Missouri Hunting

Table of Contents

Missouri is one of the most interesting states to hunt in the USA. There are a lot of game animals to take in the state which leave hunters with many opportunities.

Missouri Hunting Regulation

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has requirements laws and regulations that hunters in the state must abide by before taking game.

Some of the restrictions for hunting in Missouri covers the following

Restrictions for Convicted Felon Hunters

It is a prohibition for convicted hunters to have any firearms in their possession while hunting. This includes the possession of muzzleloaders. An exception is made for convicted felons that already have their rights to possess firearms restored in the state or at the federal level. Also, this restriction only concerns the possession of firearms, and not archery, air rifles, and bows.

Restriction for the Use of Loaded Firearms

For the case of Missouri hunting, a firearm is loaded in the following cases:

If the magazine or chamber contains shells.
If the nipple possesses a percussion cap.
If the frozen pan contains gunpowder.

For the case of crossbows, they will be considered loaded when they are cocked.

Restrictions for Plugged Shotguns

Shotguns used for the taking of migratory birds in Missouri can only have a maximum of 3 shells in both the chamber and magazines. In case a plug is needed to limit the firearm capacity, it will only be a piece.

Restriction for Suppressors

If you have a suppressor that is lawfully allowed for hunting in Missouri, you can make use of it to take games. For hunting with suppressors on private lands in Missouri, you will need the permission of the landowner.

Archery Equipment Regulations

It is lawful to make use of compound bows, Recurve bows, longbows, and crossbows while hunting games, wildlife, and feral hogs in Missouri. However, the type of arrow that is permitted for the hunting of games like deer, and feral hogs should be one with a broadhead. Other requirements like draw weight of the arrow, length of the arrow, and let off are not regulated for Missouri hunting.

Prohibited Hunting Activities in Missouri

Some of the activities that are illegal while hunting in Missouri include the following:

It is a prohibition to hunt on private lands you do not own, or without the permission of the landowner. This includes hunting in railroad, power, or gas lines. In the case that land is posted for hunting, you must obtain written permission before you can hunt on the land.
It is a prohibition to hunt under the influence of alcohol in Missouri.
It is a prohibition to possess, import, hold or release wildlife in Missouri without a valid permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
It is a prohibition to hide your possession of games and wildlife or parts of their body when you illegally obtain them.
It is a prohibition to kill or cripple a game in Missouri if you do not have any intention to take or retrieve them.
It is a prohibition to take, kill, or fire at farm deer there such as elks, axis deer, fallow deer, red deer, etc. It is also a prohibition to take, kill, or fire at any exotic wild animal in Missouri such as deer, antelope, sheep that are kept with wildlife licenses for recreation, sports, and amusement.
It is a prohibition to hunt or shoot at a game animal from the opposite side of a major road.
It is a prohibition to hunt from vehicles, Including motorboats, powerboats, and aircraft.
It is a prohibition to buy or sell games or part of their bodies. Exceptions are only made to parts like antlers, tails from squirrels, and deer hunting in Missouri, hides from furbearers hunting in Missouri, and body products from alligators.
It is a prohibition to make use of a computer or any other similar device to discharge firearms remotely for the purpose of hunting games and wildlife.
It is a prohibition to make use of substances like chemicals, drugs, any explosive, gas, electronically generated sounds, poisons, etc. to hunt games in Missouri.
It is a prohibition to make use of baits, pitfalls, hooks, nets, snares, decoys, deadfalls, etc. to take games in Missouri.
It is a prohibition to make use of communication devices while pursuing games and wildlife in a hunt.
It is a prohibition to unsettle games and wildlife in their dens, holes, or anywhere they live as homes.
It is a prohibition to shoot a firearm within the range of 50 yards across any public road in Missouri.
It is a prohibition to blind wildlife with lights while hunting them.

