Welcome to our comprehensive summary of Missouri hunting seasons! Get ready in advance for an exciting adventure in the great outdoors. Missouri is known for its vast and diverse landscape teeming with a variety of game species. From the giant Whitetail Deer to the Mourning Doves, and from the swift Rabbits to the elegant Geese, Missouri’s hunting lands are home to a wide range of fascinating game animals.
Whether you are new or professional hunters, Missouri’s vast hunting lands will provide you with an enjoyable wilderness experience. There is plenty of time for you to well prepare for this trip to the state. Before that, you should know about the season and limits.
Missouri Deer Hunting Season
Missouri deer hunting season starts in early October and ends in early January of the next year. Here are the details for each deer season in 2024:
| Deer Hunting Season | Dates |
| Firearms: Alternative Methods | December 28 – January 7, 2025 |
| Firearms: November Portion | November 16 – November 26, 2024 |
| Firearms: Antlerless Portions | October 11 – October 13, 2024 December 7 – December 15, 2024 |
| Firearms: Youth Portions | November 2 – November 3, 2024 November 29 – December 1, 2024 |
| Firearms: CWD Portion | November 27 – December 1, 2024 |
Bag Limit: only one antlered deer
Hunting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
Deer Hunting Permits
| Types | Costs | Limit |
| Resident | $17.00 | One antlered or antlerless deer |
| Resident Landowner | $0.00 | |
| Nonresident | $265.00 | |
| Nonresident Landowner | $195.00 | |
| Youth (6-15) | $8.50 |
Hunting Method Rules
There are some specific rules on the firearm and devices that you can use or cannot during deer hunting seasons:
Allowed:
- ✔Firearms: You can use centerfire pistols, revolvers, or rifles with expanding bullets. Lead, copper, or other expanding bullet types are okay.
- ✔You can also use shotguns (like a .410) with slugs only. Air-powered guns that are .40 caliber or larger can be used, but you need to get air from an outside source.
- ✔Muzzleloading or cap-and-ball guns that are .40 caliber or larger can be used, and you can carry multiple guns if you want.
- ✔Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight are allowed. You can use hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quick-point sights.
- ✔Crossbows and atlatls are allowed.
Not Allowed:
- ✘Self-loading guns with more than 11 cartridges, buckshot, full hard metal case projectiles, fully automatic guns, and any sighting device that shines a light on the game are not allowed.
- ✘You can’t use electronic calls or night vision equipment either.
- ✘Don’t use bait or dogs to hunt deer.
✘You can’t use motorized vehicles to chase or harm wildlife. Deer can’t be hunted from a boat with a motor attached.
Missouri Turkey Hunting Season
The turkey seasons are split into two main periods: Spring and Fall. Each of them has their own limits and legal shooting hours.
| Turkey Hunting Season | Dates | Bag Limit | Hours |
| Regular Spring | April 21–May 11, 2025 | Two male turkeys or turkeys with visible beard | 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. Central |
| Spring Youth (ages 6-15) | April 12–13, 2025 | One male turkey or turkey with visible beard | 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset Central Daylight Time |
| Fall Firearms | October 1 – October 31 | Two turkeys( either sex) | One-half hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Archery |
November 27, 2024 – January 15, 2025
|
Two turkeys( either sex) | One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset |
Notes: In the Spring season, You may not take two turkeys on the same day or during the first week. Fall firearms turkey hunting is not permitted in Dunklin, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid, Newton, Pemiscot, and Scott counties.
Turkey Hunting Permit
| Types | Costs |
| Resident | $17.00 |
| Resident Landowner | $0.00 |
| Youth (6-15) | $8.50 |
| Nonresident | $224.00 |
| Nonresident Landowner | $165.00 |
Hunting Method Rules
Allowed:
- ✔You can use shotguns with shots not larger than No. 4 ( not allowed in Archery season)
- ✔Longbows, recurve bows, or compound bows
- ✔Hand-held string-releasing devices
- ✔Illuminated sights, scopes, and quick point sights
- ✔Crossbows
- ✔Atlatls
Not Allowed:
- ✘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), electronic calls
- ✘Use of dogs or live decoys or bait
Badger Hunting Season
Dates: November 15, 2023 – January 31, 2024
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
| Types | Costs |
| Resident Trapping Permit | $10.00 |
| Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit | $192.00 |
| Small Game Hunting Permit | Resident $10.00 Nonresident $94.00 |
Raccoon: Hunting and Trapping
Dates: August 1 to October 15, 2024
November 15 to February 29, 2025
Striped Skunk: Hunting and Trapping
Dates:
August 1 to October 15, 2024
November 15, 2024 to February 29, 2025
Beaver and Nutria: Trapping
Dates: November 15, 2024 to March 31, 2025
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Bobcat: Hunting and Trapping
Dates: November 15, 2024 to February 29, 2025
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Coyote: Trapping
Dates: November 15, 2024 to February 29, 2025
Hour: cannot be taken during the daylight hours of Spring Turkey Season
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Fox (Red or Gray): Hunting and Trapping
Dates: November 15, 2024 to January 31, 2025
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Rabbit Hunting Seasons
| Types | Dates | Limits |
| Rabbit Hunting | October 1, 2024 to February 15, 2025 | Daily limit: 6, only 2 may be swamp rabbits Possession limit: 12, only 4 may be swamp rabbits |
| Rabbit Trapping | November 15, 2024 to January 31, 2025 |
*Hunting hour: from Sunrise to sunset
Opossum: Hunting and Trapping
Dates:
- August 1 to October 15, 2024
- November 15, 2024 to February 29, 2025
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Mink: Trapping
Dates: November 15, 2024 to February 29, 2025
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Crow Hunting Season
Dates: November 1, 2024 to March 3, 2025
Hour: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Dove Hunting Seasons
Falconry Season
Dates: September 1, 2024 to December 16, 2024
Hour: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Daily limit: 3
Possession limit: 9
Hunting Season
Dates: September 1 to November 29, 2024
Hour: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Daily limit: 15
Possession limit: 45
Bullfrog and Green Frog: Hunting
Dates: June 3 to October 31, 2024
Hour: Opens at sunset on opening day
Daily limit: 8
Possession limit: 16
Squirrel Hunting Season
Dates: May 27, 2024 to February 15, 2025
Daily limit: 10
Possession limit: 20
Waterfowl Hunting Seasons
| Hunting Season | Dates | Limits |
| Teal | September 9 – September 24, 2024 | Daily bag limit: 6 Possession limit: 18 |
| Greater White-Fronted Geese | November 11, 2024 – February 6, 2025 | Daily limit: 2 Possession limit: 6 |
| Brant Geese | October 7 – October 15, 2024 November 11 – February 6, 2024 |
Daily limit: 3 Possession limit: 9 |
| Ducks (South Zone) | November 23 – November 26, 2024 December 7, 2024- January 31, 2025 |
Daily limit: 6 Possession limit: 18 |
| Coots (South Zone) | November 23 – November 26, 2024 December 7, 2024 – January 31, 2025 |
Daily limit: 15 Possession limit: 45 |
Conclusion
In summary, the 2024 Missouri hunting seasons promise an enjoyable experience for hunters with a diverse range of game species and season dates. By keeping updated with the new schedules of the Missouri hunting season, you will know when and where to hunt, connect with nature, and enjoy your hobby in this state.
We will keep you updated on any new information, making your hunting experience even more enjoyable and memorable. Happy hunting!
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