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Out of St. Louis City
Public tracts and season dates near St. Louis, MO
Every public tract within reach of St. Louis, the deer methods MDC permits on each, the St. Louis County deer rules, season dates, legal light and nearby shops.
Photo: Town view, Gateway Arch and the St. Louis skyline lit up at night over the Mississippi River. Dave Herholz (CC BY-SA 2.0)
As an independent city, St. Louis sits apart from St. Louis County, though MDC runs both from St. Charles. Population, per the mid-2024 estimate: 279,695. About 224 acres of MDC or federal polygons lie within 10 miles, none of them open to hunting on this site’s list. Mapped public land in St. Louis County totals about 19,107 acres, among them 13,604 acres of MDC land, 1,050 acres of refuge land and 4,453 acres of state parks and historic sites. Before any other area, a straight line from St. Louis reaches Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, about 11 miles to its mapped centre.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary miles within 10 miles are a GIS measure over MDC, USFS, USFWS, Corps and NPS boundaries (places.json). MDC region from the MDC Regions layer. Checked October 29, 2026.
St. Louis county-by-county deer guide
Missouri has no deer units below the county, so a county line can change the antlerless limit within a short drive of St. Louis.
| County | Firearms antlerless | Oct./Dec. portions | Mandatory CWD | Feed, minerals | Fall gun turkey | Bear zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis City this county | No MDC row | – | – | – | – | – |
| St. Louis County | 4 | Open | No | Yes | Open | Zone 2 |
Because MDC lists no unit for St. Louis itself, the rows below run through St. Louis County and the counties that hold the nearby areas. The firearms antlerless fill limit in St. Louis County is 4. The October and December antlerless portions are open in St. Louis County. St. Louis County falls under the year-round feed and mineral ban. In St. Louis County, Share the Harvest takes only CWD-tested deer. Black Bear Management Zone 2 covers 100% of St. Louis County; MDC issues 750 permits there with a quota of 22 bears. Duck zone by the old GIS layer: Middle Zone (100%). Counties near a line should check the new 2026-2030 map. Removed for 2026 in St. Louis County: the CWD Management Zone, the CWD portion and the antler-point restriction.
County rules from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet county table; CWD sampling counties and stations from the MDC CWD pages; bear zones from the 2026 Black Bear Hunting Digest; elk from the 2026 Elk Hunting Digest; duck zones from the 2026-2027 waterfowl digest and the 2021-2025 MDC zone layer. Checked October 29, 2026.
St. Louis land list
Every area listed lies more than 10 miles from St. Louis; the miles column measures to each mapped point.
| Name | How far | Land type | Manager | Deer rule | Antlerless | Size (ac) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powder Valley Nature Center | 11 mi SW | Nature center | MDC | Managed hunt | – | 112 | Managed hunt only |
| Jean and Joan Goodson CA (Bittersweet Woods) | 12 mi W | Conservation area | MDC | Managed hunt | – | 20 | Managed hunt only |
| Phantom Forest CA | 12 mi W | Conservation area | MDC | Managed hunt | – | 13 | Managed hunt only |
| Columbia Bottom CA | 13 mi NE | Conservation area | MDC | Managed hunt | – | 4,451 | 25 dove fields |
| Creve Coeur Park Lake (St. Louis County) | 14 mi NW | Cooperative area | MDC | Managed hunt | – | 320 | Managed hunt only |
| Saint Stanislaus CA | 15 mi NW | Conservation area | MDC | Archery only | Allowed | 812 | – |
| August G. Beckemeier CA | 16 mi W | Conservation area | MDC | Managed hunt | – | 54 | Managed hunt only |
| Pelican Island Natural Area | 17 mi N | Natural area | MDC | Managed hunt | – | 2,260 | Managed hunt only |
| Forest 44 CA | 17 mi SW | Conservation area | MDC | Managed hunt | – | 958 | Managed hunt only |
| Jay Henges Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center | 18 mi SW | Nature center | MDC | – | – | – | Very small unit |
Deer hunters at Saint Stanislaus Conservation Area are held to archery methods only, and antlerless permits may be filled there. Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is drawing-only: MDC managed hunts, no general hunting.
