Missouri › Species › Light Geese
Ducks, geese and coots
Light geese hunting in Missouri
The 2026-27 MDC rules for snow, blue and Ross's geese, with harvest figures and public land.
Photo: Mark Kent (CC BY-SA 2.0)
This guide follows the 2026-27 MDC regulations for snow, blue and Ross's geese: the first legal day is Nov 11, 2026 and the last is Apr 30, 2027, each row with its source.
Light Geese at a glance
- Bag limit: 20 daily, no possession limit; no limits in the Conservation Order.
- Methods: Nov 11-Feb 6; Conservation Order Feb 7-Apr 30, 2027.
MDC source (as of Jun 17, 2026), checked October 29, 2026.
GearHeading out for duck and goose season? Duck and goose gear checklist →
When snow, blue and Ross's geese are open in Missouri
These are the 2026-27 light goose rows; conservation areas and managed hunts can add their own limits.
| Segment | Area | Limit | First day | Last day | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geese: Regular geese | Statewide | See the limits | Nov 11, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | 88 | |
| Light geese: Conservation order | Statewide | No daily or possession limit (light goose) | Feb 7, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | 83 |
Fine print for snow, blue and Ross's geese
- Shotguns (unplugged allowed), electronic calls, nontoxic shot
- 1/2 hr before sunrise to 1/2 hr after sunset. Conservation Order Permit only.
From Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest p. 16 and Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest p. 17, checked October 29, 2026.
Light Geese zones and managed wetlands
| Duck zone | Boundary | Counties (GIS) |
|---|---|---|
| North | North of a line from the Illinois border at Lock and Dam 25 west on Sandy Slough Rd East/North, Lincoln County Hwy N, MO-79, MO-47, I-70, US 63 (north), US 24, MO-10, US 69 (north), MO-116 and US 59 (south) to Kansas. | 41 |
| South | South of a line from the Illinois border on MO-74 to MO-25, US 62, MO-53, MO-51, US 60, MO-21, MO-72, MO-32, US 65 (north), US 54 west to Kansas. | 38 |
| Middle | The rest of Missouri. | 61 |
The light goose zone lines follow highways and rivers, so the digest map is the final word near a boundary.
Intensively managed wetlands
| Area | Acres | Counties | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.K. Leach Memorial | 4,307 | Lincoln County | |
| Bob Brown | 3,307 | Holt County | |
| Duck Creek | 6,318 | Bollinger County, Stoddard County, Wayne County | |
| Eagle Bluffs | 4,428 | Boone County | Construction may affect 2026-27 hunting. |
| Fountain Grove | 8,122 | Linn County, Livingston County | |
| Four Rivers | 13,929 | Vernon County, Bates County | |
| Grand Pass | 5,301 | Saline County | |
| Marais Temps Clair | 918 | St. Charles County | 1 p.m. closure; waterfowl hunting Fri.-Mon. only. |
| Nodaway Valley | 3,881 | Holt County, Andrew County | |
| Otter Slough | 4,866 | Stoddard County | |
| Schell-Osage | 8,633 | Vernon County, St. Clair County | Waterfowl hunting closed for 2026-27 (wetland renovation). |
| Ted Shanks | 6,705 | Pike County | |
| Ten Mile Pond | 3,755 | Mississippi County |
waterfowl digest zones, managed wetland grid, checked October 29, 2026.
Light Geese: limits, permits, prices
Missouri calls hunting licenses permits; the light goose permits below come from the 2026 MDC price list, and the permit year runs March 1 to the end of February.
| Limit type | Text |
|---|---|
| Light geese | 20 daily, no possession limit (regular season); no limits in the Conservation Order. |
Permits for snow, blue and Ross's geese
| Permit | Residency | Who | Price | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Migratory Bird | resident | Age 16+ | $8 | To June 30, 2027 |
| Migratory Bird | nonresident | Age 16+ | $60 | To June 30, 2027 |
| Federal Duck Stamp | both | Age 16+ waterfowl hunters | $32 e-Stamp ($7 handling) / $25 paper | July 1-June 30 |
| 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 |
| Conservation Order | resident | Age 16+ | $5.50 | Feb 7-Apr 30, 2027 |
| Conservation Order | nonresident | Age 16+ | $54 | Feb 7-Apr 30, 2027 |
From Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 8, Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 9, Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest p. 16 and Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest p. 6, checked October 29, 2026.
Places to hunt snow, blue and Ross's geese
142 public areas in this guide list waterfowl hunting, the group that covers snow, blue and Ross's geese; the biggest by acreage are below.
