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Southeast Region county guide
Cape Girardeau County Hunting
Cape Girardeau County sits in the MDC Southeast Region. This page lists its 2026 deer rules, every dated season, harvest and CWD results by year, its public areas with acres and the offices that serve it.
Photo: Allen Gathman (CC BY-SA 2.0)
What MDC set for Cape Girardeau County this season
Jackson anchors Cape Girardeau County, a county of 579 square miles in the MDC Southeast Region. Census Vintage 2024 counts 83,658 residents, 2.4% more than the April 2020 base. The firearms antlerless fill limit for Cape Girardeau County is 4 deer for 2026-27; archery antlerless permits are not capped by county. The county is open during the early antlerless portion (Oct. 9-11) and the late antlerless portion (Dec. 5-13). Cape Girardeau County is inside the 85-county feed and mineral ban, which applies all year. Hunters donating venison from Cape Girardeau County through Share the Harvest need a CWD test result. Rules tied to the old CWD Management Zone no longer apply in Cape Girardeau County; MDC dropped the zone for 2026.
| Rule | Cape Girardeau County | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Firearms antlerless fill limit | 4 deer | All firearms portions |
| Antlerless portions | Open | Oct. 9-11, Dec. 5-13 |
| Mandatory CWD sampling | Not this year | Day of harvest |
| Feed and mineral ban | Yes | Year-round |
| Share the Harvest test | Required | Before donating |
| November dog rule | No | November portion, daylight |
| Fall firearms turkey | Open | Oct. 1-31 |
| Elk hunting county | No | Carter, Reynolds, Shannon |
| Black Bear Management Zone | 2 | Oct. 17-30, by permit |
| Waterfowl zone (map layer) | Middle / South | 2021-2025 layer |
| SE flood closure zone | None | Gauge-based |
| CWD portion | Removed | Gone for 2026 |
| Antler-point restriction | Removed | Gone for 2026 |
County rules from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county table, the Wildlife Code 3 CSR 10-7 (antlerless limits and portions), CWD rules and stations, fall turkey counties, dog rule, bear digest, waterfowl digest. Checked October 29, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Cape Girardeau County
Cape Girardeau County deer totals by permit year
Cape Girardeau County closed out 2025 with 3,186 deer on the Telecheck books, 1,260 of them antlered bucks and 1,589 does. A year earlier the county logged 3,111, a 2% smaller number. Totals ranged from 2,657 (2016) to 3,299 (2023). Its 2025 total put Cape Girardeau County 30th statewide out of 114 counties. By portion, 1,695 came in the November firearms days and 573 in archery season.
| Season | Antlered | Buttons | Does | All deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,260 | 337 | 1,589 | 3,186 |
| 2024 | 1,216 | 307 | 1,588 | 3,111 |
| 2023 | 1,296 | 314 | 1,689 | 3,299 |
| 2022 | 1,228 | 295 | 1,613 | 3,136 |
| 2021 | 1,228 | 228 | 1,233 | 2,689 |
| 2020 | 1,328 | 250 | 1,337 | 2,915 |
| 2019 | 1,334 | 282 | 1,517 | 3,133 |
| 2018 | 1,293 | 273 | 1,374 | 2,940 |
| 2017 | 1,266 | 318 | 1,436 | 3,020 |
| 2016 | 1,146 | 300 | 1,211 | 2,657 |
| 2015 | 1,290 | 306 | 1,354 | 2,950 |
Cape Girardeau County portion table
| Portion | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | 571 | 573 |
| Early youth | 121 | 137 |
| Early antlerless | 118 | 142 |
| Opening weekend* | 904 | 683 |
| November portion | 1,911 | 1,695 |
| CWD portion | — | 261 |
| Late youth | 25 | 23 |
| Late antlerless | 198 | 225 |
| Alternative methods | 138 | 130 |
| Managed hunts | 29 | 0 |
At 5.9 deer taken per square mile, Cape Girardeau County ran above its region (4.0) in 2025.
Telechecked harvest from the MDC 2025 deer harvest summary and earlier deer harvest summaries (2015-2025); density from the 2025 Missouri Deer Season Summary and Population Status Report. Checked October 29, 2026.
