When Is Missouri Deer Season? Here's What You Need to Know

For deer hunters, the allure of whitetails draws out-of-staters and a significant population of locals (just under 8% of Missourans are registered hunters) to try their luck in one of the many hunting seasons allocated by firearm type.

No two hunts are ever the same in Missouri. In this blog, we're exploring everything you need to know about the Missouri deer season to help you plan a successful hunt in the Show-Me-State. 

Overview of the Missouri Deer Season 

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) establishes hunting seasons and regulations regarding hunting times, bag limits, permits, and more to help regulate and maintain the population of game species. 

Explore the details you need for a successful deer season below, taking special note of regulations and limitations to ensure an ethical and legal hunt. 

Archery Season

The archery season runs from September 15, 2024, to November 15, 2024, and November 27, 2024, to January 15, 2025. Hunters can hunt one-half hour before sunrise up to one-half hour after sunset. 

Longbows, crossbows, compound bows, and recurve bows are all permitted at any draw weight.

However, prohibited equipment includes:
 

• Night-vision sighting tools
• Electronic calls
• Sighting devices that cast a beam of light on the game

To hunt deer during the archery season, hunters will need an archer's hunting permit. This permit allows them to take two deer of either sex, with one antlerless deer taken before the November firearms season. There is also the opportunity for unlimited antlerless permits. 

Only two antlered deer can be taken during the combined firearm and archery season. 

Firearms Season 

The firearms season is divided into different portions, with hunting times allocated based on firearm type, antler or antlerless deer, and hunter characteristics. 

Antlerless Deer Firearm Season

The antlerless deer firearm season runs from  October 11, 2024, to October 13, 2024 (early) and again from  December 7, 2024, to December 15, 2024 (late). During this time, hunters can hunt one-half hour before sunrise up to one-half hour after sunset. 

County-specific limitations may apply, and necessary permits may include a resident antlerless deer hunting permit and a resident firearms any-deer permit. 

Youth Deer Firearm Season

To encourage the sport of hunting and promote fairness and equal access, the MDC has allocated a youth firearm season. Hunters aged between 6 and 15 years old on the opening day of the early youth portion are allowed to hunt during this season.

The dates run from November 2, 2024, to November 3, 2024 (early) and again from November 29, 2024, to December 1, 2024 (late). 

Only one deer of either sex can be taken during this period, and youth hunters must be accompanied by a hunter-education certified adult unless born before January 1, 1967. 

November Deer Firearms Season

This season runs from November 16, 2024, to November 26, 2024, and hunters can only take one antlered deer. During this period, youth aged 6-15, whether residents or nonresidents, can buy a half-priced permit. 

Alternative Methods Season 

The alternative methods season, which runs December 28, 2024 – January 7, 2025, permits hunters to use a range of firearms, including Muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms, centerfire pistols or revolvers, air-powered firearms, all bows as previously mentioned, and atlatls (a type of spear thrower). 

Within these designations are a range of regulations and requirements, and you are encouraged to research any specific details about your chosen alternative method tool. 

Permits and Tags 

Deer permits can be purchased from July 1 from a permit vendor online, via the MO Hunting app, or by ringing 800-392-4115. The types of permits include: 

Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit

• Resident: $18.00
• Resident landowner: $0.00
• Youth (5-16): $9.00
• Nonresident: $276.50
• Nonresident landowner: $203.50

Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit

• Resident: $7.50
• Resident landowner: $0.00
• Youth age 5-16: $3.75
• Nonresident: $26.00

Archer's Hunting Permit

• Resident: $20.50
• Resident landowner: $0.00
• Youth (6-15): $10.25
• Nonresident: $276.50
• Nonresident landowner: $203.50

Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit

• Resident: $7.50
• Resident landowner: $0.00
• Youth age 5-16: $3.75
• Nonresident: $26.00

Hunters will require a hunting permit along with a hunting license. Missouri hunting license holders must have a hunter-education certificate if they were born after January 1, 1967.

Bag Limits and Regulations

Please note that an antlered deer must have at least four points on one side to be taken. This rule may be imposed on a county-by-county basis.

Bag limits for the Missouri deer season are as follows: 
 

• Archery: 2 of either gender
• November portion: 1 with antlers, 2 without
• Alternative methods: 1 with antlers and 2 without
• Youth: 1 of either gender 

With the right strategies, you'll tag out this season! 

Preparing for the Season

Kick off the pre-season with solid e-scouting to mark high-potential public land opportunities.

Download the HuntWise app and leverage the 3-D mapping features to start looking in more remote locations away from human gathering areas, such as parking lots and main roads.

Use the hunting app's LiDAR (Hillshade) feature to identify potential bedding areas, mixed regions with forests, water access points, and potential travel variations such as ridgelines, and take special note of how the deer may interact in these areas. 

Use Landowner Contact Information for Private Land Access

Missouri has a large proportion of privately owned lands, so it may also be beneficial to contact private landowners via the HuntWise private landowner details function to explore potential private land hunting opportunities. When contacting landowners, remember to be polite, introduce yourself, and consider how you can be a benefit to the landowners when asking permission to hunt their land.

Inventory Your Gear

Regarding gear, the Missouri Department of Conservation provides a handy guide to help you prepare for your hunt. Don't forget your blaze orange, as it is a requirement during deer season. 

Take on the Missouri Deer Season With HuntWise 

Whether you're hunting with a firearm, a muzzleloader, or a bow, the mapping, weather, and rutting features of the HuntWise app will help you prepare and execute the perfect Missouri hunt.

Don't forget to leverage the private owner's land contact details through the app to open up more hunting opportunities and request permission to hunt on private land. 

Now is the best time to put HuntWise to use for your pre-season prep. So, get ahead of other hunters and plan your hunt by downloading the app and exploring it — free — for your first week.