Deer

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deer

What’s New for 2026?

  • The CWD Management Zone has been removed. Regulations still apply in some counties. 
  • During the November Portion, hunters who harvest a deer in designated counties must take the deer (or its head) on the day of harvest to a mandatory CWD sampling station.  
  • Grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable products used to attract deer are prohibited year-round in counties that are within 10 miles of where CWD has been detected. 
  • The CWD portion of firearms deer season has been removed. 
  • The antler-point restriction has been removed for all counties. 
  • Hunters using a Nonresident Archer’s Hunting Permit and/or a Nonresident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit may now take only one antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer seasons combined.  
  • Permit prices have increased to keep pace with the rising costs of goods and services. 
  • New managed deer hunts have been added, and others have been removed or modified.
  • Deer hunting regulations have changed for some conservation areas.

In summer, they are reddish-brown to tan above; the winter the colors are grayish to grayish brown. Fawns are reddish, brown or reddish-yellow spotted with white; they lose their spots and acquire uniform coloration at 3-5 months of age. Antlers normally occur only in males and are formed and shed each year. Antler growth starts in April or May. During the growth period, the soft skin and short hair covering the antlers have a plush quality, giving this stage the name of "velvet." The white-tailed deer is aptly named because the white undersurface of its flaglike tail is about all that we see in the fleeting glimpse we get as it bounds across an opening in the woods.

Topic Category
Hunting / Fishing Guide
Regulations
Seasons
Biological Information
White-Tailed Deer
Management Information
Deer Management on Your Property
Seasons
Season Dates Hours Limits/Notes
Deer: Archery -

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

Missouri Residents

  • You may take two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer seasons combined.
  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during archery deer season before Nov. 14.
  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during firearms deer season (all portions combined).

Nonresidents

  • If you are using a Nonresident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit and/or a Nonresident Archer’s Hunting Permit, you may take only one antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer seasons combined.

Nonresident Landowners 

  • If you are using a Nonresident Landowner’s Firearms AnyDeer Hunting Permit and/or a Nonresident Landowner’s Archer’s Hunting Permit, you may take two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer seasons combined.
  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during archery deer season before Nov. 14.
  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during firearms deer season (all portions combined).
  • Nonresident landowner permits can be used only on your qualifying property. To hunt elsewhere, you must purchase regular nonresident permits, and you may take only one antlered deer with regular nonresident permits. Your total season limit across all permits combined (landowner and regular) is two antlered deer.

Note: Deer taken with a managed deer hunting permit do not count toward your antlered deer limits.
Deer: Firearms: Antlerless Portions -

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One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
  • Only antlerless deer may be harvested during the Antlerless.
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See antlerless regulations.
Deer: Firearms: Youth Portions -

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One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
  • 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.
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See map.

  • To participate, you must be at least 6 and no older than 15 on the opening day of the early youth portion.

     
Deer: Firearms: November Portion -

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
  • Missouri Residents
  • You may take two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer seasons combined.
  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during archery deer season before Nov. 14.
  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during firearms deer season (all portions combined).
  • Nonresidents
  • If you are using a Nonresident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit and/or a Nonresident Archer’s Hunting Permit, you may take only one antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer seasons combined.
  • Nonresident Landowners 
  • If you are using a Nonresident Landowner’s Firearms AnyDeer Hunting Permit and/or a Nonresident Landowner’s Archer’s Hunting Permit, you may take two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer seasons combined.
  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during archery deer season before Nov. 14.
  • Only one antlered deer may be taken during firearms deer season (all portions combined).
  • Nonresident landowner permits can be used only on your qualifying property. To hunt elsewhere, you must purchase regular nonresident permits, and you may take only one antlered deer with regular nonresident permits. Your total season limit across all permits combined (landowner and regular) is two antlered deer.

  • Note: Deer taken with a managed deer hunting permit do not count toward your antlered deer limits.

     

  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See map.
  • If you harvest a deer from certain counties in the CWD Management Zone during the opening weekend, you must take your deer to a designated CWD sampling station.
Deer: Firearms: Alternative Methods -

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
  • You may take only one antlered deer during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
  • You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
  • Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season (all portions). See map.