Missouri Deer Season 2026-27: Archery and Firearms Dates

Deer season dates

Six firearms portions

Missouri splits firearms deer season into six portions, 39 days in all:

• Early antlerless: Oct. 9, 2026 to Oct. 11, 2026, antlerless only, in open counties.
• Early youth: Oct. 24, 2026 to Oct. 25, 2026.
• November: Nov. 14, 2026 to Nov. 24, 2026, the main portion.
• Late youth: Nov. 27, 2026 to Nov. 29, 2026, Thanksgiving weekend.
• Late antlerless: Dec. 5, 2026 to Dec. 13, 2026, antlerless only, in open counties.
• Alternative methods: Dec. 26, 2026 to Jan. 5, 2027.

Each county limits how many antlerless permits can be filled during the firearms season. Check MDC's antlerless restrictions for your county.

Archery season in two parts

Archery opens Sept. 15, 2026 and runs through Nov. 13, 2026, the day before the November firearms portion. It closes for those 11 days and reopens Nov. 25, 2026, running through Jan. 15, 2027.

Youth portions

Hunters who are at least 6 and no older than 15 on the opening day of the early youth portion may hunt both youth portions: Oct. 24, 2026 to Oct. 25, 2026 and Nov. 27, 2026 to Nov. 29, 2026. Missouri can move the early youth portion one week earlier in years when it would fall on Halloween weekend.

Antlered deer limits

• Residents may take two antlered deer during archery and firearms seasons combined.
• Only one antlered deer may be taken during archery season before Nov. 14.
• Only one antlered deer may be taken during the firearms season, all portions combined.
• Nonresidents with a regular Any-Deer or Archer's permit may take one antlered deer for archery and firearms combined.

What changed for 2026-27

• The antler-point restriction was removed in all counties.
• The CWD portion of firearms season was removed.
• The CWD Management Zone was removed, though some CWD rules still apply in some counties.
• Nonresident Any-Deer and Archer's permit holders are limited to one antlered deer for both seasons.
• Permit prices went up, and some managed hunts and conservation area rules changed.

CWD sampling and feed bans

In designated counties, deer taken on the opening weekend of the November portion (Nov. 14 and 15) must be taken, or their heads, to a mandatory CWD sampling station on the day of harvest. Grain, salt products and minerals used to attract deer are banned year-round in counties within 10 miles of a CWD detection.

Legal firearms

• Shotguns, including .410, with slugs only.
• Centerfire rifles, pistols and revolvers with expanding bullets.
• Muzzleloaders .40 caliber or larger.
• Not allowed: ammunition firing more than one projectile at a time, such as buckshot, and self-loading firearms holding more than 11 cartridges.

Alternative methods portion

From Dec. 26, 2026 to Jan. 5, 2027, legal methods are muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms .40 caliber or larger, centerfire pistols and revolvers with expanding bullets, air-powered firearms .40 caliber or larger charged from an external source, bows, crossbows and atlatls. Rifles that load other than from the muzzle and shotguns are not allowed.

Hunting hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset in every deer season.

Hunter orange

During firearms deer season, hunters must wear both a hunter-orange hat and a hunter-orange shirt, vest or coat. Camouflage orange does not meet the rule.

Telecheck and baiting

• Telecheck each deer by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest, or before the deer or its parts leave the county of harvest, whichever comes first, and keep the confirmation number with the carcass until a processor starts work on it.
• Hunting over bait is prohibited. An area stays baited for 10 days after all bait is removed. Mineral and salt blocks are not allowed on conservation areas.

Frequently asked questions

When is rifle season in Missouri in 2026?

The November portion of firearms deer season runs Nov. 14, 2026 to Nov. 24, 2026. Other firearms portions are the youth portions (Oct. 24, 2026 to Oct. 25, 2026 and Nov. 27, 2026 to Nov. 29, 2026), the antlerless portions in open counties and the alternative methods portion, Dec. 26, 2026 to Jan. 5, 2027.

When does archery deer season start in Missouri?

Sept. 15, 2026. Archery runs to Nov. 13, 2026, pauses for the November firearms portion, and reopens Nov. 25, 2026 through Jan. 15, 2027.

How many bucks can you shoot in Missouri?

Residents may take two antlered deer for archery and firearms combined, with no more than one during archery before Nov. 14 and no more than one during the firearms season. Nonresidents with an Any-Deer or Archer's permit may take one antlered deer for both seasons combined.

Did Missouri drop the antler point restriction?

Yes. For 2026-27 the antler-point restriction has been removed in all counties.

Do you have to Telecheck a deer in Missouri?

Yes, by 10 p.m. on the day of harvest, or before the carcass leaves the county, whichever comes first. Keep the Telecheck confirmation number with the carcass until a processor starts work on it.

What do you have to wear during Missouri firearms deer season?

Both a hunter-orange hat and a hunter-orange shirt, vest or coat. Camouflage orange does not count.

Deer season in other states

Texas · Pennsylvania · Michigan · Wisconsin · Ohio · Georgia · New York · Minnesota · Indiana · Virginia · North Carolina · Kentucky · Tennessee · Alabama. Compare every state on the deer season dates by state page.

Duck seasons are on the Missouri duck season page.

Always check MDC's antlerless county limits and CWD county rules before hunting.