Hunting & Trapping Seasons

Turkey: Spring: Youth (ages 6-15)

Season Not Open
Dates
April 6, 2024 to April 7, 2024
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Notes

Youth hunters who are age 6-15 on opening day may hunt.

Youth may also hunt during the regular Spring Turkey season.

Limits

During the spring youth season, one male turkey or turkey with visible beard


Youths who take a turkey during the youth season may not harvest a second bird until the second Monday of the regular season. This is because the bird taken during the youth season counts as the first bird for the first week of the regular season.
 

Methods

Turkey: Spring: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotguns with shot not larger than No. 4

Longbows, recurve bows, or compound bows. Hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quick point sights are allowed.

Crossbows

Atlatls

Turkey: Spring: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined

Shot larger than No. 4 (in use or in possession)

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Thermal imagery equipment or night vision equipment (in use or in possession)

Recorded calls (in use or in possession)

Use of dogs or live decoys

 

Use of bait, which includes grain or other feed placed or scattered so as to attract turkeys. An area is considered baited for 10 days even after complete removal of the bait. A hunter can be in violation even if he or she did not know an area was or is baited. It is illegal to place bait in a way that causes others to be in violation of the baiting rule.

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Pheasant: Hunting

Season Not Open
Dates
November 1, 2024 to January 15, 2025
Notes

Only male pheasants may be taken. A foot or fully-feathered head must be left attached during transportation and storage.

Limits

Daily limit: 2 male pheasants
Possession limit: 4 male pheasants

Methods

Pheasant: Hunting: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotgun

Additional Info

Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties, shot must be no larger than No. 4. This restriction does not apply to landowners hunting on land they own.

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Ducks, Coots, and Geese Hunting: Youth: South Zone

Season Not Open
Dates
November 23, 2024 to November 24, 2024
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Notes

See the zone boundary map for areas in the south zone.

Youth hunters must be age 15 or younger and accompanied by an adult 18 years old or older who is not allowed to hunt ducks but who can participate in other open seasons.

Limits

Ducks: Daily limit of 6 with species restrictions below, possession limit of 18
Mallards: 4 (no more than 2 females)
Scaup: 2 scaup for first 45 days and 1 scaup for last 15 days
Wood ducks: 3
Hooded mergansers: 2
Redheads: 2
Canvasback: 2
Black duck: 2
Mottled duck: 1
​Pintails: 1

Limit of 6 per species: American wigeon, blue-winged teal, gadwall, green-winged teal, Northern shoveler, ring-necked duck

Coots: Daily limit of 15, possession limit of 45.

Geese
Light geese: Daily limit 20, no possession limit
Canada/brant geese (combined): Daily limit 3, possession limit 9
White-fronted geese: Daily limit 2, possession limit 6

Permit Notes

Youth do not need a permit to hunt.

Youth must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older. If the youth is not hunter-education certified, the adult must (1) be hunter-education certified unless they were born before Jan. 1, 1967 and (2) possess a permit to hunt small game.

Note: Adult hunters assisting youths during the regular waterfowl seasons must have a permit to hunt small game, a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit and a Federal Duck Stamp.

Methods

Waterfowl: Hunting: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotguns, 10 gauge or smaller. Must not hold more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined. Use nontoxic shot only.

Hunting dogs

Motor boats or sailboats may be used, but only if the motor has been shut off and/or the sails furled, and the boat’s progress therefrom has stopped.

Waterfowl: Hunting: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Lead shot or other shot that has not been listed as nontoxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Rifles and pistols

Firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge

Punt guns, battery guns, swivel guns, fully automatic firearms, traps, snares, nets, fish hooks, poisons, drugs, explosives, and stupefying substances

Motor vehicles or aircraft. Paraplegics and people missing one or both legs may hunt from a stationary vehicle

Sink boxes or any other type of low-floating device that conceals the hunter beneath the surface of the water

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Night vision or thermal imagery equipment

Live decoys

Bait

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Woodcock: Hunting

Season Not Open
Dates
October 18, 2024 to December 1, 2024
Hours

One half hour before sunrise to sunset

Limits

Daily limit: 3
Possession limit: 9

Methods

Migratory Birds: Hunting: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotguns, 10 gauge or smaller. Must not hold more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

Hunting dogs

Motor boats or sailboats may be used, but only if the motor has been shut off and/or the sails furled, and the boat’s progress therefrom has stopped.

