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Seat: Clayton · St. Louis Region

St. Louis County Hunting

Before a St. Louis County trip: a firearms antlerless fill limit of 4 deer, the open antlerless portions, turkey and duck zone facts, 1,922 deer checked in 2025 and 17 public areas to hunt.

4 deerFirearms antlerless
OpenAntlerless portions
BannedFeed and minerals
2Bear zone
MiddleDuck zone
St. LouisMDC region

Photo: Mona Maynard (CC BY 2.0)

St. Louis County rules at a glance

St. Louis County covers 508 square miles of land and 15 of water, with the courthouse in Clayton. Population ran to 992,929 in mid-2024, a shift of -1.2% from the 2020 base. MDC caps firearms antlerless permits in St. Louis County at 4 deer this season, counting every firearms portion together. From Oct. 9 to 11 and again from Dec. 5 to 13, St. Louis County hunters can fill firearms antlerless permits in the antlerless portions. Placing feed, salt or minerals for deer is prohibited all year in St. Louis County because the county lies within 10 miles of a CWD detection. For Share the Harvest, deer from St. Louis County must be tested for CWD, which the processors arrange. For 2026 the CWD Management Zone was removed, so St. Louis County no longer has zone rules or a CWD portion.

MDC ruleHereScope
Firearms antlerless fill limit4 deerAll firearms portions
Antlerless portionsOpenOct. 9-11, Dec. 5-13
Mandatory CWD samplingNot this yearDay of harvest
Feed and mineral banYesYear-round
Share the Harvest testRequiredBefore donating
November dog ruleNoNovember portion, daylight
Fall firearms turkeyOpenOct. 1-31
Elk hunting countyNoCarter, Reynolds, Shannon
Black Bear Management Zone2Oct. 17-30, by permit
Waterfowl zone (map layer)Middle2021-2025 layer
SE flood closure zoneNoneGauge-based
CWD portionRemovedGone for 2026
Antler-point restrictionRemovedGone 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 St. Louis County

Shooting Ranges Near St. Louis

Range · 11 mi from St. Louis County

Directions
Hunting Near St. Louis, Missouri

Town · 11 mi from St. Louis County

Directions
St. Louis City

County · 11 mi from St. Louis County

Directions
Shooting Ranges Near St. Charles

Range · 11 mi from St. Louis County

Directions
Rockwoods Reservation

Public land · 13 mi from St. Louis County

Directions
St. Charles County

County · 16 mi from St. Louis County

Directions

Deer Telechecked in St. Louis County, 2015-2025

St. Louis County produced 1,922 checked deer in 2025 (808 antlered, 1,114 antlerless). That is 0% above the 2024 total of 1,917. The best year in the 2015-2025 run was 2020 with 2,339; the lowest was 2016 with 1,638. By 2025 harvest, St. Louis County sits 88th of 114. Archery and crossbow hunters logged 1,073; the November portion added 320.

Telechecked deer, St. Louis County07501,5002,2503,0002015: 1,8741,87420152016: 1,6381,63820162017: 1,7161,71620172018: 1,7911,79120182019: 1,9671,96720192020: 2,3392,33920202021: 2,1842,18420212022: 2,1442,14420222023: 2,0152,01520232024: 1,9171,91720242025: 1,9221,9222025
YearBucksButton bucksDoesTotal
20258081459691,922
20247971459751,917
20238451671,0032,015
20228611741,1092,144
20218991841,1012,184
20209362241,1792,339
20198151739791,967
20187031809081,791
20177081948141,716
20166841677871,638
20157672069011,874

County totals for 2017-2019 leave out managed hunts, which MDC did not publish by county those years.

St. Louis County deer by portion, 2024 and 2025

Portion20242025
Archery9981,073
Early youth2518
Early antlerless1223
Opening weekend*17493
November portion418320
CWD portion—51
Late youth72
Late antlerless5040
Alternative methods4945
Managed hunts358350

* Opening weekend sits inside the November portion total.

6.9Deer/sq mi, 2025
14.0Gun hunters/sq mi
8.2Bowhunters/sq mi
6.9St. Louis deer/sq mi

The St. Louis Region figure was 6.9 per square mile, while St. Louis County posted 6.9.

Three spotted white-tailed fawns at the edge of the woods in St. Louis County
Three spotted white-tailed fawns at the edge of the woods in St. Louis County

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.