Hunters Dressing Regulations

For hunting in some particular seasons. It is compulsory for a hunter and any escort to wear fluorescent yellow as outer clothing while hunting in Missouri. The cloth must not be less than 550 square inches, and over the hunter’s waist level. A headcover may also be included.

Some of the seasons where this dressing is required include the following:

Firearms and primitive weapon season for deer hunting.
Hunting feral hogs during firearm season for deer hunting.
Coyote hunting in Wildlife Management Areas and federal lands in Missouri.

You do not need to follow this dressing regulation for hunting in Wildlife Management Areas with just archery weapons. However, for small game hunting in Missouri that coincides with deer hunt, you have to follow the dress requirements.

Hunting While Open Carry.

Open carry during hunting in Missouri is legal, and you can also open carry while bow hunting.

Missouri has a hunter’s protection law that helps preserve hunting activity in the state, and this includes:

Anybody that interferes with hunting, trapping and fishing in Missouri commits an offense and violates Missouri hunter harassment laws.
It is also a violation to deliberately pursue or disturb the activity of games in the wild such that it interferes with hunting activities in the state
Nobody shall disturb or harass a hunter who has legal rights to hunt in wildlife or forests in the state.
Nobody shall trespass on privately or publicly owned land areas meant for hunting without obtaining permission from the owner or anybody they place in charge of the wildlife.

Missouri Hunting Licenses. Permits and Tags

There are a lot of valid licenses available in Missouri. The state issues licenses based on the residency and age of the applicant. They include the following:

Missouri Residents License

Missouri issues these licenses to only residents of the state. They include the following:

Hunting Licenses

This license is available to residents of Missouri for hunting in the state. The age requirement for this license is at least 16 years old. It costs $19.

Hunting Licenses for Seniors

This license is available to senior residents of Missouri for hunting in the state. The age requirement for this license is at least 64 years old. It costs $13.

Hunting and Habitat License

This license is available for residents of Missouri. The license is not only limited to hunting, it allows holders to take part in trapping as well. There are 2 types of this license based on validity. The one valid for a year costs $30, while the one valid for 3 years’ costs $86.

Migratory Game Birds Permits

This permit allows residents of Missouri to take migratory birds. It costs $10

Federal Duck Stamp

Federal duck stamps for residents of Missouri are needed to take ducks in the state. The stamp costs $25.

Apprentice License for Hunting and Habitat

Residents apprentice hunters in Missouri need this license before they can partake in any hunting season. The license also gives them the privilege to trap games. It costs $30.

Furharvester License

Resident hunters that deal with fur-bearing games need this license before they can harvest the games. There are two types of this license based on age requirements. The one valid for those ages 16 and more is $22.5 while the one valid for those under the age of 16 is $75.

Hunting and Fishing License

This license allows residents the privilege of fishing and hunting. It costs $47.

Lifetime Hunting License for Senior Residents

This license is available for senior residents that want to take part in Missouri hunting season. It will be valid throughout their lifetime. It costs $52.5

Lifetime Fur Harvester License for Senior Residents

This license is available for senior residents that want to take furbearer games. It will be valid throughout their lifetime. It costs $52.5

Deer Permit

Resident hunters that only want to be part of Deer seasons in Missouri may apply for this license. It costs $28.5.

First Antlerless Deer Permit

This is the initial Missouri deer hunting license required to take antlerless deer in Missouri. It costs $28.5

Subsequent Antlerless Deer Permit

This is the second and other license required for deer hunting in Missouri. It costs $13.

Non-Residents Hunting License

These are Missouri out-of-state hunting licenses issued to non-resident hunters that want to be part of Missouri hunting seasons.

They include the following:

Non-residents Hunting Licenses

This license is available to non-residents for hunting in the state. The age requirement for this license is at least 18 years old. It costs $112.

Junior Non-residents Hunting License

This license is available to only junior non-residents for hunting in the state. The age requirement for this license is at least under 18 years old. It costs $32.

Non-residents Habitat Fee License

This license is available for non-residents to take part in trapping. It costs $13.

