Welcome to our comprehensive summary of Missouri hunting seasons in 2024! Get ready in advance for an exciting adventure in the great outdoors of Missouri! Missouri is known for its vast and diverse landscape teeming with a variety of game species. From the majestic 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 creatures.
Whether you are new or professional hunters, Missouri's vast hunting areas will provide you with an unparalleled wilderness experience. There are 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, 2024 - January 7, 2025 |
| Firearms: November Portion | November 16, 2024 - November 26, 2024 |
| Firearms: Antlerless Portions | October 11, 2024 - October 13, 2024
December 7, 2024 - December 15, 2024 |
| Firearms: Youth Portions | November 2, 2024 - November 3, 2024
November 29, 2024 - December 1, 2024 |
| Firearms: CWD Portion | November 27, 2024 - 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
| Turkey Hunting Season | Dates | Bag Limit | Hours |
| Spring | April 15, 2024 to May 5, 2024 | Two male turkeys or turkeys with visible beard | One-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. |
| Spring Youth (ages 6-15) | April 6, 2024 to April 7, 2024 | One male turkey or turkey with visible beard | One-half hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Fall Firearms | October 1, 2024 to October 31, 2024 | Two turkeys( either sex) | One-half hour before sunrise to sunset |
| Archery | September 15, 2023 to November 10, 2023 | 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 shot 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, 2023 to October 15, 2023
November 15, 2023 to February 29, 2024
Striped Skunk: Hunting and Trapping
Dates:
August 1, 2023 to October 15, 2023
November 15, 2023 to February 29, 2024
Beaver and Nutria: Trapping
Dates: November 15, 2023 to March 31, 2024
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Bobcat: Hunting and Trapping
Dates: November 15, 2023 to February 29, 2024
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Coyote: Trapping
Dates: November 15, 2023 to February 29, 2024
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, 2023 to January 31, 2024
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Rabbit Hunting Seasons
| Types | Dates | Limits |
| Rabbit Hunting | October 1, 2023 to February 15, 2024 | Daily limit: 6, only 2 may be swamp rabbits Possession limit: 12, only 4 may be swamp rabbits |
| Rabbit Trapping | November 15, 2023 to January 31, 2024 |
*Hour: Sunrise to sunset
Opossum: Hunting and Trapping
Dates:
August 1, 2023 to October 15, 2023
November 15, 2023 to February 29, 2024
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Mink: Trapping
Dates: November 15, 2023 to February 29, 2024
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Crow Hunting Season
Dates: November 1, 2023 to March 3, 2024
Hour: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Daily limit: Any number
Possession limit: Any number
Dove Hunting Seasons
Falconry Season
Dates: September 1, 2023 to December 16, 2023
Hour: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Daily limit: 3
Possession limit: 9
Hunting Season
Dates: September 1, 2023 to November 29, 2023
Hour: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Daily limit: 15
Possession limit: 45
Bullfrog and Green Frog: Hunting
Dates: June 30, 2023 to October 31, 2023
Hour: Opens at sunset on opening day
Daily limit: 8
Possession limit: 16
Squirrel Hunting Season
Dates: May 27, 2023 to February 15, 2024
Daily limit: 10
Possession limit: 20
Waterfowl Hunting Seasons
| Hunting Season | Dates | Limits |
| Teal | September 9, 2023 - September 24, 2023 | Daily bag limit: 6 Possession limit: 18 |
| Greater White-Fronted Geese | November 11, 2023 - February 6, 2024 | Daily limit: 2 Possession limit: 6 |
| Brant Geese | October 7, 2023 - October 15, 2023 November 11, 2023 - February 6, 2024 |
Daily limit: 3 Possession limit: 9 |
| Ducks (South Zone) | November 23, 2023 - November 26, 2023 December 7, 2023 - January 31, 2024 |
Daily limit: 6 Possession limit: 18 |
| Coots (South Zone) | November 23, 2023 - November 26, 2023 December 7, 2023 - January 31, 2024 |
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!