Draws, zones and wetlands in St. Louis County

St. Louis County managed hunt list

MDC scheduled 29 managed deer hunts in St. Louis County for 2026-27 at August G. Beckemeier, Babler SP, Columbia Bottom CA, Creve Coeur CP, Fabick Nature Preserve, Forest 44 CA, Forest 44 CA — Jay Henges Range Restricted Portion (Hunters will be accompanied by an MDC-approved mentor during hunt.), Greensfelder CP, Jefferson Barracks CP, Klamberg (Roger) Woods CA, McDonnell CP, Pelican Island NA (Hunt area typically accessible only by boat.), Phantom Forest CA and Bittersweet Woods CA, Powder Valley CNC, Queeny Park, Rockwoods Range and Rockwoods Reservation; 4 are cancelled.

HuntLocationTypeDatesDrawnBag
35August G. BeckemeierArcheryOct. 31–Nov. 1353, 1 antlered
40Columbia Bottom CAArcheryOct. 31–Nov. 15402, 1 antlered cancelled
41Columbia Bottom CAArcheryDec. 12–31402, 1 antlered cancelled
42Creve Coeur CPArcheryOct. 19–Nov. 13303, 1 antlered
43Fabick Nature PreserveArcheryOct. 8–15153, 1 antlered
44Fabick Nature PreserveArcheryNov. 5–12153, 1 antlered
45Fabick Nature PreserveArcheryDec. 10–17153, 1 antlered
46Forest 44 CAArcheryOct. 1–15752, 1 antlered
47Forest 44 CAArcheryDec. 1–311002, 1 antlered
48Greensfelder CPArcheryOct. 19–Nov. 13453, 1 antlered
52Jefferson Barracks CPArcheryOct. 19–Nov. 13203, 1 antlered
53Klamberg (Roger) Woods CAArcheryNov. 2–653, 1 antlered
57McDonnell CPArcheryOct. 19–Nov. 1353, 1 antlered
64Phantom Forest CA and Bittersweet Woods CAArcheryNov. 30–Dec. 452, 1 antlered
65Powder Valley CNCArcheryNov. 7–983, 1 antlered
66Queeny ParkArcheryOct. 19–Nov. 13303, 1 antlered
67Rockwoods RangeArcheryNov. 1–30752, 1 antlered
68Rockwoods RangeArcheryDec. 1–31752, 1 antlered
69Rockwoods ReservationArcheryOct. 5–23152, 1 antlered
70Rockwoods ReservationArcheryNov. 2–15153, 1 antlered
71Rockwoods ReservationArcheryNov. 30–Dec. 13152, 1 antlered
79Babler SPMuzzleloaderNov. 6–8603, 1 antlered
81Forest 44 CAMuzzleloaderNov. 2–3302, 1 antlered
82Forest 44 CAMuzzleloaderNov. 16–17302, 1 antlered
87Pelican Island NA (Hunt area typically accessible only by boat.)MuzzleloaderNov. 7–9803, 1 antlered
89Columbia Bottom CAShotgunsNov. 28-Dec. 6201 either sex cancelled
104Forest 44 CA — Jay Henges Range Restricted Portion (Hunters will be accompanied by an MDC-approved mentor during hunt.)Beginner Hunters – FirearmsOct. 12–1341 either sex
105Forest 44 CA — Jay Henges Range Restricted Portion (Hunters will be accompanied by an MDC-approved mentor during hunt.)Beginner Hunters – FirearmsOct. 19–2041 either sex
111Columbia Bottom CAYouth – ShotgunsOct. 24–25151 either sex cancelled

Black bear hunting in St. Louis County

St. Louis County lies in Black Bear Management Zone 2. The 2026 season runs Oct. 17-30 for permit holders drawn in the May 1-31 application period.

ZoneShare of countyPermits 2026Quota 2026
Zone 2100%75022
YearStatewide bears
202112
20228
202312
202415
20259

St. Louis County and the North, Middle and South zones

Duck dates in St. Louis County follow the Middle Zone, judged from the older map layer; check the digest map if you hunt near a zone edge.

SeasonZoneDates
Ducks, split 1MiddleNov 7–Dec 13
Ducks, split 2MiddleDec 19–Jan 10

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.

St. Louis County seasons, opener to closer

St. Louis County gets 37 dated rows this permit year, from the September dove opener to the conservation order in spring.

