Deer Seasons

Missouri Deer Seasons

Deer: Archery

• September 15, 2023 - November 10, 2023
• November 22, 2023 - January 15, 2024

Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Notes

An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.

Limits

• Archer's Hunting Permit: two deer of either sex. Only one antlered deer may be taken before Nov. 11.
• Hunters may purchase and fill any number of archery antlerless deer hunting permits in all counties except Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Pemiscot counties.
• An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.
• You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.

Valid Permits

Archer's Hunting Permit, Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit

Allowed & Prohibited Methods

Deer: Archery Allowed Methods

• Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight
• Crossbows
• Hand-held string-releasing devices
• Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights
• Atlatls

Deer: Archery Prohibited Methods

• Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
• You may not possess night vision or thermal imagery equipment while carrying a firearm, bow, or other implement used to take wildlife.
• Use of electronic calls, electronically activated calls, bait, dogs, or night vision equipment
• Live decoys may not be used to take turkeys.
• 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; however, a motorboat may be used to hunt other wildlife if the motor is shut off and the boat’s forward progress has stopped.
• Archers hunting deer or turkeys during the archery season may not be in possession of a firearm. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.432 and 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

Deer: Firearms: Alternative Methods

• December 23, 2023 - January 2, 2024

Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Notes

• An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.

Limits

• You may take only one antlered deer during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
• You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
• An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.
• Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season (all portions). See map for antlerless restrictions.

Valid Permits

Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit, Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit

Allowed & Prohibited Methods

Deer: Firearms, Alternative Methods, Allowed Methods

• 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.
• Centerfire pistols or revolvers using expanding-type bullets, such as lead or copper
• Air-powered firearms, .40 caliber or larger, charged only from an external high compression power source (external hand pump, air tank, or air compressor)
• Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw wright; hand-held string-releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights are allowed.
• Crossbows
• Atlatls, which are defined as a rod or narrow board-like device used to launch, through a throwing motion of the arm, a dart 5 to 8 feet in length.

Deer: Firearms, Alternative Methods, Prohibited Methods

• Any rifle capable of being loaded by any means other than the muzzle
• Shotguns
• 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
• 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.
• Additional methods may be prohibited by local ordinances.

Deer: Firearms: Antlerless Portions

• October 11, 2024 - October 13, 2024
• December 7, 2024 - December 15, 2024

Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Notes

Some counties are closed to firearms hunting during these portions. See map.

Limits

Only antlerless deer may be harvested during the Antlerless Portion. Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See map.

Valid Permits

Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit, Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit

Allowed & Prohibited Methods

Deer: Firearms: Allowed Methods Methods

• 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

Deer: Firearms: Prohibited Methods 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.

Deer: Firearms: Youth Portions

• November 2, 2024 - November 3, 2024
• November 29, 2024 - December 1, 2024

Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Notes

To participate, you must be at least 6 and no older than 15 on the opening day of the early youth portion.

Hunters who are 15 years or younger on Sept. 15 of the current year are exempt from the antler-point restriction during the archery deer season and all portions of the firearms deer season.

Limits

• Only one deer (of either sex) may be taken during the early youth portion. If you have more than one permit, you must use them in another portion.
• 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.
• Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See map.

Valid Permits

Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit, Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit

Allowed & Prohibited Methods

Deer: Firearms: Allowed Methods

• 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

Deer: 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.

Deer: Firearms: November Portion

• November 16, 2024 - November 26, 2024

Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Notes

An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.

If you harvest a deer from certain counties in the CWD Management Zone during the opening weekend, Nov. 11-12, you must take your deer to a designated CWD sampling station.

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.
• An antler-point restriction applies in some counties.
• Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season. See map.

Valid Permits

A resident or nonresident youth age 6-15 are eligible to purchase a half-priced Resident Firearms Any-Deer Permit or Resident Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit.

Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit, Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit

Allowed & Prohibited Methods

Deer: Firearms: Allowed Methods

• 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

Deer: 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.

Deer: Firearms: CWD Portion

• November 27, 2024 - December 1, 2024

Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Notes

Only select counties are open to firearms hunting during the CWD portion. See map.

Limits

• You may take only one antlered deer during the entire firearms season (all portions combined).
• You may take only two antlered deer during the archery and firearms deer hunting seasons combined.
• Each county limits the number of antlerless deer hunting permits you can fill during the entire firearms season (all portions). See map.

Valid Permits

Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit, Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit

Allowed & Prohibited Methods

Deer: Firearms: Allowed Methods

• 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

Deer: 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.