Duck and Coot Regulations
Valid Permits
- Daily Small Game Hunting Permit
- Migratory Bird Hunting Permit
- Nonresident Small Game Hunting Permit
- Resident Hunting and Fishing Permit
- Resident Small Game Hunting Permit
Season & Limits
Additional Information
Permit and Stamp Requirements
To pursue, take, possess and transport ducks, coots and geese in Missouri, except during the Conservation Order, a hunter must possess and carry the following, unless exempt:
- a Missouri permit to hunt small game (Missouri residents age 16 through 64; Nonresidents age 16 and older)
- Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit (Residents and nonresidents age 16 and older)
- Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp (Residents and nonresidents age 16 and older)
To be valid, the federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp must be signed in ink across the face. The stamps are available for $15 at U.S. Post Offices and selected permit vendors.
Season limit breakdown
The daily bag limit is 6 and may include no more than:
- Mallards: 4, but no more than 2 females
- Wood ducks: 3
- Hooded mergansers : 2
- Pintails: 2
- Redheads: 2
- Scaup: 4
- Black ducks: 1
- Canvasbacks: 1
- Mottled ducks : 1
Coot daily bag limit is 15 and possession limit is 30.
Youth Waterfowl
- 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 by 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.