GameSegmentScopeOpening dayClosing dayNow
White-tailed deerArchery, first partStatewideSep 15, 2026Nov 13, 2026
White-tailed deerFirearms, early antlerlessAntlerless countyOct 9, 2026Oct 11, 2026
White-tailed deerFirearms, early youthStatewideOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026
White-tailed deerFirearms, NovemberStatewideNov 14, 2026Nov 24, 2026
White-tailed deerArchery, second partStatewideNov 25, 2026Jan 15, 2027
White-tailed deerFirearms, late youthStatewideNov 27, 2026Nov 29, 2026
White-tailed deerFirearms, late antlerlessAntlerless countyDec 5, 2026Dec 13, 2026
White-tailed deerFirearms, alternative methodsStatewideDec 26, 2026Jan 5, 2027
Black bearBear, zone 2Bear zone 2Oct 17, 2026Oct 30, 2026
Wild turkeyFall archeryStatewideSep 15, 2026Nov 13, 2026
Wild turkeyFall firearmsOpen countyOct 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026
Wild turkeyFall archery, part 2StatewideNov 25, 2026Jan 15, 2027
Bobwhite quailYouth quailStatewideOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026
Bobwhite quailQuailStatewideNov 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027
PheasantYouth pheasantStatewideOct 24, 2026Oct 25, 2026
PheasantPheasantStatewideNov 1, 2026Jan 15, 2027
RabbitsRabbit huntingStatewideOct 1, 2026Feb 15, 2027
SquirrelsSquirrel seasonStatewideMay 23, 2026Feb 15, 2027
WoodcockWoodcock seasonStatewideOct 18, 2026Dec 1, 2026
DovesDove seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026
TealSeptember tealStatewideSep 12, 2026Sep 20, 2026
Youth waterfowlYouth waterfowl daysMiddle ZoneOct 31, 2026Nov 1, 2026
Ducks and cootsDucks, split 1Middle ZoneNov 7, 2026Dec 13, 2026
Ducks and cootsDucks, split 2Middle ZoneDec 19, 2026Jan 10, 2027
Early Canada gooseEarly Canada gooseStatewideOct 3, 2026Oct 11, 2026
GeeseRegular geeseStatewideNov 11, 2026Feb 6, 2027
Light geeseConservation orderStatewideFeb 7, 2027Apr 30, 2027
CoyoteCoyote huntingStatewideJan 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026
GroundhogGroundhogStatewideMay 11, 2026Dec 15, 2026
Bullfrogs and green frogsFroggingStatewideJun 30, 2026Oct 31, 2026
Raccoon, opossum, skunkHunt and trap, earlyStatewideAug 1, 2026Oct 15, 2026
RailsRail seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026
SnipeSnipe seasonStatewideSep 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026
CrowCrow seasonStatewideNov 1, 2026Mar 3, 2027
Badger and foxesHunting and trappingStatewideNov 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027
BobcatHunting and trappingStatewideNov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027
Raccoon, opossum, skunkHunt and trap, mainStatewideNov 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027

Youth portions, managed hunts and bear and elk permits are on their own pages.

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.

St. Louis County turkey harvest and CWD results

Telecheck shows 101 St. Louis County gobblers and bearded hens in the 2026 regular spring season. 129 turkeys in 2023 is the spring high mark here. In fall 2025, 2 turkeys came on the firearms portion and 14 with archery. No fall 2026 harvest is listed yet; the 2027 spring season dates are pending.

YearSpring youthSpring regularFirearms fallArchery fall
202610101——
20257113214
2024611566
20233129619
2022594617
2021677520
20201123518
2019490229
2018397523
2017894316
20166127315

Chronic wasting disease results, St. Louis County

St. Louis County CWD testing: 1,760 samples, 1 positive, by the MDC layer. MDC lists no CWD-positive deer from St. Louis County through June 2026. St. Louis County logged 1 positive in 2025-26.

Sample yearTestedPositive
2026-27310
2025-263001
2024-251290
2023-241470
2022-231130
2021-221070
2020-21940
2019-20970
2018-191740
2017-182750
2016-172930

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.

St. Louis County conservation areas and public ground

19,107Public ground acres
13,604MDC acres
1,050Refuge acres
4,453State park acres
53MRAP acres

There are 17 listed hunting areas in St. Louis County; Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge tops them at 11,976 acres. GIS layers map about 19,107 public acres in the county, roughly 5.9% of its land. Another 29 MDC or state places in the county are closed to hunting and left off the table.

