Missouri Hunting & Fishing
Season Calendar 2026

Sep 15–Nov 13 and Nov 20–Jan 15

Missouri firearms deer season runs Nov 14–Nov 24 as the primary "November Firearms" season; legal methods include centerfire rifles, shotguns with slugs or buckshot, muzzleloaders, and handguns. Hunters must possess a valid Missouri hunting license and deer and turkey hunting permit. Blaze orange — at least 400 square inches on chest, back, and head — is required. Missouri's firearms season opens at the height of the breeding rut — some of the most intense buck chasing activity of the year occurs Nov 10–20. A late firearms season (Dec 14–23) also exists; check the Missouri Department of Conservation regulation booklet for all firearms season dates.

Missouri muzzleloader deer season runs Oct 16–Oct 30; only legal muzzleloading firearms are permitted — front-loaded single-shot designs. Missouri prohibits scopes on muzzleloaders during the October muzzleloader season; open sights or iron sights only. Hunters must possess a valid Missouri hunting license and deer permit. The October window catches bucks establishing pre-rut scrape lines and secondary rubs — calling and rattling begin to produce results in the final week of October. Blaze orange is not required during the October muzzleloader season but is strongly recommended for safety on public conservation areas.

Missouri spring turkey season runs Apr 20–May 10 for eastern wild turkey; Missouri is consistently among the top three states for turkey population density and harvest. Hunters must possess a valid Missouri hunting license and turkey permit; the daily bag limit is one gobbler with a season limit of two (one per day). Legal methods include shotguns, archery, and crossbows; electronic calls are prohibited. Missouri Conservation Areas provide extensive public land turkey hunting opportunity — the Ozarks region of southern Missouri holds outstanding gobbling activity from late April through early May.

Missouri dove season opens Sep 1 aligned with the Central Flyway framework; hunters must possess a valid Missouri hunting license and be HIP certified. The daily bag limit is 15 mourning doves with a possession limit of 45. A fully feathered wing must remain attached during transport to a personal abode. Missouri dove hunting is primarily on private agricultural land — managed dove fields and Conservation Areas may require a permit. The Missouri Conservation Department manages several Conservation Areas with designated dove hunting zones, particularly in the corn and sunflower production areas of northwest and central Missouri.