Sunrise to sunset
Only cottontail and swamp rabbits may be hunted. Jackrabbits are protected at all times and may not be hunted or trapped.
Methods depend on the type of permit (archery or small game hunting).
Limits
Daily limit: 6, only 2 may be swamp rabbits
Possession limit: 12, only 4 may be swamp rabbits
Valid Permits
Allowed & Prohibited Methods
Small Game: Archery: Allowed Methods
Methods
Longbow, compound bow, or recurve bow of any draw weight
Atlatls, which are defined as a rod or narrow board-like device used to launch, through a throwing motion of the arm, a dart 5 to 8 feet long
Hand-held string releasing devices
Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights
Crossbow
Longbow, compound bow, or recurve bow of any draw weight
Atlatls, which are defined as a rod or narrow board-like device used to launch, through a throwing motion of the arm, a dart 5 to 8 feet long
Hand-held string releasing devices
Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights
Crossbow
Small Game: Archery: Prohibited Methods
Methods
Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical or explosive.
Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive or molest wildlife.
Artificial lights may be used only to hunt bullfrogs and green frogs, or to hunt raccoons and other furbearing animals when treed with the aid of dogs. Using lights to search for, spot, illuminate, harass, or disturb other wildlife is a violation of the Wildlife Code of Missouri. Landowners and lessees may use artificial lights on their property, but while doing so may not be in possession of — or be in the company of someone who possesses — a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.
You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.
Additional Info
Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties, other wildlife may be hunted only with a shotgun and shot not larger than No. 4 or a .22 or smaller caliber rimfire rifle. This does not apply to waterfowl hunters, trappers, or to landowners on their land.
Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical or explosive.
Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive or molest wildlife.
Artificial lights may be used only to hunt bullfrogs and green frogs, or to hunt raccoons and other furbearing animals when treed with the aid of dogs. Using lights to search for, spot, illuminate, harass, or disturb other wildlife is a violation of the Wildlife Code of Missouri. Landowners and lessees may use artificial lights on their property, but while doing so may not be in possession of — or be in the company of someone who possesses — a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.
You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.
Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties, other wildlife may be hunted only with a shotgun and shot not larger than No. 4 or a .22 or smaller caliber rimfire rifle. This does not apply to waterfowl hunters, trappers, or to landowners on their land.
Small Game: Hunting: Allowed Methods
Methods
Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
Guns powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge
Crossbows, which are classified as a firearm method
Shotguns with the magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to not more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. This restriction does not apply during the Conservation Order for light geese.
Shotguns are the only firearm allowed for hunting game birds (except crow). Pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns may be used to hunt crow.
Bows, which include longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows, illuminated sights, scopes, quickpoint sights and hand-held string releasing mechanisms may be used
Atlatls
Slingshots
Additional Info
In addition to the hunting methods listed above, with a small game hunting permit you may take groundhogs, squirrels, and rabbits with a cage-type trap during that species' open hunting season.
Traps must:
- be labeled with your full name and address, or Conservation Number;
- be attended daily; and
- have an opening of 144 square inches or smaller.
Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion statewide and the antlerless portion and CWD portion in open counties, only pistols, revolvers, rifles, or shotguns may be used to take rabbits and squirrels. 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.
Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge
Guns powered by spring, air, or compressed gas
Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge
Crossbows, which are classified as a firearm method
Shotguns with the magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to not more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. This restriction does not apply during the Conservation Order for light geese.
Shotguns are the only firearm allowed for hunting game birds (except crow). Pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns may be used to hunt crow.
Bows, which include longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows, illuminated sights, scopes, quickpoint sights and hand-held string releasing mechanisms may be used
Atlatls
Slingshots
In addition to the hunting methods listed above, with a small game hunting permit you may take groundhogs, squirrels, and rabbits with a cage-type trap during that species' open hunting season.
Traps must:
- be labeled with your full name and address, or Conservation Number;
- be attended daily; and
- have an opening of 144 square inches or smaller.
Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion statewide and the antlerless portion and CWD portion in open counties, only pistols, revolvers, rifles, or shotguns may be used to take rabbits and squirrels. 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.
Small Game: Hunting: Prohibited Methods
Methods
Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive.
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.
Artificial lights may be used only to hunt bullfrogs and green frogs, or to hunt raccoons and other furbearing animals when treed with the aid of dogs. Using lights to search for, spot, illuminate, harass, or disturb other wildlife is a violation of the Wildlife Code of Missouri. Landowners and lessees may use artificial lights on their property, but while doing so may not be in possession of — or be in the company of someone who possesses — a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.
You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.
Additional Info
Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion, dogs may not be used during daylight hours in Butler, Carter, Dent, Iron, Madison, Oregon, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, and Wayne counties.
Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive.
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.
Artificial lights may be used only to hunt bullfrogs and green frogs, or to hunt raccoons and other furbearing animals when treed with the aid of dogs. Using lights to search for, spot, illuminate, harass, or disturb other wildlife is a violation of the Wildlife Code of Missouri. Landowners and lessees may use artificial lights on their property, but while doing so may not be in possession of — or be in the company of someone who possesses — a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.
You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.
Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion, dogs may not be used during daylight hours in Butler, Carter, Dent, Iron, Madison, Oregon, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, and Wayne counties.
