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Deer
Missouri Deer Rules by County
Firearms antlerless limits, antlerless portions, CWD sampling, feed ban, dog rule and zones for all 114 counties.
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain)
How Missouri sets deer rules by county
MDC sets Missouri deer rules county by county; there are no deer units below the county. The firearms antlerless fill limit for the whole firearms season is 0 in 5 counties, 1 in 10, 2 in 3 and 4 in 96. Hunters may buy any number of firearms antlerless permits but may fill only the county limit. The early antlerless portion (Oct 9-11) and the late antlerless portion (Dec 5-13) open in 100 counties and stay closed in 14. Mandatory CWD sampling on Nov 14-15 applies in 28 counties, a year-round feed and mineral ban in 85, and deer from those 85 counties need a CWD test before donation to Share the Harvest. Ten Ozark counties bar dogs for squirrels and rabbits in daylight during the November portion. The antler-point restriction, the CWD portion and the CWD Management Zone were removed for 2026.
County rules from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet and 3 CSR 10-7.433 and 7.437, checked against the booklet maps (p. 17, 25, 6, 7), checked October 29, 2026.
Counties closed to antlerless deer portions
Most of the closed counties sit in the Bootheel and the far northwest.
| No firearms antlerless deer |
|---|
| Atchison County |
| Dunklin County |
| Mississippi County |
| New Madrid County |
| Pemiscot County |
Counties with a 1-deer firearms antlerless limit: Andrew, Butler, Carter, Holt, Iron, Nodaway, Reynolds, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne. Counties with a 2-deer limit: Bollinger, Madison and Shannon.
All 114 counties and their 2026 deer rules
Filter by county or MDC region; each name links to its county page.
| County | Firearms antlerless | Antlerless portions | CWD sampling | Feed and minerals | Share the Harvest | November dogs | Fall firearms turkey | Elk | Bear zone | Duck zone | MDC region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| Andrew County | 1 | Closed | Nov 14-15 | Open | North | Northwest | |||||
| Atchison County | 0 | Closed | Nov 14-15 | Open | North | Northwest | |||||
| Audrain County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Central | |||
| Barry County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 1 | South | Southwest | |||
| Barton County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | South | Southwest | |||
| Bates County | 4 | Open | Open | 3 | Middle | Kansas City | |||||
| Benton County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Kansas City | ||
| Bollinger County | 2 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 2 | Middle | Southeast | |||
| Boone County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | Middle / North | Central | ||||
| Buchanan County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Open | North / Middle | Northwest | |||||
| Butler County | 1 | Closed | No dogs | Open | 2 | South / Middle | Southeast | ||||
| Caldwell County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northwest | ||||
| Callaway County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | Middle / North | Central | |||
| Camden County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Central | |||
| Cape Girardeau County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 2 | Middle / South | Southeast | |||
| Carroll County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North / Middle | Northwest | ||||
| Carter County | 1 | Closed | Nov 14-15 | No dogs | Open | Elk | 2 | South / Middle | Ozark | ||
| Cass County | 4 | Open | Open | 3 | Middle | Kansas City | |||||
| Cedar County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | South / Middle | Southwest | ||
| Chariton County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North / Middle | Northwest | ||||
| Christian County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 1 | South | Southwest | |||
| Clark County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| Clay County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | Middle / North | Kansas City | ||||
| Clinton County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North / Middle | Northwest | ||||
| Cole County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Central | |||
| Cooper County | 4 | Open | Open | 3 | Middle | Central | |||||
| Crawford County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 2, 3 | Middle | St. Louis | |||
| Dade County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Open | 3 | South | Southwest | ||||
| Dallas County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle / South | Southwest | |||
| Daviess County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northwest | ||||
| DeKalb County | 4 | Open | Open | North | Northwest | ||||||
| Dent County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | No dogs | Open | 2 | Middle / South | Ozark | ||
| Douglas County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 1 | South | Ozark | |||
| Dunklin County | 0 | Closed | Closed | 2 | South / Middle | Southeast | |||||
| Franklin County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3, 2 | Middle | St. Louis | |||
| Gasconade County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Central | |||
| Gentry County | 4 | Open | Open | North | Northwest | ||||||
| Greene County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3, 1 | South | Southwest | ||
| Grundy County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northwest | ||||
| Harrison County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northwest | ||||
| Henry County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Kansas City | |||
| Hickory County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle / South | Southwest | |||
| Holt County | 1 | Closed | Nov 14-15 | Open | North | Northwest | |||||
| Howard County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | Middle | Central | ||||
| Howell County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 1, 2 | South | Ozark | |||
| Iron County | 1 | Closed | Nov 14-15 | No dogs | Open | 2 | Middle | Southeast | |||
| Jackson County | 4 | Open | Open | 3 | Middle | Kansas City | |||||
| Jasper County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3, 1 | South | Southwest | |||
| Jefferson County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 2 | Middle | St. Louis | |||
| Johnson County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Kansas City | |||
| Knox County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| Laclede County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle / South | Southwest | |||
| Lafayette County | 4 | Open | Open | 3 | Middle | Kansas City | |||||