Additional Info

Special Provision for Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion and Antlerless portion in open counties, shot must be no larger than No. 4.

Migratory Birds: Hunting: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Rifles and pistols

Firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge

Punt guns, battery guns, swivel guns, fully automatic firearms, traps, snares, nets, fish hooks, poisons, drugs, explosives, and stupefying substances

Lead shot is prohibited at some conservation areas.

Motor vehicles or aircraft. Paraplegics and people missing one or both legs may hunt from a stationary vehicle.

Sink boxes or any other type of low-floating device that conceals the hunter beneath the surface of the water

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Night vision or thermal imagery equipment

Live decoys

Bait

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Pheasant: Hunting: Youth

Season Not Open
Dates
October 26, 2024 to October 27, 2024
Notes

Open to youths age 6 through 15. Youths who are not hunter-education certified must hunt in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult; however, the adult may not hunt pheasants.

Only male pheasants may be taken. A foot or fully-feathered head must be left attached during transportation and storage.

Limits

Daily limit: 2 male pheasants
Possession limit: 4 male pheasants

Methods

Pheasant: Hunting: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotgun

Additional Info

Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties, shot must be no larger than No. 4. This restriction does not apply to landowners hunting on land they own.

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Common Snipe: Hunting

Season Not Open
Dates
September 1, 2024 to December 16, 2024
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Limits

Daily limit: 8
Possession limit: 24

Methods

Migratory Birds: Hunting: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotguns, 10 gauge or smaller. Must not hold more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

Hunting dogs

Motor boats or sailboats may be used, but only if the motor has been shut off and/or the sails furled, and the boat’s progress therefrom has stopped.

Additional Info

Special Provision for Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion and Antlerless portion in open counties, shot must be no larger than No. 4.

Migratory Birds: Hunting: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Rifles and pistols

Firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge

Punt guns, battery guns, swivel guns, fully automatic firearms, traps, snares, nets, fish hooks, poisons, drugs, explosives, and stupefying substances

Lead shot is prohibited at some conservation areas.

Motor vehicles or aircraft. Paraplegics and people missing one or both legs may hunt from a stationary vehicle.

Sink boxes or any other type of low-floating device that conceals the hunter beneath the surface of the water

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Night vision or thermal imagery equipment

Live decoys

Bait

Learn more about the species

Deer: Firearms: November Portion

Season Not Open
Dates
November 16, 2024 to November 26, 2024
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Notes

An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.

If you harvest a deer from certain counties in the CWD Management Zone during the opening weekend, Nov. 16-17, you must take your deer to a designated CWD sampling station.

Limits
  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
  • You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
  • An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See map.
Permit Notes

A resident or nonresident youth age 6-15 are eligible to purchase a half-priced Resident Firearms Any-Deer Permit or Resident Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit.

Methods

Deer: Firearms: Allowed Methods

Methods

Centerfire pistols, revolvers or rifles using expanding-type bullets; legal ammunition includes lead bullets, copper bullets and bullets made of other material designed to expand.

Shotguns (including .410) with slugs only

Air-powered firearms, .40 caliber or larger, charged only from an external high compression power source (external hand pump, air tank, or air compressor)

Muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms, .40 caliber or larger and capable of firing only a single projectile at one discharge; in-lines and scopes are allowed.

Multiple-barreled muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms and/or muzzleloading or cap-and-ball handguns, including revolvers, .40 caliber or larger, are allowed and may be carried in addition to a muzzleloading or cap-and-ball rifle.

Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight; hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights are allowed.

