Furbearers
Mink hunting in Missouri
2026-27 dates Nov 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027, limits, permits and public land, from MDC.
Photo: Jeff Meyer (CC BY 2.0)
Mink in Missouri: 1 season row between Nov 15, 2026 and Feb 28, 2027, plus limits, permit prices and the public land where they are found.
Mink rules in one list
- Limit: Any number.
- Seasons in short: Trapping Nov 15-Feb 28.
- Also: No hunting with dogs.
MDC source (as of Feb 6, 2026), checked October 29, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Mink calendar by zone and county
1 season line for mink, opening to closing.
| Hunt | Applies to | Limit | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Statewide | Any number | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 106 |
What the mink rows add
- Otter pelts must be registered/tagged by April 10.
From Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 20, checked October 29, 2026.
Mink: trap types and field rules
| Trapping | Rule |
|---|---|
| Legal | Smooth or rubber-jawed foot-hold, Conibear-type, foot-enclosing, cage and colony traps; snares only in water (loop <=15 in.); cable restraints (12 in. loop, breakaway 350 lb, Nov 15-Jan 31 rules per Code); electronic calls allowed. |
| Not legal | Dry-land snares, pitfalls, deadfalls, nets; killing traps near public roads except underwater. |
Furbearer dens and nests, including those of mink, may not be molested or destroyed.
Mink weight records
| Weight | County | Date | Sex |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb 3.2 oz | Ralls County | Jan 19, 2013 | Male |
trapping summary, MDC record weights, checked October 29, 2026.
Mink bag and permit table
Missouri calls hunting licenses permits; the mink 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. |
Mink permit prices
| Permit | Residency | Who | Price | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | resident | Age 16+ | $12 | To June 30, 2027 |
| Furbearer and Trapping | nonresident | All | $221.50 | To June 30, 2027 |
| Lifetime Trapping | resident | Age 15 or younger / 16-29 / 30-39 / 40-59 / 60+ | $320 / $465.50 / $407 / $349 / $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 mink hunters
- Daily window: Mink 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 mink hunters in orange during firearms deer portions, except in counties closed to the antlerless portions.
Mink weapons
| Methods | Rule |
|---|---|
| Legal | Smooth or rubber-jawed foot-hold, Conibear-type, foot-enclosing, cage and colony traps; snares only in water (loop <=15 in.); cable restraints (12 in. loop, breakaway 350 lb, Nov 15-Jan 31 rules per Code); electronic calls allowed. |
| Not legal | Dry-land snares, pitfalls, deadfalls, nets; killing traps near public roads except underwater. |
shooting hours, hunter orange, methods, checked October 29, 2026.
Shooting times for mink by county
Six counties, two mink dates: legal times worked out from the MDC Jefferson City table. Sunrise and sunset only: mink carry no shooting hours.
| Date | County | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2026 | Jackson County | 7:00 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | St. Louis County | 6:44 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Greene County | 6:56 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Boone County | 6:52 a.m. | 4:57 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:41 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Nodaway County | 7:02 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Jackson County | 6:51 a.m. | 6:10 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | St. Louis County | 6:35 a.m. | 5:54 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Greene County | 6:47 a.m. | 6:06 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Boone County | 6:43 a.m. | 6:02 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:32 a.m. | 5:51 p.m. |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Nodaway County | 6:53 a.m. | 6:12 p.m. |
MDC sunrise and sunset table with the MDC longitude rule; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Mink, answered
Which Missouri permit covers mink?
For mink, the resident Trapping permit costs $12 (Age 16+). A nonresident hunting mink pays $221.50 for the Furbearer and Trapping permit. Vendors and the MO Hunting app sell mink permits with no surcharge.
What is the mink limit in Missouri?
Any number.
How early can I shoot mink?
Mink have no fixed daily hours in Missouri, but artificial lights stay illegal except for treed furbearers and coyotes in season windows.
What weapons are legal for mink?
Smooth or rubber-jawed foot-hold, Conibear-type, foot-enclosing, cage and colony traps; snares only in water (loop <=15 in.); cable restraints (12 in. loop, breakaway 350 lb, Nov 15-Jan 31 rules per Code); electronic calls allowed. Not legal: Dry-land snares, pitfalls, deadfalls, nets; killing traps near public roads except underwater.
Does Missouri restrict Sunday hunting for mink?
Yes. Sunday mink hunting is legal; only the season dates and hours apply.
Does the orange law cover mink hunting?
MDC puts mink hunters in orange during firearms deer portions, except in counties closed to the antlerless portions.
Do dog rules limit mink hunting?
Not for bear, deer, elk, turkey, beaver, mink, muskrat, otter (leashed tracking dogs excepted); no furbearer dogs in daylight Nov 1-end of November portion and antlerless portions; dogs must wear a collar with ID (except waterfowl and game-bird dogs); training only with blanks in closed season.
Where was the record mink taken?
5 lb 3.2 oz, Ralls County, Jan 19, 2013 (male). MDC record-weight furbearers, weighed on a certified scale since 2011.
What are the 2026-27 mink dates in Missouri?
Trapping Nov 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027.