| Lawrence County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Open | 1, 3 | South | Southwest | ||||
| Lewis County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| Lincoln County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Open | North / Middle | St. Louis | |||||
| Linn County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northwest | ||||
| Livingston County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northwest | ||||
| Macon County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| Madison County | 2 | Open | Banned | Test needed | No dogs | Open | 2 | Middle | Southeast | ||
| Maries County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Central | |||
| Marion County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| McDonald County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Closed | 1 | South | Southwest | |||
| Mercer County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northwest | ||||
| Miller County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Central | |||
| Mississippi County | 0 | Closed | Closed | 2 | South | Southeast | |||||
| Moniteau County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Central | |||
| Monroe County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | |||
| Montgomery County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | North / Middle | Central | |||
| Morgan County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Central | |||
| New Madrid County | 0 | Closed | Closed | 2 | South | Southeast | |||||
| Newton County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Closed | 1, 3 | South | Southwest | |||
| Nodaway County | 1 | Closed | Nov 14-15 | Open | North | Northwest | |||||
| Oregon County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | No dogs | Open | 2, 1 | South | Ozark | |
| Osage County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Central | |||
| Ozark County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 1 | South | Ozark | |||
| Pemiscot County | 0 | Closed | Banned | Test needed | Closed | 2 | South | Southeast | |||
| Perry County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 2 | Middle | Southeast | |||
| Pettis County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Kansas City | |||
| Phelps County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3, 2 | Middle | Ozark | |||
| Pike County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Open | North | Northeast | |||||
| Platte County | 4 | Open | Open | Middle | Kansas City | ||||||
| Polk County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | South | Southwest | ||
| Pulaski County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Ozark | |||
| Putnam County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| Ralls County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | |||
| Randolph County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North / Middle | Northeast | ||||
| Ray County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North / Middle | Northwest | ||||
| Reynolds County | 1 | Open | Nov 14-15 | No dogs | Open | Elk | 2 | Middle / South | Southeast | ||
| Ripley County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | No dogs | Open | 2 | South | Ozark | |
| Saline County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle | Central | |||
| Schuyler County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| Scotland County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| Scott County | 1 | Closed | Closed | 2 | South | Southeast | |||||
| Shannon County | 2 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | No dogs | Open | Elk | 2 | South | Ozark |
| Shelby County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| St. Charles County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | 2 | Middle | St. Louis | ||
| St. Clair County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle / South | Kansas City | ||
| St. Francois County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 2 | Middle | Southeast | |||
| St. Louis County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 2 | Middle | St. Louis | |||
| Ste. Genevieve County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 2 | Middle | Southeast | |||
| Stoddard County | 1 | Closed | Open | 2 | Middle / South | Southeast | |||||
| Stone County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 1 | South | Southwest | |||
| Sullivan County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | North | Northeast | ||||
| Taney County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 1 | South | Southwest | |||
| Texas County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3, 2, 1 | South / Middle | Ozark | |||
| Vernon County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3 | Middle / South | Kansas City | |||
| Warren County | 4 | Open | Nov 14-15 | Banned | Test needed | Open | Middle / North | St. Louis | |||
| Washington County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 2 | Middle | St. Louis | |||
| Wayne County | 1 | Closed | Nov 14-15 | No dogs | Open | 2 | Middle | Southeast | |||
| Webster County | 4 | Open | Banned | Test needed | Open | 3, 1 | South | Southwest | |||
| Worth County | 4 | Open | Open | North | Northwest | ||||||
| Wright County | 4 | Open | Open | 3, 1 | South | Ozark |
Each county row from regs.json zones.deer_county_rules, checked October 29, 2026. Duck zones use the 2021-2025 MDC layer; check the digest map near a line.
St. Louis City and the county tables
St. Louis City is an independent city with no row in the MDC county tables: the season tables list no unit for it, so use the statewide rules and the St. Louis County row, and remember city ordinances on firearms discharge. St. Louis City page, St. Louis County page.
MDC county list, checked October 29, 2026.
Questions on county deer rules
How many antlerless deer can I take with a firearm in my county?
It depends on the county: 0 in 5, 1 in 10, 2 in 3 and 4 in 96 counties, for the whole firearms season.
Which counties are closed during the antlerless portions?
Andrew, Atchison, Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Holt, Iron, Mississippi, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne.
Which counties have mandatory CWD sampling in 2026?
Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Benton, Buchanan, Callaway, Carter, Cedar, Dade, Greene, Holt, Iron, Lawrence, Lincoln, Monroe, Montgomery, Nodaway, Oregon, Pike, Polk, Ralls, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, St. Charles, St. Clair, Warren and Wayne, on Nov 14-15.
Is the antler-point restriction still in effect?
No. It was removed for all counties in 2026, along with the CWD portion and the CWD Management Zone.
Do archery antlerless permits follow county limits?
Any number of archery antlerless permits, valid statewide.