Missouri › Species › Gray Squirrel
Small game
Gray squirrel hunting in Missouri
Opens May 23, 2026; limits, permits and places to hunt gray squirrels.
Photo: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Missouri sets 1 dated window for gray squirrels in 2026-27, running May 23, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027. Limits, permits, places to hunt and the field rules follow on this page.
How MDC sums up gray squirrels
- Keep: 10 daily, 20 possession (combined).
- Dates in brief: May 23, 2026-Feb 15, 2027.
MDC source (as of Feb 6, 2026), checked October 29, 2026.
GearHeading out for small game season? Small game gear checklist →
Gray Squirrel season dates for 2026-27
Read the gray squirrel rows by area: counties, bear zones, the elk counties or duck zones where they apply.
| Season | Where | Bag | Opens | Closes | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squirrel season | Statewide | 10 daily, 20 possession | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | 269 |
Gray Squirrel season notes
- Firearms, bows, crossbows, atlatls, slingshots; cage traps with permit
- Fourth Saturday in May through Feb 15. No dogs during daylight of the November portion in 10 Ozark counties.
From Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 19, checked October 29, 2026.
Gray Squirrel hunting during deer portions
Gray squirrels can be hunted with dogs except in daylight Nov 14-24 in the counties below.
Butler County, Carter County, Dent County, Iron County, Madison County, Oregon County, Reynolds County, Ripley County, Shannon County, Wayne County.
During deer portions, gray squirrel guns are limited to .22 rimfire or No. 4 shot.
dog restriction counties, deer season rules, checked October 29, 2026.
How many gray squirrels and which permit
Youth permits for ages 6-15 are half price where the list shows them, including for gray squirrels.
| Row | Daily and possession |
|---|---|
| Squirrels | 10 daily, 20 possession. |
Gray squirrel permits and fees
| 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. 19, Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 8 and Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 9, checked October 29, 2026.
Gray Squirrel: the biggest public areas
Of the public places in this guide, 441 list squirrel, which takes in gray squirrels.
| Area | County | Acres | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Mississippi Conservation Area | Lewis County | 14,912 | Conservation Area |
| August A. Busch Jr. Memorial Wetlands at Four Rivers CA | Bates County | 13,939 | Conservation Area |
| Gist Ranch Conservation Area | Texas County | 11,266 | Conservation Area |
| Thomas Hill Reservoir CA | Macon County | 9,431 | Conservation Area |
| Pea Ridge Conservation Area | Washington County | 8,494 | Conservation Area |
| Fountain Grove Conservation Area | Linn County | 8,122 | Conservation Area |
| Lead Mine Conservation Area | Dallas County | 7,761 | Conservation Area |
| University Forest Conservation Area | Butler County | 7,151 | Conservation Area |
| Birch Creek Conservation Area | Shannon County | 5,646 | Conservation Area |
| Bushwhacker Lake Conservation Area | Barton County | 4,790 | Conservation Area |
| Robert E. Talbot CA | Lawrence County | 4,361 | Conservation Area |
| Drury-Mincy Conservation Area | Taney County | 4,135 | Conservation Area |
| Buford Mountain Conservation Area | Iron County | 3,949 | Conservation Area |
| Mule Shoe Conservation Area | Camden County | 2,829 | Conservation Area |
| Kind of land | Areas |
|---|---|
| Conservation Area | 319 |
| Public Access Area | 54 |
| Corps lake lands | 24 |
| Towersite | 20 |
| Natural Area | 9 |
| Ranger district | 6 |
| State Forest | 4 |
| Cooperative Area | 2 |
| MDC region | Areas |
|---|---|
| Southwest | 68 |
| Southeast | 63 |
| Ozark | 63 |
| Kansas City | 62 |
| Central | 52 |
| Northwest | 50 |
| Northeast | 48 |
| St. Louis | 35 |
Area lists from MDC area pages and the MDC places directory; methods from the MDC atlas; checked October 29, 2026.
Rules in the field for gray squirrels
- Shooting hours: Gray squirrel hunters face no sunrise or sunset rule; the rules on lights, night vision and thermal do the limiting.
- Orange clothing: Hunters after gray squirrels wear orange during the firearms deer portions; small game hunters are exempt in the alternative methods portion.
Gray Squirrel method rules
| 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. |
Artificial lights: Not to spot or take game while holding a weapon, except treed furbearers (dogs) and coyotes Jan 1-Sept 30 excluding spring turkey season (2026: Jan 1-Apr 19 and May 11-Sept 30); landowners may use lights on their land without weapons.
shooting hours, hunter orange, methods, checked October 29, 2026.
Computed gray squirrel hours
Kansas City runs about 10 minutes behind Jefferson City and St. Louis about 8 minutes ahead, which the gray squirrel table reflects. Sun times are given for gray squirrels because the Code sets no hours.
| Date | County | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Jackson County | 6:47 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | St. Louis County | 6:31 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Greene County | 6:43 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Boone County | 6:39 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:28 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 1, 2026 | Nodaway County | 6:49 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | Jackson County | 7:09 a.m. | 5:56 p.m. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | St. Louis County | 6:53 a.m. | 5:40 p.m. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | Greene County | 7:05 a.m. | 5:52 p.m. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | Boone County | 7:01 a.m. | 5:48 p.m. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:50 a.m. | 5:37 p.m. |
| Feb 15, 2027 | Nodaway County | 7:11 a.m. | 5:58 p.m. |
MDC sunrise and sunset table with the MDC longitude rule; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Common questions on gray squirrels
When do gray squirrels open and close in Missouri?
Squirrel season May 23, 2026 to Feb 15, 2027.
Do I need a permit to hunt gray squirrels as a landowner?
Resident landowners (5+ acres) and household hunt (except bear, deer, elk, turkey) and trap on their land without permits; residents 65+ hunt (not trap) without small game permit; residents 15 and under trap without permit; anyone 15 and under hunts small game without permit if certified or with a mentor. Migratory bird permit, duck stamp and CO permit still required where applicable.
What are the gray squirrel permit prices?
For gray squirrels, the resident Small Game permit costs $11.50 (Age 16-64). A nonresident hunting gray squirrels pays $16 for the Daily Small Game permit. Gray squirrel permits cost the same online, in the MO Hunting app and at vendors.
What possession limit applies to gray squirrels?
10 daily, 20 possession.
What hours apply to gray squirrel hunting?
Gray squirrel hunters face no sunrise or sunset rule; the rules on lights, night vision and thermal do the limiting.
What gear is legal for gray squirrel hunting?
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.
Where are the best public areas for gray squirrels?
441 public areas in this guide list gray squirrels or the hunting group that covers them; the largest include Mark Twain National Forest, Doniphan / Eleven Point district (Mark Twain National Forest) and Ava/Cassville/Willow Springs district (Mark Twain National Forest). Method limits for gray squirrels are set area by area.
When must gray squirrel hunters wear orange?
Hunters after gray squirrels wear orange during the firearms deer portions; small game hunters are exempt in the alternative methods portion.
Are Sundays open for gray squirrels?
Yes. Sundays count like any other day for gray squirrels; mandatory CWD sampling even falls on Sunday, Nov 15.