Crossbows

Atlatls

Deer: Firearms: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Self-loading firearms with capacity of more than 11 cartridges in magazine and chamber combined

Ammunition propelling more than one projectile at a single discharge (such as buckshot)

Full hard metal case projectiles

Fully automatic firearms

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls

Night vision equipment

Use of bait

Use of dogs

Additional methods may be prohibited by local ordinances.

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.

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Elk Hunting: Archery

Season Not Open
Dates
October 19, 2024 to October 27, 2024
Hours

One-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset

Notes

Antlered Elk Hunting permits can be used during both the archery and firearms portions of the elk hunting season.

Limits

Those selected to receive a permit may take one (1) elk with at least one (1) antler no less than 6” in length.

Permit Notes

Elk hunting permits are distributed by random drawing.

Methods

Elk: 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 

Elk: Archery: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Use of electronic calls, electronically activated calls, bait, dogs, or night vision equipment

Hunting elk from a boat with a motor attached

Hunting elk while they are in a stream or other body of water

Hunting within any area enclosed by a fence greater than seven feet (7’) in height

Archers hunting elk during the archery portion may not be in possession of a firearm. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.705 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

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Quail: Hunting

Season Not Open
Dates
November 1, 2024 to January 15, 2025
Limits

Daily limit: 8
Possession limit: 16

Methods

Quail: Hunting: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotgun

Additional Info

Special Provision During the Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion statewide and antlerless portion in open counties, shot must be no larger than No. 4. This restriction does not apply to landowners hunting on land they own.

Learn more about the species

Coyote: Hunting

Season Open
Dates
January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
Hours

Coyotes may not be taken:

  • during the daylight hours of Spring Turkey Season
Notes

Coyotes, except as otherwise provided in this section, may be taken by hunting, and pelts and carcasses may be possessed, transported, and sold in any numbers throughout the year.

Special method restrictions apply during spring turkey season, elk season and deer season. See Allowed & Prohibited methods.

Limits

Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number

Permit Notes

Special Provision for Firearms Deer Season: During the November portion, Antlerless portion and CWD portion in open counties, furbearer hunters must also possess an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit if hunting during daylight hours.

During spring turkey season, coyote hunters must also possess an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit.

Methods

Furbearers: Hunting: Allowed Methods

Methods

Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one discharge

Firearms powered by spring, air, or compressed gas

Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with magazine cut off or plugged to reduce the capacity to not more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.

Bows, including longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows.

Crossbows

Atlatls

Slingshots

Dogs may be used (Dogs may not be used during daylight hours of elk season, from Nov. 1 through the end of November portion statewide, the antlerless portion, and CWD portion in open areas.)

Electronic calls or electronically activated calls may be used.

Additional Info

During spring turkey season, coyotes may be taken only during legal shooting hours for turkey hunting, using only methods allowed for spring turkey hunting, and hunters must have an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.

During the November portion statewide and the antlerless and CWD portions in open counties, furbearers may be hunted within the established furbearer hunting season during daylight hours using any legal deer hunting method. Hunters must have an unfilled firearms deer hunting permit and either a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.

Additional Allowed Methods For Coyotes (Feb. 1 - March 31)

During this time the below equipment is allowed in conjunction with other legal hunting methods to pursue and take coyotes.

  • Artificial light
  • Night vision equipment
  • Infrared or thermal imagery equipment

Furbearers: Hunting: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Arrows containing any drug, poison, chemical, or explosive

Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, or explosives

Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive, or molest wildlife

Artificial lights to search for, harass, or disturb wildlife (see special allowed methods for coyote)

You may not take wildlife from or across a public roadway with a firearm, bow, or crossbow

Additional Info

Night Vision or Thermal Imagery

You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife, except

  • Landowners may use on their property to kill feral swine.
  • Hunting coyotes from Feb 1. through March 31

Additional Prohibited Methods (Date Specific)

Furbearers cannot be chased, pursued, or taken with the aid of dogs

  • during the daylight hours of Elk Season in open counties
  • during the daylight hours Nov 1 through the end of the main November portion of Deer Season
  • during the daylight hours of the Antlerless portion of Deer Season in open counties
  • during the daylight hours of the CWD portion of Deer Season in open counties

 

 

 

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