Cape Girardeau County draw hunts, bear, elk and ducks
Drawn deer hunts in Cape Girardeau County
Cape Girardeau City (Includes Juden Creek and Cape Woods CAs) carries the Cape Girardeau County share of the 141-hunt managed list (5 on the schedule).
| Hunt | Location | Type | Dates | Drawn | Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Cape Girardeau City (Includes Juden Creek and Cape Woods CAs) | Archery without Atlatl | Oct. 17–23 | 14 | 3, 1 antlered |
| 14 | Cape Girardeau City (Includes Juden Creek and Cape Woods CAs) | Archery without Atlatl | Oct. 31–Nov. 6 | 14 | 3, 1 antlered |
| 15 | Cape Girardeau City (Includes Juden Creek and Cape Woods CAs) | Archery without Atlatl | Nov. 14–20 | 14 | 3, 1 antlered |
| 16 | Cape Girardeau City (Includes Juden Creek and Cape Woods CAs) | Archery without Atlatl | Nov. 28–Dec. 4 | 14 | 3, 1 antlered |
| 17 | Cape Girardeau City (Includes Juden Creek and Cape Woods CAs) | Archery without Atlatl | Dec. 12–18 | 14 | 3, 1 antlered |
Cape Girardeau County bear hunting by permit
Cape Girardeau County is bear country under the 2026 digest: Zone 2, Oct. 17-30, permit by drawing.
| Zone | Share of county | Permits 2026 | Quota 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2 | 100% | 750 | 22 |
| Year | Statewide bears |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 9 |
Which duck zone Cape Girardeau County is in
Cape Girardeau County is Middle Zone and South Zone country by the GIS layer, but the new 2026-2030 boundary text governs near the line.
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Ducks, split 1 | Middle | Nov 7–Dec 13 |
| Ducks, split 2 | Middle | Dec 19–Jan 10 |
| Ducks, split 1 | South | Nov 26–Nov 29 |
| Ducks, split 2 | South | Dec 7–Jan 31 |
Managed hunts from the 2026 managed deer hunt tables; bear from the 2026 Black Bear Hunting Digest and MDC bear reports; elk from the 2026 Elk Hunting Digest; waterfowl and wetlands from the 2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest. Checked October 29, 2026.
Cape Girardeau County open and close dates
Each row below is a dated MDC season that applies in Cape Girardeau County; the status column compares it with today.
| Animal | Season | Area rule | Start | Finish | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early antlerless | Antlerless county | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early youth | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, November | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late youth | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late antlerless | Antlerless county | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, alternative methods | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Bear zone 2 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall firearms | Open county | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery, part 2 | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth quail | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Quail | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth pheasant | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock season | Statewide | Oct 18, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| Doves | Dove season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | Middle Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | South Zone | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Middle Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | South Zone | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | South Zone | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | Middle Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Early Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Statewide | Nov 11, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | Feb 7, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote hunting | Statewide | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Groundhog | Groundhog | Statewide | May 11, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Bullfrogs and green frogs | Frogging | Statewide | Jun 30, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, early | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| Rails | Rail season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 3, 2027 | |
| Badger and foxes | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, main | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations, the 2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest and the 2026 hunting and trapping summary (Missouri Department of Conservation), checked October 29, 2026.
What Cape Girardeau County turkey and CWD data show
In spring 2026 the county recorded 594 turkeys in the regular season. Looking back to 2016, 2026 had the most spring birds (594). Fall 2025 added 23 firearms and 13 archery turkeys. Spring rows for 2026 are a season already past; spring 2027 dates are still to come from MDC.
| Year | Youth | Spring | Fall firearms | Fall archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 70 | 594 | — | — |
| 2025 | 47 | 488 | 23 | 13 |
| 2024 | 46 | 504 | 29 | 16 |
| 2023 | 42 | 473 | 24 | 16 |
| 2022 | 47 | 393 | 30 | 30 |
| 2021 | 53 | 429 | 20 | 25 |
| 2020 | 54 | 473 | 38 | 22 |
| 2019 | 35 | 422 | 38 | 17 |
| 2018 | 21 | 404 | 31 | 20 |
| 2017 | 45 | 466 | 46 | 18 |
| 2016 | 48 | 445 | 41 | 22 |
Cape Girardeau County CWD samples by year
Across the sample years shown, Cape Girardeau County hunters and staff submitted 1,911 samples; positives number 1. No positive deer from Cape Girardeau County appears in MDC's results. The 2025-26 tally for Cape Girardeau County: 1.
| Season | Tests | Positives |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | 513 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 41 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 52 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 42 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 83 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 100 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 129 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 866 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 68 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 4 | 0 |
Turkey harvest from the MDC 2026 turkey harvest summary and earlier turkey harvest summaries; CWD from the MDC CWD sampling results layers and the MDC CWD page. Checked October 29, 2026.
Where to hunt in Cape Girardeau County
The table below covers all 6 public hunting areas we list in Cape Girardeau County. Roughly 7,221 acres, 2.0% of Cape Girardeau County, are public by GIS measure. 10 additional sites bar hunting and are not listed.