Non-residents Hunting and Habitat Combination License

The license is not only limited to hunting, it allows holders to take part in trapping as well. It is available for only non-residents that are 18 years old or more. It costs $123.

Non-residents Migratory Game Bird Permits

This license allows non-residents to take migratory bird games in Missouri. It costs $10.

Missouri Fishing Licenses, Permits, and Tags

Just like hunting licenses in Missouri, fishing licenses are also issued based on residency and age. Fishing licenses permits and tags available in Missouri include the following:

Missouri Residents Fishing Licenses

They include the following:

Ordinary Resident Fishing License

Residents of Missouri need this license before fishing in any of the state water bodies. It costs $22.

Angler’s Special Fishing License

Residents that want to harvest anglerfishes in Missouri need this license. It costs $62.

Lifetime Fishing License for Seniors

This license is only valid for senior residents of the state that are 65 years old or more. It is a lifetime license and costs $61.5

Hunting and Fishing License

Residents that want to take part in both hunting and fishing in Missouri can apply for this license. It costs $55.

Trout Fishing License

Residents that want to harvest trout fishes in Missouri need this license. It costs $14.5

One Day Fishing License

This is a resident fishing license that is valid for one day. It costs $10.5

7 Days Fishing License

This is a resident fishing license that is valid for seven days. It costs $15.5

Residents Boundary Water Trotline License

This license allows residents to make use of at most 4 trotlines with 200 hooks. It costs $26.

Missouri Non-Residents Fishing Licenses

Includes the following:

Ordinary Non-Resident Fishing License

Non-residents that want to fish in Missouri need this license before they can gain access to Missouri water bodies. It costs $48.

Non-residents Trout Fishing License

Non-residents that want to harvest trout fishes in Missouri need this license. It costs $17.5

Non Residents One Day Fishing License

This is a non-resident fishing license that is valid for one day. It costs $12

Non Residents 3 Days Fishing License

This is a non-resident fishing license that is valid for 3 days. It costs $20.5

Non-Residents 7 Days Fishing License

This is a non-resident fishing license that is valid for seven days. It costs $37.5

Non-Resident Boundary Water License

This license allows non-residents to make use of at most 4 trotlines with 200 hooks. It costs $49.5

Missouri Hunting Season

Hunting seasons vary in Missouri for the different game animals in the state and the method of taking them.

The 2020/21 hunting season for various wildlife in Missouri includes the following:

Missouri Deer Hunting Seasons

Youth Hunting Season (19th of September to 4th of October)
Disabled Hunters Season (16th of September to 4th of October)
Archery Hunting Seasons (1st of October to 4th of December and 21st of October to 10th of January)
Early Muzzleloader Firearm Season (17th of October to 25th of October)
Late Muzzleloader Firearm Season (21st of December to 10th of January)
First Season for Regular Firearm (5th of December to 9th of December)
Second Season for Regular Firearm (12th of December to 20th of December)
Holiday Antlerless Season (24th of December to 2nd of January)

For each deer a hunter collects in Missouri, a permit is required.

Missouri Turkey Hunting Seasons

Fall Hunting Season for Guns and Bows (12th of October to 4th of December)
Fall Hunting Season for Archery (1st of October to 4th of December to 21st of December to 10th of January.

Missouri Small Games Hunting Season

Youth Rooster Pheasants Hunting Season (24th of October to 25th of October)
Rooster Pheasant Hunting Season (31st of October to 10th of January)
Quail Hunting Season (31st of October to 31st of January)
Fox Hunting Season (5th of September to 31st of January)
Gray Squirrel Hunting Season (5th of September to 31st of January)
Crow Hunting Seasons (15th of October to 30th of November and 14th of January to 31st of March)
Pigeon Hunting Season (Open Season)
Groundhog Hunting Season (Open Season)

Missouri Wildlife, Games and Fishes

Some of the most common wildlife and game animal in Missouri Include the following:

Missouri Deer Hunting

Deer Hunting in Missouri takes place in many regions of the state. The animals are known to inhabit forested areas of the state, and they survive in other types of habitats, so far the environment provides them enough cover. Examples of some of the areas where they are mostly found in Missouri include brushes, grass regions, fencelines, and marshy areas.

