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White-tailed deer hunting in Missouri
Seasons, bag limits, permit prices and where to hunt white-tailed deer in 2026-27.
Photo: Gary Leavens (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Here are the 2026-27 deer rules as MDC prints them, opening Sep 15, 2026, with harvest figures and conservation areas wherever the data has them.
White-tailed Deer: the short version
- Take: 2 antlered deer (1 firearms, 1 archery before Nov 14); nonresidents 1 antlered; unlimited archery antlerless; county firearms antlerless limits 0-4.
- How and when: Archery Sept 15-Nov 13 and Nov 25-Jan 15; firearms early antlerless Oct 9-11, early youth Oct 24-25, November Nov 14-24, late youth Nov 27-29, late antlerless Dec 5-13, alternative methods Dec 26-Jan 5.
- Keep in mind: 2025 harvest 301,125 (record-high archery season 62,281). Mule deer count as deer.
MDC source (as of Jun 16, 2026), checked October 29, 2026.
GearHeading out for deer season? Deer gear checklist →
Every deer season row
10 rows for white-tailed deer, as the 2026-27 MDC booklets list them; the last column checks each against today.
| Season | Zone or counties | Bag | From | To | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery, first part | Statewide | See limits | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | 60 | |
| Archery, second part | Statewide | As first segment | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | 52 | |
| Firearms, early antlerless | 100 open counties | See limits | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 3 | |
| Firearms, early youth | Statewide | See limits | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 2 | |
| Firearms, November | Statewide | See limits | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | 11 | |
| Firearms, late youth | Statewide | As early youth | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 3 | |
| Firearms, late antlerless | 100 open counties | Antlerless only | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | 9 | |
| Firearms, alternative methods | Statewide | Firearms permits; antlered limits apply | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | 11 | |
| Firearms, CWD | Removed for 2026 | – | Removed for 2026 | |||
| Managed deer hunts | Managed hunt areas | Limit codes A-F per hunt | Sep 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | 123 |
White-tailed Deer row details
- Longbows, compound and recurve bows of any draw weight, crossbows, atlatls; hand-held releases, illuminated sights and scopes allowed. No firearms except concealable firearms (not for taking wildlife).
- Archer's Hunting Permit = 2 deer; Archery Antlerless permits unlimited statewide. Only 1 antlered deer before Nov 14. Archery closed during the November portion (Nov 14-24).
- Hunter orange required for archers in open counties during the late youth, late antlerless (open counties) portions and on managed firearms hunt areas; not during the alternative methods portion.
- Centerfire rifles/handguns with expanding bullets; shotguns (incl. .410) with slugs only; air-powered guns .40 cal+ charged from external source; muzzleloaders/cap-and-ball .40 cal+ (in-lines, scopes OK); bows and crossbows; atlatls (air bows listed on p. 72). No self-loaders over 11 rounds, buckshot, FMJ, full-auto, bait, dogs.
- Antlerless deer only. Closed counties: Andrew, Atchison, Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Holt, Iron, Mississippi, New Madrid, Nodaway, Pemiscot, Scott, Stoddard, Wayne. Counts toward each county's firearms antlerless fill limit.
- Ages 6-15 on opening day of the early youth portion. Adults may not hunt deer with firearms; mentors need no permit but must be 18+ and hunter-ed certified or born before 1/1/1967.
- Mandatory CWD sampling Nov 14-15 in 28 counties. Other hunters (except waterfowl, trappers, landowners on own land) limited to .22 rimfire or shot no larger than No. 4.
- Ages 6-15 (age on early youth opening day).
- Antlerless deer only; same open counties as the early antlerless portion.
- Muzzleloaders/cap-and-ball .40 cal+, centerfire handguns (expanding bullets), air-powered guns .40 cal+, bows, crossbows, atlatls. No rifles loaded other than by the muzzle; no shotguns.
From Fall Deer and Turkey booklet p. 20, Fall Deer and Turkey booklet p. 24, Fall Deer and Turkey booklet p. 26 and Fall Deer and Turkey booklet p. 28, checked October 29, 2026.
White-tailed Deer limits county by county
| Antlerless deer | Counties | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 5 | Atchison County, Dunklin County, Mississippi County, New Madrid County, Pemiscot County |
| 1 | 10 | Andrew County, Butler County, Carter County, Holt County, Iron County, Nodaway County, Reynolds County, Scott County, Stoddard County, Wayne County |
| 2 | 3 | Bollinger County, Madison County, Shannon County |
| 4 | 96 | Adair County, Audrain County, Barry County, Barton County, Bates County, Benton County and 90 more |
Deer from the 85 feed-ban counties must be CWD-tested before they go to Share the Harvest.
county deer rules, antlerless limit map, CWD sampling page, checked October 29, 2026.
