HUNTING LICENSES

A Hunting License or Permit is required in the state of Missouri to hunt any game animal. There are a variety of permit types available depending on your age, residency status, and what type of game you plan to hunt. Some of the hunting permit types in Missouri include:   

Firearms Any-deer hunting permit

This permit allows a hunter to take one antlered or antlerless deer during the legal hunting season. The cost for the permit will depend on the hunter’s age and if they are a resident or non-resident of the state. Youth permits of this type are also available. 

Lifetime Conservation Partner Permit

This permit grants a hunter with multiple privileges including the same as those granted with the resident hunting and fishing permit, trout permit, migratory game hunting permit and conservation order permit. Deer and turkey hunting privileges are not included with this permit type and must be obtained separately. 

Lifetime Small Game Hunting Permit

This permit grants a hunter multiple lifetime privileges including those granted with the small game hunting permit, migratory bird permit, and conservation order permit. Deer and turkey privileges are not included with this license type. Additionally, a Federal Duck Stamp is still required to hunt waterfowl. Other permit types may still be required.

GAME SPECIES

Missouri offers a wide variety of game species for all types of hunters. With its low lying flats and plains, and mountainous ranges the state’s diverse landscapes and habitats are home to diverse wildlife populations and plenty of game species.  

Game species in Missouri include: 

• Big game including white-tailed deer, elk, and turkey.
• Small game including dove, rabbit, quail, pheasant, and squirrel.
• Waterfowl and other migratory game birds including ducks and geese.
• Furbearers including beaver, bobcat, fox, and coyote among others. 

NON-GAME SPECIES

Nongame species within the state make up a majority of Missouri’s wildlife and include mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates which typically may not be hunted, are considered a nuisance, or are protected, endangered, or at risk. There is, unfortunately, a lengthy list of endangered, protected, and threatened species within the state. For more information on nongame, and endangered species within the state visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website.  

INVASIVE SPECIES

Invasive animals and other pests have been introduced to the United States, including the State of Missouri, and have become a threat to native wildlife. These animals, plants, fish, and invertebrates typically have no natural predators which can result in the rapid spread and population growth. This in turn can seriously harm the state’s lands and waters and can be detrimental to the health and population numbers of a variety of the state’s native plants and animals. Some common invasive species in Missouri include the Asian longhorn beetle, emerald ash borer, European woodwasp, as well as the Feral Hog – one of the most destructive and notable of the state’s pests. 

In order to protect Missouri’s native plants and animals, invasive species must be controlled and eradicated. Anyone who encounters or suspects that they have encountered an invasive species within the state is encouraged to report the sighting so that it can be monitored and controlled. For information on how to report various types of invasive species in Missouri visit Missouri’s Department of Conservation Invasive Species page.

PRIVATE LAND

Much of the land in Missouri is privately owned. Hunters can typically freely take game animals hunted on their own private property, or may seek permission from a landowner to hunt on private property. Hunters who wish to take game on privately owned land must follow state hunting regulations as well as any regulations specified by the landowner. Hunters must ensure they respect the rights and property of the landowner at all times.

MISSOURI RECREATIONAL ACCESS PROGRAM

Missouri’s Outdoor Recreational Access Program was developed to provide more outdoor recreational opportunities within the state. The program provides annual incentive payments to private landowners who open their land for public recreational activities. Many of these lands are open to public use for hunters, in addition to anglers and wildlife viewers. 

Interested landowners who own at least 40 acres of land can participate in the program. For more information on the Outdoor Recreational Access program visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website.

PUBLIC LAND

There are hundreds of thousands of acres of public hunting spaces across the state of Missouri including Conservation Areas, Recreational Access Program areas, wildlife refuges, state parks, and forests. Some of these areas are also open to a variety of outdoor recreational activities including hiking, bird and wildlife watching, and camping, among others. 

Public hunting areas within the state encompass a wide variety of habitats and diverse natural areas, which result in a wide variety of wildlife and wild game species. Hunters should keep in mind that hunting and recreational use regulations may vary within the spaces. Hunters must follow the regulations within the particular area – this may include firearm type restrictions, road closures, and other restrictions for hunters and/or recreational users.

For more information on public hunting access within the state of Missouri, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website.  

Hunting in Missouri’s Conservation Areas

The Missouri Department of Conservation manages the state’s Conservation Areas. These are designated land spaces which are managed to ensure sustainable population growth of game species and habitat management. There are nearly 1,000 state-managed Conservation Areas through Missouri which are open to public hunting access. The lands may also be used for other recreational purposes including hiking, and wildlife or bird watching, among others. 

These lands are home to numerous game species including white-tailed deer, turkey, and waterfowl as well as game birds and small game species including quail, pheasant, doves, and rabbits. 

Hunters should also keep in mind that special regulations may apply to hunters within these areas. To learn more about Conservation Areas in the state of Missouri, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation website. 

Conservation Area Regulations

Certain additional regulations may apply to hunters and other Conservation Area land users. Specifical regulations will vary depending on the Conservation Area. For specific regulations, visit the Missouri Department of Conservation Conservation Area Regulations page, and choose the conservation Area you plan to visit to see the regulations that apply within the area.