Missouri › Species › American Crow
Small game
American crow hunting in Missouri
Dates, limits, permits, legal hours and conservation areas for crows.
Photo: Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0)
What a Missouri crow hunter needs for 2026-27 is gathered here: 1 segment starting Nov 1, 2026, each linked to its MDC page.
How MDC sums up crows
- Bag: Any number.
- Dates and methods: Nov 1-Mar 3; shotgun, rifle, handgun, archery, falconry.
MDC source (as of Feb 6, 2026), checked October 29, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
American Crow dates, 2026-27
The crow calendar has 1 line; zone and county links lead to the pages where dates change by area.
| Row | Zone | Take | Begins | Through | Days | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crow season | Statewide | Any number | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 3, 2027 | 123 |
Crow methods and footnotes
- Shotgun, rifle, handgun, archery, falconry; electronic calls allowed
- 1/2 hr before sunrise to sunset.
From Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 18, checked October 29, 2026.
American Crow limits and permits
Carry crow permits on paper or in the MO Hunting app; deer, turkey, bear and elk permits must be paper or app.
| Bag | Rule |
|---|---|
| Crows, groundhogs, furbearers | Any number. |
American Crow permits, resident and nonresident
| Permit | Residency | Who | Price | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Game | resident | Age 16-64 | $11.50 | Permit year |
| Daily Small Game | nonresident | All | $16 | 1 day |
| Small Game | nonresident | Age 16+ | $108.50 | Permit year |
| Small Game and Fishing | resident | All | $22.50 | Permit year |
| Lifetime Small Game | resident | Age 15 or younger | $320 | Lifetime |
| Lifetime Small Game | resident | Age 16-29 | $465.50 | Lifetime |
| Lifetime Small Game | resident | Age 30-39 | $407 | Lifetime |
| Lifetime Small Game | resident | Age 40-59 | $349 | Lifetime |
| Lifetime Small Game | resident | Age 60+ | $40.50 | Lifetime |
From Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 11, Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 18, Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 8 and Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 9, checked October 29, 2026.
American Crow: hours, orange and methods
- Legal hours: The migratory clock for crows opens a half hour ahead of sunrise and stops right at sunset.
- Orange rule: Crows may be hunted in camo except during the firearms deer portions, when orange is required.
American Crow: legal and illegal methods
| Methods | Rule |
|---|---|
| Legal | Pistols, revolvers, rifles (single projectile), air/spring guns (not for game birds except crows), shotguns 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells (not required for deer/bear/elk), bows, crossbows, atlatls, slingshots (not bear/deer/elk/turkey). |
| Not legal | Fully automatic firearms; poisons, drugs, explosives. |
shooting hours, hunter orange, methods, checked October 29, 2026.
American Crow hours across Missouri
Times below start from the MDC Jefferson City sunrise and sunset table and shift 1 minute per 13.5 miles east or west, as MDC directs, for six counties across the crow range.
| Date | County | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | Jackson County | 6:15 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | St. Louis County | 5:59 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Greene County | 6:11 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Boone County | 6:07 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Cape Girardeau County | 5:56 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. |
| Nov 1, 2026 | Nodaway County | 6:17 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. |
| Mar 3, 2027 | Jackson County | 6:17 a.m. | 6:13 p.m. |
| Mar 3, 2027 | St. Louis County | 6:01 a.m. | 5:57 p.m. |
| Mar 3, 2027 | Greene County | 6:13 a.m. | 6:09 p.m. |
| Mar 3, 2027 | Boone County | 6:09 a.m. | 6:05 p.m. |
| Mar 3, 2027 | Cape Girardeau County | 5:58 a.m. | 5:54 p.m. |
| Mar 3, 2027 | Nodaway County | 6:19 a.m. | 6:15 p.m. |
MDC sunrise and sunset table with the MDC longitude rule; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Questions about crows in Missouri
Can I use electronic calls for crows?
Only for crows, furbearers and light geese in the Conservation Order; not with lights/night vision except coyotes in season windows. The crow season row lists shotgun, rifle, handgun, archery and falconry, with electronic calls allowed.
Do Sunday rules affect crow hunters?
Yes. Neither the Wildlife Code nor the MDC booklets restrict Sunday hunting, so crows may be hunted on Sundays within their season.
What is the daily bag for crows?
Any number.
What dates apply to crows this season?
Crow season Nov 1, 2026 to Mar 3, 2027.
Which methods are allowed for crows?
Pistols, revolvers, rifles (single projectile), air/spring guns (not for game birds except crows), shotguns 10 ga or smaller plugged to 3 shells (not required for deer/bear/elk), bows, crossbows, atlatls, slingshots (not bear/deer/elk/turkey). Not legal: Fully automatic firearms; poisons, drugs, explosives.
Which permit do crow hunters buy?
For crows, the resident Small Game permit costs $11.50 (Age 16-64). A nonresident hunting crows pays $16 for the Daily Small Game permit. A crow permit can be carried on paper or in the MO Hunting app.
Do crow hunters need to wear orange?
Crows may be hunted in camo except during the firearms deer portions, when orange is required.
What are the shooting hours for crows?
The migratory clock for crows opens a half hour ahead of sunrise and stops right at sunset.