How many deer Missouri hunters take
County totals for 2017-2019 lack managed-hunt deer, so their sum runs a little under the statewide figure; 2025 matches at 301,125.
Deer harvest since 2015
Which portions filled the 2025 total
| 2025 portion | Antlered | Button | Doe | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Antlerless | 54 | 1,103 | 7,337 | 8,494 |
| Early Youth | 12,420 | 1,376 | 4,914 | 18,710 |
| November | 90,126 | 12,214 | 55,831 | 158,171 |
| CWD | 5,667 | 1,479 | 8,782 | 15,928 |
| Late Youth | 956 | 223 | 1,145 | 2,324 |
| Late Antlerless | 156 | 2,766 | 16,956 | 19,878 |
| Alternative Methods | 3,275 | 1,363 | 8,408 | 13,046 |
| Archery | 31,482 | 4,255 | 26,544 | 62,281 |
| Managed Hunts | 636 | 284 | 1,373 | 2,293 |
| Grand Total | 144,772 | 25,063 | 131,290 | 301,125 |
Where the most deer were checked in 2025
| County | 2025 deer | 2024 deer |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 6,751 | 6,199 |
| Howell County | 5,474 | 4,476 |
| Callaway County | 5,197 | 4,440 |
| Jefferson County | 5,173 | 4,890 |
| Texas County | 4,974 | 4,121 |
| Pike County | 4,848 | 4,425 |
| Macon County | 4,525 | 4,489 |
| Lincoln County | 4,503 | 4,098 |
| Benton County | 4,228 | 3,915 |
| Oregon County | 4,176 | 3,376 |
Deer per square mile by region
| MDC region | 2025 deer | Per sq mi | Firearms hunters per sq mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 45,426 | 5.5 | 10.4 |
| Southwest | 42,835 | 4.6 | 7.8 |
| Northeast | 42,745 | 5.7 | 9.3 |
| Ozark | 40,974 | 4.6 | 6.5 |
| Southeast | 34,604 | 4.0 | 6.9 |
| Northwest | 32,768 | 3.5 | 6.9 |
| Kansas City | 31,404 | 4.5 | 7.8 |
| St. Louis | 30,369 | 6.9 | 14.0 |
MDC deer harvest summaries and the 2025 deer season summary report, checked October 29, 2026.
Limits and permits for deer hunters
Permit prices for white-tailed deer match the Wildlife Code fee schedule; phone sales add $1 and there is no online surcharge.
| Limit row | Limit |
|---|---|
| White-tailed deer (antlered limit) | Residents: 2 antlered deer archery + firearms combined, only 1 during firearms season (all portions) and only 1 in archery before Nov 14. Nonresident Archer's/Firearms Any-Deer permits: 1 antlered deer total (both permits). Nonresident landowner permits: 2 antlered (same split). Managed-hunt deer do not count. |
| White-tailed deer (antlerless, firearms) | Any number of firearms antlerless permits may be bought; fill limit per county for the whole firearms season: 0 in 5 counties, 1 in 10, 2 in 3, 4 in 96. |
| White-tailed deer (antlerless, archery) | Any number of archery antlerless permits, valid statewide. |
| White-tailed deer (landowners) | Resident landowners 20+ acres: 1 firearms any-deer, 1 archer's, 2 archery antlerless (no cost); 75+ acres in one county: also 2 firearms antlerless. Limits of 2 antlered deer apply. |
What deer permits cost
| Permit | Residency | Who | Price | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firearms Any-Deer | resident | Age 16+ | $19.50 | Firearms deer season |
| Firearms Any-Deer | resident | Age 6-15 | $9.75 | Firearms deer season |
| Landowner Any-Deer | resident | Landowner, 20+ acres | No cost | Firearms season |
| Firearms Any-Deer | nonresident | Age 16+ | $360 | Firearms season |
| Firearms Any-Deer | nonresident | Age 6-15 | $9.75 | Firearms season |
| Landowner Any-Deer | nonresident | Landowner 75++ acres | $225 | Firearms season |
| Firearms Antlerless | resident | Age 16+ | $7.50 | Firearms deer season |
| Firearms Antlerless | resident | Age 6-15 | $3.75 | Firearms deer season |
| Landowner Antlerless | resident | Landowner 75+ acres in one county | No cost (2) | Firearms season |
| Firearms Antlerless | nonresident | Age 16+ | $34 | Firearms season |
| Firearms Antlerless | nonresident | Age 6-15 | $3.75 | Firearms season |
| Archer's | resident | Age 16+ | $22 | Archery deer and fall turkey seasons |
| Archer's | resident | Age 6-15 | $11 | Archery season |
| Landowner Archer's | resident | Landowner 20+ acres | No cost | Archery season |