| Area | Acres | Deer | Antlerless | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Creek CA · Conservation area | 2,100 | Archery and firearms | antlerless OK | — |
| Maintz Wildlife Preserve · Conservation area | 801 | Archery and firearms | archery antlerless | 7 dove fields |
| Windy Bar Island CA · Conservation area | 583 | Archery and firearms | archery antlerless | — |
| Lake Girardeau CA · Conservation area | 351 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Old Plantation Access · Public access | 70 | Archery only | antlerless OK | — |
| Cape Woods CA · Conservation area | 37 | — | — | 5 managed hunts |
Next-door areas for Cape Girardeau County hunters
- Tywappity Towersite13 miles · 64 ac · Scott County
- Cape LaCroix Bluffs CA14 miles · 63 ac · Scott County
- Grassy Towersite22 miles · 40 ac · Bollinger County
- General Watkins CA22 miles · 1,107 ac · Scott County
- Sand Prairie CA22 miles · 200 ac · Scott County
- Hawn Access23 miles · 81 ac · Bollinger County
Areas from our Missouri land list (MDC area pages and the MDC area deer quick regs, USFS, USFWS, Corps and NPS records); acres by kind from MDC, USFS, USFWS, PAD-US and NPS GIS layers (GIS measures, not official acreages); MRAP from the MDC MRAP program. Checked October 29, 2026.
MDC offices, towns and services for Cape Girardeau County
The MDC Southeast Region office is in Cape Girardeau, phone (573) 290-5730. MDC offices sell permits; the nearest one to Cape Girardeau County is in Cape Girardeau, about 6 miles off.
Towns near Cape Girardeau County land
Cape Girardeau County processors, mounts and gear shops
Share the Harvest and CWD partner tags come from MDC lists; other shops come from business directories.
Cape Girardeau County adjoining counties
- Bollinger CountySoutheast
- Perry CountySoutheast
- Scott CountySoutheast
- Stoddard CountySoutheast
Offices from MDC offices open to the public; services from MDC lists and directories as tagged; towns from Census 2024. Checked October 29, 2026.
Cape Girardeau County dinners, hunts and classes
Kinds on file here: RMEF gun blitz, hunter education skills session and wild game cooking class. Count: 4 upcoming events.
Still to come
| Held on | Event | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2026 | Wild Game Cooking: What's for Dinner? Wild Game · wild game cooking class | Cape Girardeau Nature Center — Cape Girardeau County | Register | Source |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Wild Game Cooking: Cooking Duck Made Simple · wild game cooking class | Cape Girardeau Nature Center — Cape Girardeau County | Register | Source |
| Dec 29, 2026 | Hunter Education Skills Session · hunter education skills session | Cape Girardeau Nature Center — Cape Girardeau County | Register | Source |
| Feb 18, 2027 | RMEF Semo Chapter Gun Blitz · RMEF gun blitz | Jackson | Buy tickets | Source |
Cape Girardeau County: ranges, lanes and trap fields
Cape Girardeau County has 4 listed ranges, including the MDC range at Apple Creek Conservation Area.
Upcoming here
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 5-7, 2027 | Gun show | Source page |
| Dec 4-6, 2027 | Gun show | Source page |
Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.
First and last shooting light in Cape Girardeau County
Use these Cape Girardeau County times for the key opening and closing days; rabbits are sunrise to sunset.
| Date | Opener or close | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:28 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 5:58 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:40 a.m. | 7:07 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:55 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:32 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 6:02 a.m. to 4:52 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:40 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 4:46 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:15 a.m. | 4:44 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:44 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:15 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
Hours rule and the Jefferson City sunrise and sunset table from the MDC Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest (same table in the Fall Deer and Turkey booklet), adjusted 1 minute per 13.5 miles east or west as MDC directs; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Fishing in Cape Girardeau County
Lakes, rivers, boat ramps and bait shops for Cape Girardeau County are on State Fishing Spots, our sister site.
Cape Girardeau County questions and short answers
Which of the eight MDC regions takes in Cape Girardeau County?
The Southeast Region, with its office in Cape Girardeau.
Are there MRAP walk-in tracts in Cape Girardeau County?
None in this county.
Can I use a crossbow in Cape Girardeau County during archery season?
Yes. Crossbows are legal archery methods.
Which processors on this page sit closest to Cape Girardeau County?
Homestead Meat Company, Ron's Meat Shop LLC and Biester's Meats, nearest first; phone before dropping off a deer.
Is there a confirmed CWD case on record for Cape Girardeau County?
MDC's first-positive list, current to June 2026, does not include this county.
What is the firearms antlerless fill limit in Cape Girardeau County?
4 deer for 2026-27.
How many fall turkeys were taken in Cape Girardeau County in 2025?
23 with firearms and 13 with archery.
How many does came out of Cape Girardeau County in the 2025 season?
1,589 does, by the MDC county table.
Does the 2026 Missouri bear season reach Cape Girardeau County?
Yes. Residents drawn for a Zone 2 permit can hunt Oct. 17-30, 2026.
Answers from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations, the county rules table, the hunter orange rule, Telecheck rules, MDC harvest summaries and the sources above. Checked October 29, 2026.
Before you hunt Cape Girardeau County this fall
Where this page and MDC differ, MDC is right.
Sources: 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations, MDC hunting, Census and the sources in each section. Checked October 29, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Rebecca Suchland (CC BY 2.0).