| Area | County | Acres | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weldon Spring Conservation Area | St. Charles County | 8,398 | Conservation Area |
| Union Ridge Conservation Area | Adair County | 8,263 | Conservation Area |
| Fountain Grove Conservation Area | Linn County | 8,122 | Conservation Area |
| Truman Reservoir lands (Grand River Bottoms) | Henry County | 8,094 | Corps lake lands |
| Settle's Ford Conservation Area | Bates County | 7,363 | Conservation Area |
| Deer Ridge Conservation Area | Lewis County | 7,185 | Conservation Area |
| Duck Creek Conservation Area | Bollinger County | 6,319 | Conservation Area |
| Truman Reservoir lands (Sac Osage) | St. Clair County | 5,375 | Corps lake lands |
| Bilby Ranch Lake CA | Nodaway County | 5,110 | Conservation Area |
| Norfork Lake Management Lands | Ozark County | 4,861 | Corps lake lands |
| B. K. Leach Memorial CA | Lincoln County | 4,308 | Conservation Area |
| Rebel's Cove Conservation Area | Putnam County | 4,225 | Conservation Area |
| Ted Shanks Conservation Area | Pike County | 4,026 | Conservation Area |
| Marion Bottoms Conservation Area | Cole County | 2,997 | Conservation Area |
| Kind of land | Areas |
|---|---|
| Conservation Area | 108 |
| Corps lake lands | 17 |
| Cooperative Area | 14 |
| Public Access Area | 2 |
| Natural Area | 1 |
| MDC region | Areas |
|---|---|
| Kansas City | 33 |
| Northwest | 33 |
| Southeast | 21 |
| Northeast | 16 |
| Central | 15 |
| Southwest | 11 |
| St. Louis | 9 |
| Ozark | 4 |
Area lists from MDC area pages and the MDC places directory; methods from the MDC atlas; checked October 29, 2026.
Light Geese hunting rules
- When to shoot: Expect one window all season for snow, blue and Ross's geese: 30 minutes before sunrise until the sun sets. Light goose hours stretch to a half hour past sunset during the Conservation Order.
- Hunter orange rule: No hunter orange is needed for snow, blue and Ross's geese; MDC exempts migratory bird hunting.
- Baiting law: No bait for snow, blue and Ross's geese; the waterfowl rule bans manipulated crops, the dove rule allows normal farming.
- Checking game: Carry snow, blue and Ross's geese with a head or a fully feathered wing attached, and buy the migratory permit that enrolls you in HIP.
Legal methods for snow, blue and Ross's geese
| Methods | Rule |
|---|---|
| Legal | Unplugged shotguns, electronic calls, nontoxic shot. |
| Not legal | Rifles and pistols. |
Nontoxic shot: Required for waterfowl and coots statewide; for doves on 26 areas and all shotgun hunting on 46 MDC areas.
shooting hours, hunter orange, methods, checked October 29, 2026.
Light Geese legal hours on key dates
The light goose window on key dates, computed from the MDC table for six counties from Nodaway to Cape Girardeau.
| Date | County | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 11, 2026 | Jackson County | 6:25 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. |
| Nov 11, 2026 | St. Louis County | 6:09 a.m. | 4:52 p.m. |
| Nov 11, 2026 | Greene County | 6:21 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. |
| Nov 11, 2026 | Boone County | 6:17 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Nov 11, 2026 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:06 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Nov 11, 2026 | Nodaway County | 6:27 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Jackson County | 6:48 a.m. | 5:47 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | St. Louis County | 6:32 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Greene County | 6:44 a.m. | 5:43 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Boone County | 6:40 a.m. | 5:39 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:29 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. |
| Feb 7, 2027 | Nodaway County | 6:50 a.m. | 5:49 p.m. |
MDC sunrise and sunset table with the MDC longitude rule; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Answers about snow, blue and Ross's geese
How is a light goose harvest recorded?
Carry snow, blue and Ross's geese with a head or a fully feathered wing attached, and buy the migratory permit that enrolls you in HIP.
Is Sunday light goose hunting legal?
Yes. MDC prints no Sunday closure, so the light goose season includes every Sunday.
What line divides the Missouri duck zones?
North, Middle and South, with new lines for 2026-2030. Duck dates: North Oct 31-Dec 29; Middle Nov 7-Dec 13 and Dec 19-Jan 10; South Nov 26-29 and Dec 7-Jan 31. Waterfowl zones.
When are managed waterfowl reservations?
Half of spots by reservation (half pre-season Sept 1-18 online, residents only, up to 3 areas; half weekly in-season), half by the morning poor-line drawing. Party max 4. ADA blinds by reservation (up to 5 areas). Schell-Osage is closed for 2026-27 renovation.
When is light goose season in Missouri?
Regular geese Nov 11, 2026 to Feb 6, 2027; Conservation order Feb 7 to Apr 30, 2027.
What possession limit applies to snow, blue and Ross's geese?
20 daily, no possession limit (regular season); no limits in the Conservation Order.
What permit do I need for snow, blue and Ross's geese?
For snow, blue and Ross's geese, the resident Migratory Bird permit costs $8 (Age 16+). A nonresident hunting snow, blue and Ross's geese pays $60 for the Migratory Bird permit. Buy light goose permits at mdc.mo.gov, in the app or at a vendor; phone sales add $1.
Which firearms and bows are legal for snow, blue and Ross's geese?
Unplugged shotguns, electronic calls, nontoxic shot. Not legal: Rifles and pistols.
What hours apply to light goose hunting?
Expect one window all season for snow, blue and Ross's geese: 30 minutes before sunrise until the sun sets. Light goose hours stretch to a half hour past sunset during the Conservation Order.
What orange rule applies to snow, blue and Ross's geese?
No hunter orange is needed for snow, blue and Ross's geese; MDC exempts migratory bird hunting.
How many public areas allow light goose hunting?
142 public areas in this guide list snow, blue and Ross's geese or the hunting group that covers them; the largest include Bull Shoals Lake lands, Stockton Lake Management Lands and Upper Mississippi Conservation Area. Every area posts its own light goose rules.