| Archer's | nonresident | Age 16+ | $360 | Archery season |
| Archer's | nonresident | Age 6-15 | $11 | Archery season |
| Landowner Archer's | nonresident | Landowner 75+ acres | $225 | Archery season |
| Archery Antlerless | resident | Age 16+ | $7.50 | Archery deer season |
| Archery Antlerless | resident | Age 6-15 | $3.75 | Archery deer season |
| Landowner Archery Antlerless | resident | Landowner 20+ acres | No cost (2) | Archery season |
| Archery Antlerless | nonresident | Age 16+ | $34 | Archery season |
| Archery Antlerless | nonresident | Age 6-15 | $3.75 | Archery season |
| Managed Deer | resident | Age 16+ | $19.50 | Drawn managed hunt |
| Managed Deer | resident | Age 11-15 | $9.75 | Drawn managed hunt |
| Managed Deer | nonresident | Age 16+ | $360 | Drawn managed hunt |
| Managed Deer | nonresident | Age 11-15 | $9.75 | Drawn managed hunt |
| DMAP | resident | DMAP-enrolled property | $7.50 | Season |
| DMAP | nonresident | DMAP-enrolled property | $29 | Season |
From Fall Deer and Turkey booklet p. 16, Fall Deer and Turkey booklet p. 17, Fall Deer and Turkey booklet p. 19 and Fall Deer and Turkey booklet p. 20, checked October 29, 2026.
White-tailed Deer on conservation areas and federal land
Public ground for white-tailed deer: 595 listed areas, sorted here by size.
| Area | County | Acres | Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull Shoals Lake lands | Ozark County | 34,736 | Archery and Firearms; Antlerless Permits Allowed |
| Clearwater Lake Management Lands | Reynolds County | 12,659 | Archery and Firearms; Antlerless Permits Allowed |
| Castor River Conservation Area | Bollinger County | 9,990 | Archery and Firearms; Archery Antlerless Permits Only |
| Fountain Grove Conservation Area | Linn County | 8,122 | Archery Methods Only; Antlerless Permits Allowed |
| Stephen C. Bradford Unit of Black Island CA | Pemiscot County | 6,430 | Muzzleloader and Archery; Antlerless Permits Not Allowed |
| Duck Creek Conservation Area | Bollinger County | 6,319 | Archery Methods Only; Antlerless Permits Allowed |
| Whetstone Creek Conservation Area | Callaway County | 5,208 | Conservation Area |
| Otter Slough Conservation Area | Butler County | 4,859 | Conservation Area |
| Robert E. Talbot CA | Lawrence County | 4,361 | Archery and Firearms; Archery Antlerless Permits Only |
| Drury-Mincy Conservation Area | Taney County | 4,135 | Archery and Firearms; Antlerless Permits Allowed |
| Flag Spring Conservation Area | Barry County | 4,036 | Archery and Firearms; Antlerless Permits Allowed |
| Nodaway Valley Conservation Area | Andrew County | 3,881 | Archery Methods Only; Antlerless Permits Allowed |
| Reform Conservation Area | Callaway County | 3,580 | Archery Methods Only; Antlerless Permits Allowed |
| Emmett and Leah Seat Memorial CA | Gentry County | 3,479 | Muzzleloader and Archery; Antlerless Permits Allowed |
| Kind of land | Areas |
|---|---|
| Conservation Area | 419 |
| Public Access Area | 72 |
| Corps lake lands | 24 |
| Towersite | 22 |
| Natural Area | 12 |
| Cooperative Area | 12 |
| State Park | 10 |
| Wildlife refuge | 7 |
| MDC region | Areas |
|---|---|
| Southwest | 95 |
| Kansas City | 90 |
| Northwest | 78 |
| Southeast | 77 |
| Central | 72 |
| Ozark | 64 |
| Northeast | 61 |
| St. Louis | 58 |
Area lists from MDC area pages and the MDC places directory; methods from the MDC atlas; checked October 29, 2026.
Field rules for white-tailed deer
- Legal light: MDC lets deer hunters shoot from 30 minutes ahead of sunrise until 30 minutes past sunset, for bows and guns alike.
- Orange: Orange is required of deer hunters, their mentors and anyone hunting other game while a firearms portion is open.
- Baiting: The deer bait rule counts feed for 10 days after removal, so a cleaned-up pile still makes the spot illegal.
- Harvest reporting: Notch the permit right away, then Telecheck the deer before processing it, before leaving the county or by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest, whichever comes first.
