2008 Firearms Deer Hunting
The firearms deer hunting season is made up of multiple portions that provide hunters with many opportunities to take deer while helping to maintain a healthy deer population.
Season limit
Each hunter may take only one antlered deer during the firearms deer season. All hunters may purchase any number of permits to take antlerless deer, but some county restrictions apply. See map below.
Shooting hours
- One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
Valid permits
- Youth Deer & Turkey Hunting Permit
- Resident or Nonresident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit
- Resident or Nonresident Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit
- Resident or Nonresident Landowner Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit
- Resident Landowner Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit
Methods allowed
- centerfire pistol, revolver or rifle using expanding-type bullets
- shotgun (including .410) with slugs only
- air-powered gun, .40 caliber or larger, charged only from an external high compression power source (external hand pump, air tank, or air compressor)
- muzzleloader
- archery, see Archery Hunting
- crossbow
Methods prohibited (in use or in possession)
- self-loading firearms with capacity of more than 11 cartridges in magazine and chamber combined
- ammunition propelling more than one projectile at a single discharge (such as buckshot)
- full hard metal case projectiles
- fully automatic firearms
- any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
- electronic calls or electronically activated calls
Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits
Because female deer produce next year's deer, the harvest of does regulates both the size and growth rate of the deer herd. Population goals are established for each county, and the use of Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits is established accordingly.
Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits are valid as follows:
- Any number of Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits may be filled(Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barry, Barton, Bates, Benton, Bollinger, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Carrol, Cass, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Dade, Dallas, Daviess, Dekalb, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howard, Howell, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Knox, Laclede, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Nodaway, Oregon, Pettis, Pike, Platte, Polk, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Louis, Stone, Sullivan, Vernon, Warren, Webster, Worth, Wright).
- One Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit may be filled in each county(Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Maries, Osage, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Pulaski, Ripley, Shannon, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Taney, Texas, Washington).
- Antlerless deer may only be taken on an any-deer permit. No firearms antlerless deer hunting permits may be filled except, qualifying landowners may receive one no-cost antlerless permit, which they must fill on their land.
New! Resident landowners and lessees with at least 75 acres will be issued up to two no-cost Landowner Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits, depending on county availability. See Landowner and Lessee Deer and Turkey Hunting Permit Qualifications .
Hunting Other Game During the Firearms Deer Hunting Season
If you hunt small game during the firearms deer season, you must have a small game permit or exemption. Before taking small game and furbearers, be sure the season is open for that particular animal.
During the November and antlerless portions of the firearms deer season from Nov. 15–25 statewide and Dec. 13–21 in open counties, other wildlife may be hunted only with a .22 caliber or smaller rimfire or a shotgun and shot not larger than No. 4. However, this does not apply to waterfowl hunters, trappers, landowners on their own land, or lessees on land they lease and live on.
During daylight hours from Nov. 1–25 statewide and also Dec. 13–21 in counties open during the antlerless portion, furbearers may not be chased, pursued or taken with the aid of dogs.
During daylight hours of the November portion of the firearms deer hunting season from Nov. 15–25, squirrels and rabbits may not be chased, pursued or taken with the aid of dogs in Butler, Carter, Dent, Iron, Madison, Oregon, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon or Wayne counties.
Special regulations also apply when pursuing feral hogs. See General Regulations.
Urban counties portion
This portion of the firearms deer season allows for the harvest of antlerless deer in areas where deer numbers need to be reduced. Therefore, some public land where deer are not abundant may be closed to hunting.
See the Urban Deer Hunting Resource for information on where to hunt in urban areas.
Season dates
- Oct. 3 – 6 only in open counties, see map
Methods
- All legal deer hunting methods listed are allowed.
The Missouri Department of Conservation will join with the Conservation Federation of Missouri and community sponsors to cover the costs of all whole deer donated to the Share the Harvest program during the urban counties portion. For a list of participating processors, contact your regional Conservation Department office. See inside front cover for contact information.
Note: Hunters must abide by local ordinances regarding trespass and use of equipment.
Youth portion
To participate, the youth hunter must be at least 6 and no older than 15 on the season opening day; however, there is no minimum age for resident landowner youth hunting on their own property and for lessee youth hunting on leased land they live on.
Season dates
- Nov. 1 –2 statewide
- NEW! Jan. 3-4, 2009
Season limit
- Early youth portion
- one deer, which may be of either sex
- Note: Only 1 deer can be taken. If you have more than one permit, you must use them in another portion.
- Late youth portion:
Youth can take deer according to the permits they hold, however:- Each youth hunter may take only one antlered deer during the entire firearms deer season. So if the youth has already taken one antlered deer during one of the other portions of the firearms deer season, he or she may not take another during this portion.
- Youth hunters may purchase any number of permits to take antlerless deer, but some county restrictions apply. See map.
Methods
- All legal deer hunting methods listed are allowed.
Note: Antler-point restrictions do not apply during the youth portion.
Valid permits for both youth portions
Many hunters mistakenly believe that only a Youth Deer and Turkey Hunting Permit is valid during the youth portions. This is not true.
Youth who are not hunter-education certified may use any of the following permits:
- Youth Deer & Turkey Hunting Permit
- Youth Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit
- Resident or Nonresident Landowner Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit (if hunting on qualifying land)
- Resident Landowner Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit (if hunting on qualifying land)
Youths who are hunter-education certified may also use any of the following permits during the youth portion:
- Resident or Nonresident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit
- Resident or Nonresident Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit
- Resident or Nonresident Landowner Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit
- Resident Landowner Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit
November portion
The November portion, which occurs during the rut, allows hunters using all legal deer hunting methods an opportunity to harvest a deer.
Season dates
- Nov. 15–25 statewide
Methods
- All legal deer hunting methods listed are allowed.
Muzzleloader portion
This portion of the firearms season allows hunters additional time to hunt using muzzleloaders.
Season dates
- Nov. 28–Dec. 7 statewide
Methods
- a muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearm .40 caliber or larger and capable of firing only a single projectile at one discharge; in-lines and scopes are allowed
- multiple-barreled muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms and/or muzzleloading or cap-and-ball handguns, including revolvers, .40 caliber or larger are allowed and may be carried in addition to a muzzleloading or cap-and-ball rifle
Antlerless portion
Any hunter with a firearms deer hunting permit of any type may take antlerless deer in counties that are open during this portion of the season. Landowner Any-Deer and Antlerless Deer Permits are valid only on the property for which they are issued.
Season dates
Dec. 13 –21 only in selected counties.
Methods
- All legal deer hunting methods are allowed.
Sign up early for hunter education classes. Call the regional office near you or check class dates on-line.
