Among regulation changes for Missouri hunters this fall is the news that crossbows are now allowed during archery hunting, late youth weekend is earlier and lasts longer and the antlerless portion has been reduced. Also, mandatory CWD sample collection begins in 29 counties.
Crossbows have been added as a legal method during archery deer and turkey seasons and fall firearms turkey season. The hunting method exemption requirement has been removed for crossbows during the archery deer season. The regulation change provides additional opportunities for youth and prolongs hunting activities for older hunters.
Additional hunting opportunities also will be available as the late youth portion of the fall firearms deer season grows from two to three days; it now starts the first Friday after Thanksgiving instead of in early January.
The deer hunting antlerless portion has been reduced from 12 to three days, and now begins the first Friday in December.
The Department has eliminated the urban-zones portion of the firearms deer season and has moved the areas under statewide regulations.
To protect young bucks and increase the number of mature bucks, the harvest limit of antlered deer has been reduced from three to two during the combined archery and firearms deer hunting season. Only one antlered deer may be taken during the firearms deer hunting season, and only one antlered deer may be taken prior to the November portion of the firearms deer season.
Hunters who harvest deer during the November 12 and 13 opening weekend of the fall firearms season in any of the 29 counties of the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone in northeast, central, and east-central Missouri are required to present their deer for CWD sample collection on the day of harvest at one of the department’s 75 CWD sampling locations throughout the 29 counties.
Hunters have the option of presenting just the deer head with about six inches of neck attached. Sampling locations are available in 29 counties of the CWD Management Zone in Adair, Boone, Callaway, Carroll, Chariton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Knox, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Putnam, Randolph, St. Charles, St. Louis, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Warren, and Washington counties.
Fall deer and turkey season dates:
Archery Deer and Turkey: Sept. 15 - Nov. 11; Nov. 23 - Jan. 15, 2017
Firearms Turkey: Oct. 1 - 31
Firearms Deer Early Youth Portion: Oct. 29 and 30
Firearms Deer November Portion: Nov. 12 - 22
Firearms Deer Late Youth Portion: Nov. 25 - 27
Firearms Deer Antlerless Portion: Dec. 2 - 4
Firearms Deer Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 24 - Jan. 3, 2017
For more hunting season information, visit mdc.mo.gov/buypermits.