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Seasons
Missouri Hunting Seasons
All 64 season rows for 2026-27: deer by county, bear zones, the elk counties, duck zones, small game, furbearers and the species with no season.
Photo: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain)
Reading the 2026-27 calendar: counties, zones, rows
The 2026 MDC booklets give 64 season rows for 36 species groups: 56 with dates and 8 without (no-season rows, the removed CWD portion and the unpublished spring 2027 turkey season). Deer rows list the counties they cover: the November portion runs Nov 14-24 in every county, while the early and late antlerless portions open only in the 100 open counties. Bear rows carry the three Black Bear Management Zones, elk rows Carter, Reynolds and Shannon counties, and duck and youth waterfowl rows the North, Middle and South zones, new for 2026-2030. The dove opener is Sept 1, archery deer and turkey open Sept 15, fall firearms turkey runs Oct 1-31 in 107 counties, bear and archery elk open Oct 17, and the light goose Conservation Order runs Feb 7-Apr 30, 2027. Missouri has no Sunday restriction, so every season includes Sundays. Spring 2026 turkey rows are kept as past, because spring 2027 dates were not published when checked.
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, the 2026-2027 waterfowl digest, the 2026 hunting and trapping summary, the bear and elk digests and the MDC seasons page, checked October 29, 2026.
Deer, bear, elk and turkey portions in date order
| Species | Portion | Opens | Closes | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | 60 |
| White-tailed deer | Managed deer hunts | Sep 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | 123 |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | 60 |
| Wild turkey | Fall firearms | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | 31 |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early antlerless | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 3 |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 1 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | 14 |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | 14 |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 3 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | 14 |
| Elk | Archery portion | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 9 |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early youth | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 2 |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, November | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | 11 |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | 52 |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery, part 2 | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | 52 |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late youth | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 3 |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late antlerless | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 9 |
| Elk | Firearms portion | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | 9 |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, alternative methods | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | 11 |
deer and turkey pages, bear digest and elk digest, checked October 29, 2026.
Seasons opening next in Missouri
The next openers after Nov 1, 2026, in date order.
| Species | Season | Opens |
|---|---|---|
| Bobwhite quail | Quail | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Crow | Crow season | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Nov 7, 2026 |
| Geese | Regular geese | Nov 11, 2026 |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, November | Nov 14, 2026 |
| Rabbits | Rabbit trapping | Nov 15, 2026 |
| Badger and foxes | Hunting and trapping | Nov 15, 2026 |
| Bobcat | Hunting and trapping | Nov 15, 2026 |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, main | Nov 15, 2026 |
Season table: 64 rows from the MDC booklets
Filter by species, zone or group; species names link to their pages.
| Species | Season | Where | Group | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Big game | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Statewide | Big game | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early antlerless | 100 open counties | Big game | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early youth | Statewide | Big game | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, November | Statewide | Big game | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late youth | Statewide | Big game | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late antlerless | 100 open counties | Big game | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, alternative methods | Statewide | Big game | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, CWD | Removed for 2026 | Big game | Removed for 2026 | ||
| White-tailed deer | Managed deer hunts | Managed hunt areas | Big game | Sep 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Statewide | Big game | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery, part 2 | Statewide | Big game | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall firearms | 107 open counties | Big game | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Spring youth season (2026, past) | Statewide | Big game | Apr 11, 2026 | Apr 12, 2026 | Past |
| Wild turkey | Spring season (2026, past) | Statewide | Big game | Apr 20, 2026 | May 10, 2026 | Past |
| Wild turkey | Spring 2027 seasons | Statewide | Big game | Not published | ||
| Black bear | Bear, zone 1 | Zone 1 | Big game | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Zone 2 | Big game | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 3 | Zone 3 | Big game | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Elk | Archery portion | Carter, Reynolds, Shannon | Big game | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Elk | Firearms portion | Carter, Reynolds, Shannon | Big game | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | Small game | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Small game | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit trapping | Statewide | Small game | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth quail | Statewide | Upland birds | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Quail | Statewide | Upland birds | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth pheasant | Statewide | Upland birds | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Upland birds | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Groundhog | Groundhog | Statewide | Small game | May 11, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Bullfrogs and green frogs | Frogging | Statewide | Frogs, falconry and unprotected species | Jun 30, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Ruffed grouse | No open season | Statewide | No open season | No season | ||
