Hunting Seasons in Missouri 2025–26: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 MO hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to wild turkey to ducks. Whether you’re archery hunting mature bucks in Ozark oak ridges, setting a shotgun for early teal in flooded timber, or trailing coyote in winter fields, Missouri’s forests, glades, and wetlands deliver premier big game and small game opportunities under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in Missouri? Missouri supports a diverse array of game: Big Game: Whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear (limited draw), elk (Zone 1 reintroduction hunts), feral hogs (no closed season) Small Game & Upland Birds: Rabbit, gray squirrel, bobwhite and scaled quail, ruffed grouse Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, wood duck), geese, coots, rails, American woodcock Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, raccoon, opossum, bobcat From glade‑scattered hill country to bottomland hardwoods, Missouri’s varied habitats sustain healthy wildlife and broad seasons. Year‑Round Huntable Species On private lands with permission, you may take unprotected or nuisance species—feral hogs, coyote, nutria, raccoon, and opossum—year‑round, aiding predator control and farmland protection. Public‑land WMAs enforce posted seasons and method restrictions. Missouri Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail Deer Archery: Sept 15 – Dec 15, 2025 November Firearms Season: Nov 22 – 30, 2025 Youth Firearms: Nov 8 – 9, 2025 Late Antlerless: Jan 2 – Jan 10, 2026 Muzzleloader: Dec 1 – Dec 7, 2025 Missouri’s deer seasons balance bow, rifle, and muzzleloader windows; bag limit is one buck plus antlerless deer under quota tags. Wild Turkey (Spring) Season: Apr 20 – May 31, 2026 Youth Hunt: Apr 13 – 19, 2026 Fall Archery: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 Spring turkey seasons welcome archers and shotgun hunters. Fall archery offers additional chances under limited permit hunts. Black Bear & Elk Black Bear (Draw): Sept 1 – Oct 31, 2025 Elk (Zone 1 draw): Sept 1 – Sept 15 & Oct 1 – Oct 15, 2025 Bear and elk tags are issued by lottery. Hunters must follow specific license and tagging procedures to maintain healthy populations. Missouri Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Game & Small Mammals Rabbit & Squirrel: Nov 1 , 2025 – Feb 28, 2026 Quail: Nov 1 – Feb 28, 2026 (WMAs and private land) Ruffed Grouse & Woodcock: Sept 15 – Jan 31, 2026 Walk CRP fields and woodlands for upland birds and small mammals; shotguns loaded with non‑toxic shot required. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Ducks: Nov 15 – Jan 31, 2026 Youth Waterfowl Day: Sept 27 – 28, 2025 Geese: Nov 20 – Jan 31, 2026 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Dec 31, 2025 Shooting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset Missouri’s river oxbows, impoundments, and agricultural wetlands attract migratory ducks and geese; hunters need HIP registration, Federal Duck Stamp, and state waterfowl permit. Bag Limits by Species Whitetail Deer: 1 buck; antlerless tags available by quota Wild Turkey: 2 per spring season; 1 fall archery Ducks: 6 per day (species sub‑limits apply) Geese: 4 per day Woodcock & Rails: 3 & 15 per day Quail: 8 per day; 16 in possession Rabbit & Squirrel: 8 per day each Coyote & Furbearers: No limits on private lands Bag limits sustain balanced big game and small game populations while allowing ample hunter opportunity. License & Tags Information for Missouri Hunters (2025–26) All hunters need a valid MDC hunting license and required permits: Resident Annual License: $32 Nonresident Annual License: $180 Deer Permits: $10–$20; antlerless quotas by unit Turkey Permits: $5; free youth tags Waterfowl Permit: $5; Federal Duck Stamp & HIP required Bear/Elk Tags: $10–$25 (draw only) Licenses fund conservation and habitat programs; apply online early for limited hunts. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Missouri permits: Archery: Compound, recurve, crossbows (archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns with slugs or shot during gun seasons Muzzleloaders: Permitted early December Dogs & Bait: Waterfowl hunting allows retrievers; predator hunts may use bait per regulations Ensure compliance with weapon and caliber restrictions for each season and unit. Regulations & Resources Missouri Department of Conservation regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset (waterfowl sunrise to sunset) Hunting Zones & Maps: Online unit boundaries for all species Harvest Reporting: Required for deer and turkey within 48 hrs Special Areas: Conservation areas, WMAs, and chronic wasting disease zones Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC): https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/seasons With well‑defined seasons, clear bag limits, and accessible license structures, Missouri delivers rewarding hunts for whitetail deer, wild turkey, ducks, and more. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure the proper tags, and experience the Show-Me State’s rich wildlife heritage on your 2025–26 hunt.