PlaceAcresDeer methodsAntlerlessExtras
Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge · National wildlife refuge11,976———
Columbia Bottom CA · Conservation area4,451——25 dove fields, 4 managed hunts
Howell Island CA · Conservation area2,548Archery onlyantlerless OK—
Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial SP · State park (managed hunt)2,348——1 managed hunt
Pelican Island Natural Area · Natural area2,260——1 managed hunt
Rockwoods Reservation · Conservation area1,881——3 managed hunts
Rockwoods Range · Conservation area1,453——2 managed hunts
Forest 44 CA · Conservation area958——6 managed hunts
Saint Stanislaus CA · Conservation area812Archery onlyantlerless OK—
Pacific Palisades CA · Conservation area695Archery onlyantlerless OK2 dove fields
Creve Coeur Park Lake (St. Louis County) · Cooperative area320——1 managed hunt
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center · MDC center or range112——1 managed hunt
Roger Klamberg Woods CA · Conservation area67——1 managed hunt
August G. Beckemeier CA · Conservation area54——1 managed hunt
Jean and Joan Goodson CA (Bittersweet Woods) · Conservation area20——1 managed hunt
Phantom Forest CA · Conservation area13——1 managed hunt
Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center · MDC center or range————

Public areas just outside St. Louis 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.

St. Louis County offices and local help

St Charles hosts the St. Louis Regional Office that covers St. Louis County. About 6 miles from the county centre, Kirkwood has the closest MDC office open to visitors.

St. Louis Regional Office — St Charles

Region office · 2360 Hwy D, St Charles, 63304

Powder Valley Nature Center — Kirkwood

Nearest MDC door · 11715 Cragwold Rd, Kirkwood, 63122

MDC Columbia Bottom Field Office — St Louis

St Louis, St. Louis County

MDC Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center — Eureka

Eureka, St. Louis County

St. Louis County town guides

Services near St. Louis County

Confirm hours and venison policies by phone; November is the busy month.

G&W Meat & Bavarian Style Sausage, INC — Saint Louis

Saint Louis, St. Louis County · MDC permit holder

John's Butcher Shoppe — Overland

Overland, St. Louis County · about 7 mi out · Share the Harvest

Kenricks Meat Co. — St Louis

St Louis, St. Louis County · about 10 mi out · Share the Harvest

Spritto Taxidermy Company — Florissant

Florissant, St. Louis County · MDC permit holder

Tucker Brothers Taxidermy — Saint Louis

Saint Louis, St. Louis County · about 6 mi out

MRM Gunsmithing — Saint Louis

Saint Louis, St. Louis County

Markwort Sporting Goods Co — Saint Louis

Saint Louis, St. Louis County

Nfm Buyer LLC — Maryland Heights

Maryland Heights, St. Louis County · MDC permit holder

Around St. Louis County

Also borders Madison (IL), Monroe (IL) and St. Clair (IL).

Offices from MDC offices open to the public; services from MDC lists and directories as tagged; towns from Census 2024. Checked October 29, 2026.

Dates booked in St. Louis County

On October 29, 2026 the county held 2 upcoming events, covering DU ladies night and trapping clinic.

Booked dates

Held onEventWhere heldLinkChecked at
Nov 7, 2026Two Rivers Suzies Ladies Event · DU ladies night
St. Louis Elks Lodge #9 — St. Louis County
Buy ticketsSource, checked 10/29/2026
Dec 5–6, 2026Trapping: Scout. Set. Skin: A Missouri Trapping Experience · trapping clinicRegisterSource, checked 10/29/2026

Club event in this part of Missouri? Submit it

St.⁠ Louis County: ranges, lanes and trap fields

9 ranges are on file for St.⁠ Louis County, from MDC lines to clubs and indoor lanes.

