Hunting & Trapping Seasons

Opossum: Hunting and Trapping

Season Not Open
Dates
August 1, 2023 to October 15, 2023
November 15, 2023 to February 29, 2024
Notes

Extended trapping season on private land from March 1 to April 14.

Limits

Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number

Permit Notes

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

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 from Nov. 1 through the end of November portion statewide and the antlerless 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.

Additional Allowed Methods (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

You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife. (See special allowed methods for coyote.) 

 

 

Furbearers: Trapping: Allowed Methods

Methods

Traps must have smooth or rubber jaws only

Foot-hold trap

Conibear or other killing-type trap

Foot-enclosing trap

Cage-type trap

Colony traps with openings no greater than 6 inches in height and 6 inches wide

Cable restraint devices

Snares set underwater, have a loop 15 inches or less in diameter when set, have a stop device that prevents snare from closing to less than 2 1/2 inches in diameter, made with cable that is between 5/64 inch and 1/8 inch in diameter, and have a mechanical lock and anchor swivel.

From March 1 through April 14 only foot-hold traps, foot-enclosing traps, and cage-type traps may be used to trap coyote, opossum, raccoon, and striped skunk.

From August 1 through October 15 only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used to trap opossum, raccoon,

Additional Info

Within communities having 10,000 or more inhabitants, only cage-type or foot-enclosing traps, may be set within 150 feet of any residence or occupied building.

Furbearers: Trapping: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Dogs may not be used for aquatic furbearers (beaver, muskrat, mink, otter) 

Snares on land

Pitfalls

Deadfalls

Nets

Traps may not be set in paths made or used by people or domestic animals.

Killing-type traps may not be set along public roadways.

Traps may not be placed or set before midnight of the first day of the applicable trapping season and must be removed by midnight of the last day of the applicable trapping season.

Additional Info

 

 

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Dove: Falconry

Season Not Open
Dates
September 1, 2023 to December 16, 2023
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Limits

Daily limit: 3
Possession limit: 9

Any ducks, coots, or mergansers taken by falconers must be included in these limits.

 

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Dove: Hunting

Season Not Open
Dates
September 1, 2023 to November 29, 2023
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Limits

Daily limit: 15
Possession limit: 45

Combined total of all dove species

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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Common Snipe: Hunting

Season Not Open
Dates
September 1, 2023 to December 16, 2023
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

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Sora and Virginia Rails: Hunting

Season Not Open
Dates
September 1, 2023 to November 9, 2023
Hours

One half-hour before sunrise to sunset

Limits

Daily limit: 25
Possession limit: 75

Combine total of all rail species

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

Teal: Hunting

Season Not Open
Dates
September 9, 2023 to September 24, 2023
Hours

Sunrise to sunset

Notes

You may hunt blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, and cinnamon teal.

Northern shoveler, northern pintail, and wood ducks have similarly colored plumage but are illegal to hunt during this season.

Limits

Daily bag limit: 6

Possession limit: 18

Limits are a combined total of all teal species.

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

Learn more about the species

Turkey: Archery

Season Not Open
Dates
September 15, 2023 to November 10, 2023
November 22, 2023 to January 15, 2024
Hours

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

Limits

Two turkeys of either sex, both may be taken on the same day

Methods

Turkey: Archery: Allowed Methods

Methods

Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight

Crossbows

Hand-held string-releasing devices

Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights

Atlatls

Crossbows

Turkey: 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

Live decoys may not be used to take turkeys.

Archers hunting deer or turkeys during the archery season may not be in possession of a firearm. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.432 and 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

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Deer: Archery

Season Not Open
Dates
September 15, 2023 to November 10, 2023
November 22, 2023 to January 15, 2024
Hours

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

Limits

Archer's Hunting Permit: two deer of either sex. Only one antlered deer may be taken before November 12.
Hunters may purchase and fill any number of archery antlerless deer hunting permits in all counties except Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Pemiscot counties

You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.

Methods

Deer: Archery Allowed

Methods

Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight

 

Crossbows

Hand-held string-releasing devices

Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights

Atlatls

Deer: Archery Prohibited

Methods

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

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

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

Live decoys may not be used to take turkeys.

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.

Archers hunting deer or turkeys during the archery season may not be in possession of a firearm. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.432 and 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

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Rabbit: Hunting

Season Not Open
Dates
October 1, 2023 to February 15, 2024
Hours

Sunrise to sunset

Notes

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

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 

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.

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 antlerless 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.

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Turkey: Fall Firearms

Season Not Open
Dates
October 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Notes

Fall firearms turkey hunting is not permitted in Dunklin, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid, Newton, Pemiscot, and Scott counties.

Limits

Two turkeys of either sex, both may be taken on the same day

Methods

Turkey: Fall Firearms: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotguns (including .410) with shot not larger than No. 4

Longbows, compound bows, or recurve bows of any draw weight

Crossbows

Atlatls

Hand-held string-release devices

Illuminated sights, scopes and quickpoint sights

Turkey: Fall Firearms: Prohibited Methods

Methods

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

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

Rifles, pistols, and other firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge

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

Night vision / thermal imagery equipment

Use of electronic calls, electronically activated calls, live decoys, bait, or dogs

Anyone hunting turkeys during the fall firearms turkey season may not be in possession of both a firearm and a bow. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

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