Area notes
- Columbia Bottom CA: Columbia Bottom is for those who love wide, open spaces.
- MDC directions to Powder Valley Nature Center: The address is 11715 Cragwold Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122. On I-44, take the S. Lindbergh Boulevard exit south 0.50 mile, then Watson Road west, then Geyer Road north to Cragwold Road. Turn west on Cragwold and watch for signs.
Lands from MDC area pages and GIS layers, USFS, USFWS, NPS, Corps and Missouri State Parks records (lands.json; each land page cites its own source). Boundary miles from places.json, other miles to each mapped point. Deer methods and antlerless permit status from the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey booklet area table and the MDC area deer quick view. Checked October 29, 2026.
St. Louis deer and turkey numbers
Each bar is one permit year for St. Louis County, archery through the alternative methods portion. Telecheck came to 1,922 deer in 2025 and 1,917 in 2024. Of those 2025 deer, 808 were antlered bucks. Hunter density there ran 14.0 firearms and 8.2 archery hunters per square mile in 2025. Hunters checked 101 spring turkeys in St. Louis County in 2026, 10 of them on public land. Fall 2025: 2 turkeys by firearms and 14 by archery. Across the dashboard years, St. Louis County logged 1,760 CWD samples and 1 positive.
| Year | All deer | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2,144 | 861 | 174 | 1,109 |
| 2023 | 2,015 | 845 | 167 | 1,003 |
| 2024 | 1,917 | 797 | 145 | 975 |
| 2025 | 1,922 | 808 | 145 | 969 |
| Season part | Checked |
|---|---|
| Archery | 1,073 |
| Early youth | 18 |
| November | 320 |
| Late youth | 2 |
| Alt. methods | 45 |
| Managed hunts | 350 |
| Year | Spring birds | On public |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 129 | 18 |
| 2024 | 115 | 13 |
| 2025 | 113 | 13 |
| 2026 | 101 | 10 |
| Sample year | Tested | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 147 | 0 |
| 2024 | 129 | 0 |
| 2025 | 300 | 1 |
| 2026 | 31 | 0 |
Deer from the MDC 2025-2026 deer harvest summary and earlier summaries (harvest.json; 2017-2019 county totals exclude managed hunts); density from the MDC 2025 deer season report; turkey from the MDC turkey harvest summaries; CWD from the MDC CWD dashboard. Checked October 29, 2026.
Seasons open near St. Louis
The November firearms portion runs Nov. 14 to 24 in every county; the antlerless portions in October and December are set by county, and St. Louis County is open for them.
| Game | Portion | Where | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery, first part | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early antlerless | Antlerless county | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, early youth | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, November | Statewide | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 24, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery, second part | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late youth | Statewide | Nov 27, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, late antlerless | Antlerless county | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Firearms, alternative methods | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Bear, zone 2 | Bear zone 2 | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery | Statewide | Sep 15, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall firearms | Open county | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall archery, part 2 | Statewide | Nov 25, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Youth quail | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Quail | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth pheasant | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Pheasant | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | |
| Rabbits | Rabbit hunting | Statewide | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Squirrels | Squirrel season | Statewide | May 23, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock season | Statewide | Oct 18, 2026 | Dec 1, 2026 | |
| Doves | Dove season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | |
| Youth waterfowl | Youth waterfowl days | Middle Zone | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 1 | Middle Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks and coots | Ducks, split 2 | Middle Zone | Dec 19, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Early Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | |
| Geese | Regular geese | Statewide | Nov 11, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | Feb 7, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Coyote hunting | Statewide | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | |
| Groundhog | Groundhog | Statewide | May 11, 2026 | Dec 15, 2026 | |
| Bullfrogs and green frogs | Frogging | Statewide | Jun 30, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, early | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | |
| Rails | Rail season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Mar 3, 2027 | |
| Badger and foxes | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting and trapping | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunt and trap, main | Statewide | Nov 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
From the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations, the 2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest and the 2026 hunting and trapping summary (Missouri Department of Conservation), checked October 29, 2026.
