Missouri Deer Season & Hunting Regulations
If you haven’t been deer hunting in Missouri, then you’re missing out on some good whitetail deer hunting. Missouri deer hunting is exceptional with an estimated 1.4 million whitetail deer in the state. With over 1.4 million acres of public land to hunt in the Mark Twain National Forest, there’s plenty of room to hunt.
Many hunting opportunities are available in The Show-Me State of Missouri. Below are the Missouri deer hunting seasons, dates and other resources about hunting in Missouri.
Missouri Deer Season 2023 – 2024
2023-24 Archery Deer and Turkey Hunting
Sept. 15 to Nov. 10, 2023, and Nov. 22 to Jan. 15, 2024
2023-24 Modern Firearms Deer Hunting
Nov. 11 to Nov 21, 2023.
Summary of other firearm hunting dates:
New: Firearms Early Antlerless Portion: Oct. 6-8 (in open counties)
Firearms Early Youth Portion: Oct. 28-29
Firearms November Portion: Nov. 11-21
New: Firearms CWD Portion: Nov. 22-26 (in open counties)
Firearms Late Youth Portion: Nov. 24-26
Firearms Late Antlerless Portion: Dec. 2-10 (in open counties)
Firearms Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 23 – Jan. 2, 2024
Archery Bag Limits:
Archer’s Hunting Permit: two deer of either sex. Only one antlered deer may be taken before November 12.
Hunters may purchase and fill any number of archery antlerless deer hunting permits in all counties except Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Pemiscot counties
You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
Firearms Bag Limits:
- Only one antlered deer may be taken during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
- You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
- The antler-point restriction apply in some counties.
- Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See map for county antlerless restrictions.
Firearm allowed types:
- Centerfire pistols, revolvers or rifles using expanding-type bullets; legal ammunition includes lead bullets, copper bullets and bullets made of other material designed to expand.
- Shotguns (including .410) with slugs only
- Air-powered firearms, .40 caliber or larger, charged only from an external high compression power source (external hand pump, air tank, or air compressor)
- Muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms, .40 caliber or larger and capable of firing only a single projectile at one discharge; in-lines and scopes are allowed.
- Multiple-barreled muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms and/or muzzleloading or cap-and-ball handguns, including revolvers, .40 caliber or larger, are allowed and may be carried in addition to a muzzleloading or cap-and-ball rifle.
- Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight; hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights are allowed.
- Crossbows
- Atlatls
Firearms prohibited methods: - Self-loading firearms with capacity of more than 11 cartridges in magazine and chamber combined
- Ammunition propelling more than one projectile at a single discharge (such as buckshot)
- Full hard metal case projectiles
- Fully automatic firearms
- Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
- Electronic calls or electronically activated calls
- Night vision equipment
- Use of bait
- Use of dogs
- Additional methods may be prohibited by local ordinances.
- Motor driven conveyances may not be used to take, drive or molest wildlife. Deer may not be hunted from a boat with a motor attached.
Missouri Hunting License 2023-2024
- Resident Price $17.00
- Resident LandownerPrice Free
- Nonresident Price $265.00
- Nonresident Landowner Price $195.00
- Youth (6-15) Price $8.50
You can purchase permits here – https://mdc-web.s3licensing.com/
How to telecheck deer in Missouri?
All deer must be Telechecked online, using the MO Hunting app, or by telephone at 800-314-6828.
If you are calling Telecheck on your cellphone, be sure you have a clear signal.
If the signal is spotty, move closer to a major highway, go to higher ground, or wait until you get to a land-based line to call.
Avoid calling in areas with loud background noise.
You do not need to Telecheck immediately after harvesting a deer. You have until 10 p.m. on the day taken to check your deer.
What is the largest deer killed in Missouri?
The world record non-typical buck is the Missouri Monarch. It is the best non-typical whitetail buck that netted 333 7/8 inches in St. Louis County.
Can you bait deer in Missouri?
No, it is illegal to hunt while baiting deer in Missouri. Taking deer by use of bait is prohibited by The Wildlife Code of Missouri
