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Groundhog hunting in Missouri
2026-27 dates May 11 to Dec 15, 2026, limits, permits and public land, from MDC.
Photo: Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0)
Groundhogs in Missouri: 1 season row between May 11, 2026 and Dec 15, 2026, plus limits, permit prices and the public land where they are found.
Groundhog rules in one list
- Limit: Any number.
- Seasons in short: May 11-Dec 15, 2026.
- Also: Game mammal; pelts may be sold all year.
MDC source (as of Feb 6, 2026), checked October 29, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Groundhog calendar by zone and county
1 season line for groundhogs, opening to closing.
| Hunt | Applies to | Limit | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundhog | Statewide | Any number | May 11, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | 219 |
What the groundhog rows add
- Firearms, bows; cage traps with permit
- Day after spring turkey season through Dec 15; pelts may be sold all year.
From Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 19, checked October 29, 2026.
Groundhog bag and permit table
Missouri calls hunting licenses permits; the groundhog permits below come from the 2026 MDC price list, and the permit year runs March 1 to the end of February.
| Bag row | What it allows |
|---|---|
| Crows, groundhogs, furbearers | Any number. |
Groundhog permit prices
| 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.
What the Code requires of groundhog hunters
- Daily window: Groundhogs have no fixed daily hours in Missouri, but artificial lights stay illegal except for treed furbearers and coyotes in season windows.
- Hunter orange: MDC puts groundhog hunters in orange during firearms deer portions, except in counties closed to the antlerless portions.
Groundhog weapons
| 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.
Shooting times for groundhogs by county
Six counties, two groundhog dates: legal times worked out from the MDC Jefferson City table. Sunrise and sunset only: groundhogs carry no shooting 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. |
| Dec 15, 2026 | Jackson County | 7:28 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. |
| Dec 15, 2026 | St. Louis County | 7:12 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. |
| Dec 15, 2026 | Greene County | 7:24 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. |
| Dec 15, 2026 | Boone County | 7:20 a.m. | 4:50 p.m. |
| Dec 15, 2026 | Cape Girardeau County | 7:09 a.m. | 4:39 p.m. |
| Dec 15, 2026 | Nodaway County | 7:30 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
MDC sunrise and sunset table with the MDC longitude rule; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Groundhog, answered
Does the orange law cover groundhog hunting?
MDC puts groundhog hunters in orange during firearms deer portions, except in counties closed to the antlerless portions.
How early can I shoot groundhogs?
Groundhogs have no fixed daily hours in Missouri, but artificial lights stay illegal except for treed furbearers and coyotes in season windows.
Can seniors hunt groundhogs without a permit?
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.
Does Missouri restrict Sunday hunting for groundhogs?
Yes. Sunday groundhog hunting is legal; only the season dates and hours apply.
What is the groundhog limit in Missouri?
Any number.
What are the 2026-27 groundhog dates in Missouri?
Groundhog May 11 to Dec 15, 2026.
What weapons are legal for groundhogs?
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 Missouri permit covers groundhogs?
For groundhogs, the resident Small Game permit costs $11.50 (Age 16-64). A nonresident hunting groundhogs pays $16 for the Daily Small Game permit. Vendors and the MO Hunting app sell groundhog permits with no surcharge.