Missouri Turkey Hunting

Wild turkey hunting is common in Missouri. They are forest birds and the eastern wild turkey species is the most common in Missouri. These turkeys are known to survive in the developed oak forests of Missouri. Parts of Missouri that experience turkey hunting the most are the loess hills in the western region, and the yellow river forest in northeast Missouri. Turkey hunting in southeast regions of Missouri is recurrent, and in the east, they inhabit the timber forest areas of the state.

Missouri Fox Hunting

There are 2 common fox species in Missouri, the gray fox, and the red fox. The red fox is even more occurring in the state than the red fox. Red foxes can survive in a lot of habitats, but in Missouri, you will most likely find them in forested and grassland areas of the state.

Missouri Coyote Hunting

Coyotes are fairly distributed in Missouri, and they are more abundant in the western part of the state. They are not limited to a particular habitat, so you can find them on grasslands, timberlands, brush piles, and regions with switchgrass.

Missouri Pheasant Hunting

Pheasant hunting in Missouri is popular because of its population in the state, especially in northwest Missouri. In the past few years’ pheasant hunting in the state has seen decent numbers with 2016 on top of the list with 245,000 harvested pheasants.

Missouri Quail Hunting

Quail hunting in Missouri is one of the best in the USA. They inhabit the southern parts of the state to the northern area where you can find the bobwhite quail.

Missouri Duck Hunting

Ducks are mostly found in wetland parts of Missouri far away from human habitation. The best place for deer hunting in the state is in wildlife refuge areas. You will mostly find them around shallow parts of water bodies like ponds and lakes.

Missouri Dove Hunting

Doves are well distributed in Missouri, and this is due to the fact that they are migratory birds. You can find them in all counties of the state. Doves will readily inhabit open habitats such as fairly wooden areas, farmland areas, and grasslands.

Missouri Hunting Shooting Ranges

Some of the shooting ranges open for the general public in Missouri include the following:

August A. Busch Mem. Conservation Area Range Complex.
Cape Girardeau County Gun Club.
Fort Leonard Wood – Sportsmen Center.
Fort Leonard Wood – Sportsmen Center.
Gateway Gun Club.
Jay Henges Shooting Range.
Kansas City Trapshooters Association.
Missouri Trapshooter Association.
Ozark Shooters Sports Complex.
Prairie Grove Shotgun Sports.
River Hills Sporting Clays.
St. Louis Skeet and Trap Club.
Vanzant Clay Pigeon Farm.
The Shooting Place.
Snow White Enterprises.
Laurie Trap & Skeet
Aurora Trap & Skeet

Missouri Hunting Lands for Sale and Lease

Missouri hunting lands for sale include the following:

Branson West, Missouri (Stone County) 1,025 acres.
Gainesville, Missouri (Ozark County) 2,900 acres.
Urich, Missouri (Henry County) 72 acres.
Exeter, Missouri (Barry County) 444 acres.
Ava, Missouri (Douglas County) 10 acres.
Camdenton, Missouri (Camden County) 34 acres.
Wayland, Missouri (Clark County) 2,000 acres.
Seymour, Missouri (Webster County) 20 acres.

Missouri hunting lands for lease include the following:

885 acres’ deer hunting lease available in Clay county Missouri.
Whitetail Deer Hunting Farm 90 Acres Available in Barton County.
120 acres Farm available for Whitetail Hunting in Barton County.
Guided Duck Hunting in Livingston County, 167 acres.
Northern Missouri Farm in secluded creek bottom, Chariton County, 128 acres.
Whitetail Deer seasonal hunting lease in Stoddard County, 150 acres
Deer and Turkey Lease in Bates County, 187 acres.