrior Transition Brigade, Warrior Transition Unit or a military medical center now may hunt wildlife—except deer, turkey and migratory birds—without a permit.
• Any member of the U.S. military currently assigned as a patient to a Warrior Transition Brigade, Warrior Transition Unit or a military medical center now may purchase resident permits regardless of where they live.
• In the past, hunters were prohibited from using crossbows or firearms to hunt frogs on conservation areas but could use these methods to take frogs on non-Department lands. Beginning at sunset on June 30, bullfrogs and green frogs may be taken on most conservation areas using crossbows, pellet guns and .22 caliber or smaller rimfire rifles or pistols.

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

To comply with regulations, however, you must wear a hunter-orange outer garment and cap when:

• firearms deer hunting
• hunting small game and furbearers in any area where hunting deer with centerfire firearms is allowed. Hunter orange is not required for small game hunters during the alternative methods portion of the firearms deer season.
• archery hunting during the youth portions and antlerless portion (in open counties) of the firearms deer season.

Note: Camouflage orange garments do not meet the hunter-orange requirement. For other hunter-orange regulations, see the Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available in the summer.

Baiting Not Allowed

Migratory birds, turkey and deer may not be hunted with the aid of bait. An area is considered baited for 10 days following complete removal of the bait. It is legal, however, to hunt over food plots. For complete baiting rules, see special deer, turkey and migratory bird hunting regulation booklets.

General Hunting Regulations

View the general hunting regulations that apply in Missouri.

Legal Hunting Methods

Find what methods you can use to hunt various species in Missouri at any given time.

Nontoxic Shot Only Rule

Beginning March 1, 2007, 21 conservation areas will have a nontoxic-shot-only regulation for all hunting with a shotgun.

Possessing, Transporting and Storing Wildlife

Find out the proper way to possess, transport and store wildlife that you harvest.