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Missouri Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against MO Dept of Conservation before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $19 · nonresident $251. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

White-tailed Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Archery (first segment)Sep 15, 2026Nov 13, 2026Archery Hunting Permit
Archery (second segment)Nov 25, 2026Jan 15, 2027Archery Hunting Permit
Firearms Early Antlerless Portion (open counties only)Oct 9, 2026Oct 11, 2026Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit
Firearms Early Youth PortionOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Youth Deer Hunting Permit
Firearms November PortionNov 14, 2026Nov 24, 2026Firearms Deer Hunting Permit
Firearms Late Youth PortionNov 27, 2026Nov 29, 2026Youth Deer Hunting Permit
Firearms Late Antlerless Portion (open counties only)Dec 5, 2026Dec 13, 2026Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit
Firearms Alternative Methods PortionDec 26, 2026Jan 5, 2027Firearms Deer Hunting Permit

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Fall Archery Portion (first segment)Sep 15, 2026Nov 13, 2026Archery Hunting Permit
Fall Archery Portion (second segment)Nov 25, 2026Jan 15, 2027Archery Hunting Permit
Fall Firearms Portion (open counties only)Oct 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Firearms Turkey Hunting Permit

Black Bear Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Black bear season (drawn permit only, quota-limited)Oct 17, 2026Oct 30, 2026Resident Black Bear Hunting Permit (random drawing)

Elk Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Archery Portion (drawn permit only): Elk hunting zone (Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties)Oct 17, 2026Oct 25, 2026Resident Antlered Elk Hunting Permit (random drawing)
Firearms Portion (drawn permit only): Elk hunting zone (Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties)Dec 12, 2026Dec 20, 2026Resident Antlered Elk Hunting Permit (random drawing)

Badger Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit
TrappingNov 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping Permit

Beaver Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 15, 2026Mar 31, 2027Trapping Permit

Bobcat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit
TrappingNov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping Permit

Coyote Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Hunting - continuous open season (permit year)Mar 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit
TrappingNov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping Permit
Special trapping season - private lands onlyMar 1, 2026Apr 14, 2026Trapping Permit

Crow Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularNov 1, 2026Mar 3, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit

Mourning Dove (with White-winged and Eurasian Collared-Dove) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular (single unsplit season)Sep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026Small Game Hunting Permit + Migratory Bird Hunting Permit
Falconry (statewide)Sep 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026Falconry Permit + Migratory Bird Hunting Permit

Red and Gray Fox Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingNov 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit
TrappingNov 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping Permit

Bullfrog and Green Frog Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularJun 30, 2026Oct 31, 2026Fishing or Small Game Hunting Permit

Groundhog (Woodchuck) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularMay 11, 2026Dec 15, 2026Small Game Hunting Permit

Mink Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping Permit

Muskrat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping Permit

Nutria Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 15, 2026Mar 31, 2027Trapping Permit

Opossum Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Hunting (first segment)Aug 1, 2026Oct 15, 2026Small Game Hunting Permit
Hunting (second segment)Nov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit
Trapping (first segment)Aug 1, 2026Oct 15, 2026Trapping Permit
Trapping (second segment)Nov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping Permit
Special trapping season - private lands onlyMar 1, 2026Apr 14, 2026Trapping Permit

River Otter Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
TrappingNov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping Permit

Ring-necked Pheasant Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth-only seasonOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Youth hunters age 6 through 15
RegularNov 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit

Northern Bobwhite Quail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Youth-only seasonOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Youth hunters age 6 through 15
RegularNov 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit

Cottontail and Swamp Rabbit Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
HuntingOct 1, 2026Feb 15, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit
TrappingNov 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Trapping Permit

Raccoon Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Hunting (first segment)Aug 1, 2026Oct 15, 2026Small Game Hunting Permit
Hunting (second segment)Nov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit
Trapping (first segment)Aug 1, 2026Oct 15, 2026Trapping Permit
Trapping (second segment)Nov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping Permit
Special trapping season - private lands onlyMar 1, 2026Apr 14, 2026Trapping Permit

Sora and Virginia Rail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Small Game Hunting Permit + Migratory Bird Hunting Permit

Striped Skunk Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Hunting (first segment)Aug 1, 2026Oct 15, 2026Small Game Hunting Permit
Hunting (second segment)Nov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit
Trapping (first segment)Aug 1, 2026Oct 15, 2026Trapping Permit
Trapping (second segment)Nov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027Trapping Permit
Special trapping season - private lands onlyMar 1, 2026Apr 14, 2026Trapping Permit

Wilson's (Common) Snipe Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularSep 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026Small Game Hunting Permit + Migratory Bird Hunting Permit

Gray and Fox Squirrel Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularMay 23, 2026Feb 15, 2027Small Game Hunting Permit

Ducks, Coots, Geese and Teal Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
September Teal (statewide)Sep 12, 2026Sep 20, 2026Small Game + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp
Youth Waterfowl Days - North Zone: North Waterfowl ZoneOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026Youth (age 15 or younger) with an accompanying adult 18 or older
Youth Waterfowl Days - Middle Zone: Middle Waterfowl ZoneOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 2026Youth (age 15 or younger) with an accompanying adult 18 or older
Youth Waterfowl Days - South Zone: South Waterfowl ZoneNov 21, 2026Nov 22, 2026Youth (age 15 or younger) with an accompanying adult 18 or older
Ducks and Coots - North Zone: North Waterfowl ZoneOct 31, 2026Dec 29, 2026Small Game + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp
Ducks and Coots - Middle Zone (first segment): Middle Waterfowl ZoneNov 7, 2026Dec 13, 2026Small Game + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp
Ducks and Coots - Middle Zone (second segment): Middle Waterfowl ZoneDec 19, 2026Jan 10, 2027Small Game + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp
Ducks and Coots - South Zone (first segment): South Waterfowl ZoneNov 26, 2026Nov 29, 2026Small Game + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp
Ducks and Coots - South Zone (second segment): South Waterfowl ZoneDec 7, 2026Jan 31, 2027Small Game + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp
Canada Geese and Brant - early season (statewide)Oct 3, 2026Oct 11, 2026Small Game + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp
Canada Geese and Brant - regular season (statewide)Nov 11, 2026Feb 6, 2027Small Game + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp
Snow, Blue and Ross's Geese (statewide)Nov 11, 2026Feb 6, 2027Small Game + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp
White-fronted Geese (statewide)Nov 11, 2026Feb 6, 2027Small Game + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp
Light Goose Conservation Order (statewide)Feb 7, 2027Apr 30, 2027Conservation Order Permit
Falconry - ducks and coots, extended season (statewide)Feb 11, 2027Mar 10, 2027Falconry Permit + Migratory Bird Permit + Federal Duck Stamp

American Woodcock Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
RegularOct 18, 2026Dec 1, 2026Small Game Hunting Permit + Migratory Bird Hunting Permit
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with MO Dept of Conservation before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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