MDC lists no unit for the independent city of St. Louis; the rows are St. Louis County’s, and statewide seasons apply everywhere.
St. Louis managed hunt list
St. Louis County hosts 25 managed deer hunts; applications ran in July. The 2026 application window ended Jul 31, 2026.
| Site | Hunt | Dates | Drawn | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August G. Beckemeier | Archery | Oct. 31–Nov. 13 | 5 | D |
| Creve Coeur CP | Archery | Oct. 19–Nov. 13 | 30 | D |
| Fabick Nature Preserve | Archery | Oct. 8–15 | 15 | D |
| Fabick Nature Preserve | Archery | Nov. 5–12 | 15 | D |
| Fabick Nature Preserve | Archery | Dec. 10–17 | 15 | D |
| Forest 44 CA | Archery | Oct. 1–15 | 75 | B |
| Forest 44 CA | Archery | Dec. 1–31 | 100 | B |
| Greensfelder CP | Archery | Oct. 19–Nov. 13 | 45 | D |
| Jefferson Barracks CP | Archery | Oct. 19–Nov. 13 | 20 | D |
| Klamberg | Archery | Nov. 2–6 | 5 | D |
| McDonnell CP | Archery | Oct. 19–Nov. 13 | 5 | D |
| Phantom Forest CA and Bittersweet Woods CA | Archery | Nov. 30–Dec. 4 | 5 | B |
From the MDC Managed Deer Hunts List 2026-2027; limit codes are explained there. Checked October 29, 2026.
St. Louis legal shooting light
Rabbits are sunrise to sunset, migratory birds half an hour before sunrise to sunset, and big game gets the extra half hour after sunset.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Deer, bear, elk | Ducks, doves, geese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:30 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 6:00 a.m.–8:01 p.m. | 6:00 a.m.–7:31 p.m. |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:42 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 6:12 a.m.–7:39 p.m. | 6:12 a.m.–7:09 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall firearms turkey | 6:57 a.m. | 6:43 p.m. | 6:27 a.m.–7:13 p.m. | 6:27 a.m.–6:43 p.m. |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Middle Zone ducks | 6:34 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 6:04 a.m.–5:24 p.m. | 6:04 a.m.–4:54 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | November firearms opener | 6:42 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 6:12 a.m.–5:18 p.m. | 6:12 a.m.–4:48 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Alternative methods | 7:17 a.m. | 4:46 p.m. | 6:47 a.m.–5:16 p.m. | 6:47 a.m.–4:46 p.m. |
| Jan 15, 2027 | Archery close | 7:17 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:47 a.m.–5:34 p.m. | 6:47 a.m.–5:04 p.m. |
Hours rule and the Jefferson City sunrise and sunset table from the MDC Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Digest (same table in the Fall Deer and Turkey booklet), adjusted 1 minute per 13.5 miles east or west as MDC directs; checked October 29, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
St. Louis processors and shops
Missouri does not license hunting guides, so the guide rows are preserves holding MDC permits and directory listings; call before you drive. Kenricks Meat Co. is the closest Share the Harvest processor. The nearest name on the taxidermy list is Schwarz Studio Taxidermy of Saint Louis. First retail stop on the list: MRM Gunsmithing of Saint Louis. The nearest hunting preserve or guide business is Nfm Buyer LLC, about 13 mi from St. Louis.
