A successful hunting trip involves planning, scouting, and patience. Missouri offers a variety of hunting opportunities to hone your skills.
If you plan to hunt with a firearm, you will need to complete a hunter education course before you can buy a permit. If you plan to bow hunt, MDC offers optional bow hunter education.
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Turn your next deer into your own custom gun sling!
If you’ve ever wondered what happens to the hide after a harvest—or wanted to use more of the animal you worked hard to take—this hands-on workshop is for you. You’ll learn about the process of how to transform a raw deer hide into durable, beautiful leather using traditional tree-bark tanning techniques that have been used for generations.
We’ll dig into the history of hide tanning and how Native American and European cultures developed different methods to create leather for clothing, tools, and hunting gear. Then you’ll put those skills into action by designing and creating your own leather gun sling—cutting, shaping, and finishing it yourself.
By the end of the program, you’ll walk away with a one-of-a-kind piece of gear, a deeper appreciation for using the whole animal, and practical, old-school skills you can keep using for future hunts and projects.
Spots are limited—come make something you’ll actually use in the field.
Have you thought about squirrel hunting but have no idea where to start?
Squirrels are one of the most exciting small game animals you can hunt. With their unpredictable movements and gigantic leaps through the tree canopies, squirrel hunting offers a challenge for both beginners and seasoned hunters. It’s a great sport to introduce to friends and family. The added plus is you can enjoy a tasty meal at the end of the day.
Squirrel Hunting 101 will deliver the basics so you can get started and discover the best tips to help you succeed!
Also sign up for Small Game, Big Skills: Squirrel Cleaning 101 following this program, starting at 7pm.
Ever wondered what to do after you take the shot? This hands-on workshop walks you through the essential skills every small-game hunter should know—how to properly clean and process a squirrel from the field to the freezer.
Participants will learn safe, ethical, and efficient techniques for skinning, gutting, and preparing squirrels for cooking and storage. You’ll get step-by-step guidance and then practice the process yourself, building confidence with real tools and real game.
Along the way, we’ll talk about meat care, avoiding common mistakes, and how learning to process your own harvest helps you get the most from every hunt. By the end of the program, you’ll walk away with practical skills, a better understanding of where your food comes from, and the confidence to handle small game on your own next season.
Also sign up for Squirrel Hunting 101 that starts just before this program at 5:30pm!



