Jay Henges Shooting Range
and Outdoor Education Center
MDC staffed range

Eureka, St.⁠ Louis County

Has trap/skeet, rifle/pistol, static archery, archery field course, shotgun patterning

Public, $5 fees · source: mdc.mo.gov

South County Archery Range
archery range

St.⁠ Louis, St.⁠ Louis County

Has archery, 3D archery

Access not stated · source: findarcheryranges.com

Advantage Firearms Education &
Training
indoor range

Manchester, St.⁠ Louis County

Has shotgun, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, action pistol

Access not stated · source: boisegunclub.com

Gateway Gun Club
trap and skeet club

Bridgeton, St.⁠ Louis County

Has trap, skeet, 5-stand, shotgun

Access not stated · source: boisegunclub.com

Metro Shooting Supplies #2
indoor range

Bridgeton, St.⁠ Louis County

Has rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire

Access not stated · source: boisegunclub.com

Range USA Bridgeton
indoor range

Bridgeton, St.⁠ Louis County

Access not stated · source: gunranges.org

Where to shootTownKindsWho gets in
STL Sharpshooter
outdoor range
St.⁠ LouishandgunAccess not stated
St.⁠ Louis Skeet &
Trap Club
sporting clays course
Pacifictrap/skeet/sporting clays/5-stand/shotgunAccess not stated
The Range St.⁠ Louis
West
outdoor range
BallwinhandgunAccess not stated

17 more across the county line.

St.⁠ Louis County shoot dates

St.⁠ Louis County has 2 upcoming NASP dates as well. NASP list

Ranges from MDC area pages and its Shooting Ranges layer, the operators’ own sites and directory listings, checked October 29, 2026.

Shooting hours in St. Louis County

Times for St. Louis County come from the MDC Jefferson City table, moved by the longitude rule MDC prints with it.

DayMomentFirst sunLast sunDeer hoursBird hours
Sep 1, 2026Dove opener6:31 a.m.7:32 p.m.6:01 a.m. to 8:02 p.m.6:01 a.m. to 7:32 p.m.
Sep 15, 2026Archery opener6:43 a.m.7:10 p.m.6:13 a.m. to 7:40 p.m.6:13 a.m. to 7:10 p.m.
Oct 1, 2026Fall firearms turkey6:58 a.m.6:44 p.m.6:28 a.m. to 7:14 p.m.6:28 a.m. to 6:44 p.m.
Nov 7, 2026Middle Zone ducks6:35 a.m.4:55 p.m.6:05 a.m. to 5:25 p.m.6:05 a.m. to 4:55 p.m.
Nov 14, 2026November firearms opener6:43 a.m.4:49 p.m.6:13 a.m. to 5:19 p.m.6:13 a.m. to 4:49 p.m.
Dec 26, 2026Alternative methods7:18 a.m.4:47 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 5:17 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 4:47 p.m.
Jan 15, 2027Archery close7:18 a.m.5:05 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 5:35 p.m.6:48 a.m. to 5:05 p.m.

Spring turkey on public land ends at 1 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.

Bare oak woods on a leaf-covered hillside at Rockwoods Reservation
Bare oak woods on a leaf-covered hillside at Rockwoods ReservationPhoto: Paul Sableman (CC BY 2.0)
Bull elk walking through fall-colored woods in St. Louis County
Bull elk walking through fall-colored woods in St. Louis CountyPhoto: Mitch Bennett (CC BY 2.0)

Hunter questions on St. Louis County rules

Can I shoot a doe with a gun in St. Louis County this season?

Yes, up to 4 deer on firearms antlerless permits, plus any-deer permits.

Does the old CWD Management Zone still affect St. Louis County?

No. MDC dropped the zone and the CWD portion for 2026, so no zone rules apply anywhere.

What was the 2025 Telecheck total for St. Louis County?

1,922 deer in the 2025 permit year.

What time does spring turkey hunting end on public land in St. Louis County?

1 p.m. on public land.

Is St. Louis County inside Black Bear Management Zone 1, 2 or 3?

Zone 2, going by the GIS overlay of the 2026 bear zones.

Where is the nearest public land outside St. Louis County?

Weldon Spring Conservation Area, about 16 miles from the centre.

What is the nearest MDC office to St. Louis County?

Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood.

Which deer processors serve St. Louis County?

G&W Meat & Bavarian Style Sausage, INC, John's Butcher Shoppe and Kenricks Meat Co., ranked by distance.

What orange must I wear in St. Louis County during the firearms portions?

A hunter orange hat plus an orange shirt, vest or coat, visible from all sides.

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.

St. Louis County reminders for the 2026-27 season

Ask before hunting private land in St. Louis County; written permission avoids trouble.

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: Eden, Janine and Jim (CC BY 2.0).