| Gray partridge | No open season | Statewide | No open season | No season | ||
| Jackrabbit | Closed | Statewide | No open season | No season | ||
| Doves | Dove season | Statewide | Doves, rails, snipe and woodcock | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Rails | Rail season | Statewide | Doves, rails, snipe and woodcock | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe season | Statewide | Doves, rails, snipe and woodcock | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock season | Statewide | Doves, rails, snipe and woodcock | Oct 18, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Ducks, geese and coots | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | North Zone | Ducks, geese and coots | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | Middle Zone | Ducks, geese and coots | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | South Zone | Ducks, geese and coots | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Regular ducks | North Zone | Ducks, geese and coots | Oct 31, 2026 | Dec 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Middle Zone | Ducks, geese and coots | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | Middle Zone | Ducks, geese and coots | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | South Zone | Ducks, geese and coots | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | South Zone | Ducks, geese and coots | Dec 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Early Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Ducks, geese and coots | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Statewide | Ducks, geese and coots | Nov 11, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | Ducks, geese and coots | Feb 7, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Falconry: doves | Falconry dove season | Statewide | Doves, rails, snipe and woodcock | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Falconry: ducks, coots, mergansers | Falconry waterfowl (late) | Statewide | Ducks, geese and coots | Feb 11, 2027 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Crow | Crow season | Statewide | Small game | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 3, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote hunting | Statewide | Furbearers | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Badger and foxes | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Furbearers | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Furbearers | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, early | Statewide | Furbearers | Aug 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, main | Statewide | Furbearers | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Trapping | Statewide | Furbearers | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Mink, muskrat, otter | Trapping | Statewide | Furbearers | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Beaver and nutria | Trapping | Statewide | Furbearers | Nov 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | |
| Private-land trapping | Private-land trapping | Private land only | Furbearers | Mar 1, 2027 | Apr 14, 2027 | |
| Mountain lion, spotted skunk, long | No open season | Statewide | No open season | No season | ||
| Feral hogs | No hunting season (eradication rules) | Statewide | Frogs, falconry and unprotected species | No season | ||
| Sandhill crane | No open season | Statewide | No open season | No season |
Every row from the MDC booklets and digests (regs.json seasons), checked October 29, 2026.
Rows without dates: closed, removed or not yet set
| Species | Status |
|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | The CWD portion of firearms deer season (Nov 26-30 in 2025) was removed for 2026; the CWD Management Zone and the antler-point restriction were also removed. |
| Wild turkey | Not yet published on 2026-10-29: the Code (3 CSR 10-7.455) still carries the 2026 dates and the 2027 Spring Turkey booklet is due in March 2027. |
| Ruffed grouse | Season rule rescinded 2010; game bird with no open season. |
| Gray partridge | Game bird with no open season. |
| Jackrabbit | Protected at all times (endangered: black-tailed jackrabbit). |
| Mountain lion, spotted skunk, long-tailed weasel | Furbearers with no open season; mountain lions may be killed only when attacking livestock/pets or threatening people (report within 24 hrs). |
| Feral hogs | Not a game species. Hunters with an unfilled deer permit may take hogs during deer seasons using deer methods; small game permittees with small-game methods; spring turkey permittees with turkey methods/hours. Resident landowners may kill hogs on their own land any time, any method, no permit. Taking hogs on MDC lands is prohibited outside deer and turkey seasons. MDC asks people to report hogs (573-522-4115 ext. 3296) instead of shooting them. |
| Sandhill crane | No Missouri season in the 2026-27 digest. |
No-season, removed and unpublished rows from the same sources, checked October 29, 2026.
Questions on Missouri season dates
Which deer portions open first this fall, and when?
Archery Sept 15-Nov 13 and Nov 25-Jan 15; early antlerless Oct 9-11 (open counties); early youth Oct 24-25; November portion Nov 14-24; late youth Nov 27-29; late antlerless Dec 5-13; alternative methods Dec 26-Jan 5.
On what date does each duck zone open?
North Zone Oct 31, Middle Zone Nov 7 and South Zone Nov 26, 2026; September teal ran Sept 12-20.
Are spring gobbler dates for 2027 out yet?
Not published when checked on October 29, 2026; the 2026 regular season was April 20-May 10.
What window do drawn bear hunters get?
Oct 17-30, 2026 in all three Black Bear Management Zones, for drawn permit holders, until each zone quota is reached.
What stays open after New Year 2027?
Archery deer and turkey to Jan 15, quail and pheasant to Jan 15, rabbits and squirrels to Feb 15, geese to Feb 6, the light goose Conservation Order Feb 7-Apr 30, crows to Mar 3 and beaver and nutria trapping to Mar 31.