Regulations and Permits Definitions

Knowing regulations and permits definitions helps you abide by the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

Antlered Deer

A deer having at least one antler at least 3 inches long.

Atlatl

A rod or narrow board-like device used to launch, through a throwing motion of the arm, a dart 5 to 8 feet in length. Note: Atlatls may be used for hunting small game, deer, and turkeys during prescribed seasons.

Backwater

Any flowing or non-flowing water lying exclusively within the floodplain of a river and connected to that river at any water level below official flood stage for the portion of river where the backwater occurs. Backwater does not include tributary streams and ditches, but may include side channels, chutes, sloughs, bayous, oxbows and blew holes.

Chase or Chased

The act of using dogs to follow wildlife for the purpose of recreation or dog training, but not for the purpose of catching or taking that wildlife.

Firearm

Pistols, revolvers and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge including those powered by spring, air or compressed gas, and shotguns not larger than 10 gauge.

Flies, Lures, and Baits

The following classes of lures are authorized for use, except where restricted.

1. Natural and scented baits—A natural fish food such as bait fish, crayfish, frogs permitted as bait, grubs, insects, larvae, worms, salmon eggs, cheese, corn and other food substances not containing any ingredient to stupefy, injure or kill fish. Does not include flies or artificial lures. Includes dough bait, putty or paste-type bait, any substance designed to attract fish by taste or smell and any fly, lure or bait containing or used with such substances.
2. Soft plastic bait (unscented)—Synthetic eggs, synthetic worms, synthetic grubs and soft plastic lures.
3. Artificial Lure—A lure constructed of any material excluding soft plastic bait and natural and scented bait defined in (1) or (2) above.
4. Fly—An artificial lure constructed on a single-point hook, using any material except soft plastic bait and natural and scented bait as defined in (1) or (2) above, that is tied, glued or otherwise permanently attached.

Days or Dates

All days and dates are inclusive. A day begins or ends at midnight, unless otherwise specified

Endangered Fish

Lake sturgeon, pallid sturgeon, taillight shiner, Neosho madtom, spring cavefish, harlequin darter, goldstripe darter, cypress minnow, central mudminnow, crystal darter, swamp darter, Ozark cavefish, Niangua darter, Sabine shiner, mountain madtom, redfin darter, longnose darter, flathead chub, Topeka shiner. These fish may not be kept.

Furbearing Animals, Furbearers

Badger, beaver, black bear, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, red fox, mink, mountain lion, muskrat, nutria, opossum, raccoon, river otter, spotted skunk, striped skunk and long-tailed weasel. Note: Open seasons exist for all furbearers except black bear, mountain lion, spotted skunk and long-tailed weasel.

Game Birds

Coot, crows, ducks, geese, ruffed grouse, Eurasian collared-dove, mourning dove, white-winged dove, ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, rails, snipe, turkey and woodcock.

Game Fish

Rock bass (goggle-eye), warmouth, northern pike, muskellunge, tiger muskie, muskie-pike hybrid, chain pickerel, grass pickerel, all species of catfish except bullheads, all species of black bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted), paddlefish (spoonbill), all species of crappie, white bass, yellow bass and striped bass, trout, walleye, sauger and shovelnose sturgeon.

Game Mammals

Deer, groundhog (woodchuck), cottontail rabbit, jackrabbit, swamp rabbit, fox squirrel, gray squirrel and furbearers as defined above. Note: Open seasons exist for all game mammals except jackrabbits, and for all furbearers except black bear, mountain lion, spotted skunk and long-tailed weasel.

Grabbing

Snagging or attempting to snag a fish by means of a pole, line and hook manipulated by hand.

Hook

Single- or multiple-pronged hooks and ordinary artificial lures with attached single- or multiple-pronged hooks and dropper flies. A multiple-pronged hook, or 2 or more hooks used to hold a single bait are considered a single hook.

Managed Deer Hunt

A prescribed deer hunt conducted on a designated area, which may include conservation areas, state parks, national wildlife refuges, military bases, private land, and city or county properties.

Muzzleloading Firearm

Any firearm capable of being loaded only from the muzzle.

Night-Vision Equipment

Optical devices (such as binoculars or scopes) using light amplifying circuits that are electrical or battery-powered.

Nongame Fish

All species other than those listed as endangered or defined as game fish. Nongame fish are referred to as “other fish” in the Wildlife Code.

Resident Landowner

Any Missouri resident who is the owner of at least five (5) acres in one (1) contiguous tract, or any member of the immediate household whose legal residence or domicile is the same as the landowner’s for at least thirty (30) days last past. In the case of corporate ownership of land, persons defined as landowners include Missouri residents who are:

1. (A) General partners of resident limited liability partnerships, limited partnerships, or limited liability limited partnerships, and general partners of general partnerships formed by written agreement
2. (B) Officers of resident or foreign corporations
3. (C) Managing members of resident limited liability companies
4. (D) Officers of benevolent associations organized pursuant to Chapter 352 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri

Pole or Rod and Line

Fishing tackle normally held in the hand, such as a cane pole, casting rod, spinning rod or fly rod, to which not more than 3 hooks with bait or lures are attached. Does not include snagging, snaring, grabbing, trotlines, jug lines or other tackle normally attached in a fixed position.

Possessed and Possession

The actual and constructive possession and control of things referred to in the Wildlife Code.

Public Roadway

The right of way which is owned either outright or by easement by any public entity, or which is used by the general public for travel and is also regularly maintained by any public entity.

Pursue or Pursued

The act of trying to find, to seek or to search for wildlife for the purpose of taking wildlife.

Sell

To offer for sale or to exchange for compensation in any material form.

Take or Taking

Killing, trapping, snaring, netting or capturing in any manner any wildlife, and also refers to pursuing, molesting, hunting, wounding; or the placing, setting, or use of any net, trap, device, contrivance or substance, in an attempt to take wildlife; and every act of assistance to every other person in taking or attempting to take any wildlife.