| Kind | 15 mi | 35 mi | Closest listing | Distance | In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer cutting | 3 | 3 | G&W Meat & Bavarian Style Sausage, INC (top pick) | at town | Saint Louis |
| Taxidermists | 7 | 7 | Schwarz Studio Taxidermy (top pick) | 6.4 mi SW | Saint Louis |
| Hunting retailers | 18 | 28 | MRM Gunsmithing (top pick) | at town | Saint Louis |
| Guide businesses | 1 | 1 | Nfm Buyer LLC (top pick) | 13 mi NW | Maryland Heights |
Deer cutting
Taxidermists
Hunting retailers
Guide businesses
Processors from the MDC Share the Harvest processor lookup, MDC CWD sampling partners, the MDC commercial permit listing and Yellow Pages; taxidermists, shops and preserves from MDC permits, chain store locators and Yellow Pages (services.json). Checked October 29, 2026; hours were not checked.
Events a short drive out of St. Louis
Counted within some 30 miles of town on October 29, 2026: 2 upcoming events (RMEF chapter dinner and trapping clinic).
Coming up
| Held on | Event | Mi | Where held | Link | Checked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 5–6, 2026 | Trapping: Scout. Set. Skin: A Missouri Trapping Experience · trapping clinic | 18 | Register | Source | |
| Apr 10, 2027 | RMEF Saint Louis Chapter Banquet · RMEF chapter dinner | 0 | St. Louis | Buy tickets | Source |
St. Louis: gun clubs and MDC lines nearby
From central St. Louis, Forest Park Archery Range is nearest at 1 mile.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked October 29, 2026.
MDC staff near St. Louis
Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office in St. Louis is the public MDC office nearest the centre of St. Louis City. Above the local offices sits the St. Louis regional office in St Charles. Offices sell permits and answer questions about conservation areas and managed hunts.
MDC Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, a 2.0 mi drive southwest
MDC Powder Valley Nature Center at 11 mi, heading southwest
Offices from the MDC offices open to the public, the MDC regional offices page and the MDC field office layer (services.json, counties.json). Checked October 29, 2026.
Asked about St. Louis
What is the Telecheck deadline for Missouri deer?
10 p.m. on the day of harvest, or sooner if you process the deer or leave the county of harvest.
Will orange camouflage satisfy Missouri’s rule?
No. Camouflage orange does not meet the rule.
Where can I drop a deer for cutting near St. Louis?
G&W Meat & Bavarian Style Sausage, INC (Saint Louis) heads our list at at town; call ahead.
Which MDC office handles St. Louis City?
Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office (St. Louis) is the nearest public office.
When does the managed hunt drawing take applications?
July 1-31; results post from Aug. 15.
What are the closest towns to St. Louis on this site?
In order: Clayton, Spanish Lake, Florissant and Hazelwood.
Which public tract is the shortest trip from St. Louis?
Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, about 11 miles to its mapped centre. Second is Jean and Joan Goodson Conservation Area (Bittersweet Woods), about 12 miles to its mapped centre.
How many hunting tracts sit inside 10 miles of St. Louis?
0 listed tracts covering about 224 acres.
What is the firearms antlerless fill limit for St. Louis County?
In St. Louis County the firearms antlerless fill limit is 4; archery antlerless rules are statewide.
Are the early and late antlerless portions held in St. Louis County?
Yes, both.
Is opening-weekend CWD sampling required around St. Louis?
No, St. Louis County is outside the sampling counties.
Does St. Louis lie in Missouri bear country?
Yes: bear zone 2.
At what time may I shoot a deer near St. Louis on Nov. 14?
On Nov. 14, 2026, deer hours at St. Louis start at 6:12 a.m.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, counties.json, services.json and the 2026 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations; Telecheck from the booklet, hunter orange from booklet p. 4. Checked October 29, 2026.
St. Louis trip checklist
Before leaving St. Louis, confirm the county you will hunt in, its antlerless limit and any area method rule.
Other photos on this page: LeeAnne Adams (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Midwest Region (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Shelby L. Bell (CC BY 2.0); Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren (CC BY 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); Heath Cajandig (CC BY 2.0); J L (CC BY-SA 2.0).