What may be used on white-tailed deer
| Methods | Rule |
|---|---|
| Legal | Centerfire rifles and handguns with expanding bullets (lead or copper), shotguns with slugs (incl. .410), air-powered guns .40 cal+ charged from an external source, muzzleloaders and cap-and-ball .40 cal+ (incl. handguns), bows, crossbows, atlatls (not bear), air bows. |
| Not legal | Self-loading firearms holding more than 11 rounds (concealable firearms excepted, not for taking game), buckshot/multiple projectiles, full metal jacket, fully automatic, electronic calls. |
Tree stands and blinds on MDC areas: Portable stands Sept 1-Jan 31 only, labeled, no nails or screw-in steps; blinds removed daily; no mineral blocks or salt on MDC areas.
shooting hours, hunter orange, methods, checked October 29, 2026.
When legal light starts for white-tailed deer
Use this as a guide for white-tailed deer; the MDC table and the longitude rule give the exact minute for any spot.
| Date | County | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2026 | Jackson County | 6:29 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | St. Louis County | 6:13 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Greene County | 6:25 a.m. | 7:52 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Boone County | 6:21 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:10 a.m. | 7:37 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Nodaway County | 6:31 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Jackson County | 6:40 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. |
| Nov 25, 2026 | St. Louis County | 6:24 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Greene County | 6:36 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Boone County | 6:32 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Cape Girardeau County | 6:21 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Nodaway County | 6:42 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. |
MDC sunrise and sunset table with the MDC longitude rule; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
White-tailed Deer questions
Must I wear hunter orange for white-tailed deer?
Orange is required of deer hunters, their mentors and anyone hunting other game while a firearms portion is open.
Where can I hunt white-tailed deer on public land in Missouri?
595 public areas in this guide list white-tailed deer 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). Area rules for white-tailed deer differ, so check the area page.
Do white-tailed deer have to be checked?
Notch the permit right away, then Telecheck the deer before processing it, before leaving the county or by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest, whichever comes first.
Can white-tailed deer be hunted every day of the week?
Yes. No Missouri rule closes Sundays, so plan deer hunts on any day of the week.
What is the antlered deer limit?
Residents: 2 antlered deer archery + firearms combined, only 1 during firearms season (all portions) and only 1 in archery before Nov 14. Nonresident Archer's/Firearms Any-Deer permits: 1 antlered deer total (both permits). Nonresident landowner permits: 2 antlered (same split). Managed-hunt deer do not count.
Was the CWD deer portion cancelled?
CWD Management Zone removed; CWD portion removed; antler-point restriction removed; four-year mandatory sampling rotation begins. Mandatory sampling now runs Nov 14-15 in 28 counties. CWD rules.
Are any counties closed to antlerless firearms deer?
Any number of firearms antlerless permits may be bought; fill limit per county for the whole firearms season: 0 in 5 counties, 1 in 10, 2 in 3, 4 in 96. No firearms antlerless deer may be taken in Atchison, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid and Pemiscot. Deer rules by county.
When can you hunt white-tailed deer in Missouri?
Archery, first part Sep 15 to Nov 13, 2026; Archery, second part Nov 25, 2026 to Jan 15, 2027; Firearms, early antlerless (open counties) Oct 9 to Oct 11, 2026; Firearms, early youth Oct 24 to Oct 25, 2026; Firearms, November Nov 14 to Nov 24, 2026; Firearms, late youth Nov 27 to Nov 29, 2026.
How many white-tailed deer can I take?
Residents: 2 antlered deer archery + firearms combined, only 1 during firearms season (all portions) and only 1 in archery before Nov 14. Nonresident Archer's/Firearms Any-Deer permits: 1 antlered deer total (both permits). Nonresident landowner permits: 2 antlered (same split). Managed-hunt deer do not count. Any number of firearms antlerless permits may be bought; fill limit per county for the whole firearms season: 0 in 5 counties, 1 in 10, 2 in 3, 4 in 96.
How much is a permit for white-tailed deer?
For white-tailed deer, the resident Firearms Any-Deer permit costs $19.50 (Age 16+). A nonresident hunting white-tailed deer pays $360 for the Firearms Any-Deer permit. There is no online surcharge on deer permits; phone orders add $1.
Can I use a rifle for white-tailed deer?
Centerfire rifles and handguns with expanding bullets (lead or copper), shotguns with slugs (incl. .410), air-powered guns .40 cal+ charged from an external source, muzzleloaders and cap-and-ball .40 cal+ (incl. handguns), bows, crossbows, atlatls (not bear), air bows. Not legal: Self-loading firearms holding more than 11 rounds (concealable firearms excepted, not for taking game), buckshot/multiple projectiles, full metal jacket, fully automatic, electronic calls.
What is the legal hunting time for white-tailed deer?
MDC lets deer hunters shoot from 30 minutes ahead of sunrise until 30 minutes past sunset, for bows and guns alike.