Furbearers
Nutria hunting in Missouri
Opens Nov 15, 2026; limits, permits and places to hunt nutria.
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Missouri sets 1 dated window for nutria in 2026-27, running Nov 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. Limits, permits, places to hunt and the field rules follow on this page.
How MDC sums up nutria
- Keep: Any number.
- Dates in brief: Trapping Nov 15-Mar 31.
MDC source (as of Feb 6, 2026), checked October 29, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Nutria season dates for 2026-27
Read the nutria rows by area: counties, bear zones, the elk counties or duck zones where they apply.
| Season | Where | Bag | Opens | Closes | Days | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping | Statewide | Any number | Nov 15, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | 137 |
From Hunting and Trapping Summary p. 20, checked October 29, 2026.
Nutria trapping and records
| 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. |
The Code bans killing traps near public roads except underwater, a rule nutria trappers meet often.
MDC record-weight nutria
| Weight | County | Date | Sex |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 lb 13.1 oz | Butler County | Feb 12, 2025 | Male |
trapping summary, MDC record weights, checked October 29, 2026.
How many nutria and which permit
Youth permits for ages 6-15 are half price where the list shows them, including for nutria.
| Row | Daily and possession |
|---|---|
| Crows, groundhogs, furbearers | Any number. |
Nutria permits and fees
| 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.
Rules in the field for nutria
- Shooting hours: Nutria hunters face no sunrise or sunset rule; the rules on lights, night vision and thermal do the limiting.
- Orange clothing: Hunters after nutria wear orange during the firearms deer portions; small game hunters are exempt in the alternative methods portion.
Nutria method rules
| 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.
Computed nutria hours
Kansas City runs about 10 minutes behind Jefferson City and St. Louis about 8 minutes ahead, which the nutria table reflects. Sun times are given for nutria because the Code sets no 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. |
| Mar 31, 2027 | Jackson County | 7:04 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. |
| Mar 31, 2027 | St. Louis County | 6:48 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. |
| Mar 31, 2027 | Greene County | 7:00 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. |
| Mar 31, 2027 | Boone County | 6:56 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. |
| Mar 31, 2027 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:45 a.m. | 7:21 p.m. |
| Mar 31, 2027 | Nodaway County | 7:06 a.m. | 7:42 p.m. |
MDC sunrise and sunset table with the MDC longitude rule; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Common questions on nutria
Are Sundays open for nutria?
Yes. Sundays count like any other day for nutria; mandatory CWD sampling even falls on Sunday, Nov 15.
When must nutria hunters wear orange?
Hunters after nutria wear orange during the firearms deer portions; small game hunters are exempt in the alternative methods portion.
What is the dog rule for nutria?
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.
What is the heaviest nutria on MDC record?
20 lb 13.1 oz, Butler County, Feb 12, 2025 (male). MDC record-weight furbearers, weighed on a certified scale since 2011.
How many nutria may one hunter keep?
Any number.
When do nutria open and close in Missouri?
Trapping Nov 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027.
What gear is legal for nutria hunting?
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.
What are the nutria permit prices?
For nutria, the resident Trapping permit costs $12 (Age 16+). A nonresident hunting nutria pays $221.50 for the Furbearer and Trapping permit. Nutria permits cost the same online, in the MO Hunting app and at vendors.
When does legal light end for nutria?
Nutria hunters face no sunrise or sunset rule; the rules on lights, night vision and thermal do the limiting.