Missouri · Deer · 2026–27 Edition
Missouri Deer Season 2026–27: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons by method
| Method | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Statewide | Sep 15 – Nov 13 |
| Archery (late) | Statewide | Nov 25 – Jan 15 |
| Firearms · Early Antlerless | Open counties | Oct 9 – Oct 11 |
| Firearms · Early Youth | Statewide | Oct 24 – Oct 25 |
| Firearms · November | Statewide | Nov 14 – Nov 24 |
| Firearms · Late Youth | Statewide | Nov 27 – Nov 29 |
| Firearms · Late Antlerless | Open counties | Dec 5 – Dec 13 |
| Firearms · Alternative Methods | Statewide | Dec 26 – Jan 5 |
02 — Bag limits
| Statewide | Set by permit and county — see MDC deer regulations |
|---|
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 15, 2026) 06:22 — 19:47
Rule: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset — MDC states this on its deer regulations page and applies it to every deer portion (archery, firearms, youth and alternative methods).. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Missouri sun times for any other date.
04 — License
A Missouri hunting license and deer permit are required. Costs, age rules and where to buy are on our license page below.
Missouri hunting license cost & deer permits →
Where to hunt public land in Missouri — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — Scouting gear
Scouting a property before Missouri's opener usually means glassing terrain and running a trail camera through the summer and early fall.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
06 — FAQ
When does deer season start in Missouri?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is September 15, 2026 — Archery, statewide. Other weapons and zones start later — see the table above.
When does deer season end in Missouri?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 15, 2027. Individual methods and zones close on their own dates.
When does bow season start for deer in Missouri?
Archery opens September 15, 2026 (Statewide). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
When does rifle season start for deer in Missouri?
Firearms · Early Antlerless opens October 9, 2026 (Open counties). Later segments may follow — see the seasons table.
How many deer can you shoot in Missouri?
2026–27 bag limits: Statewide — Set by permit and county — see MDC deer regulations. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting deer in Missouri?
On opening day (September 15, 2026) legal light runs 06:22 to 19:47. The rule is: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset — MDC states this on its deer regulations page and applies it to every deer portion (archery, firearms, youth and alternative methods). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Missouri sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt deer on my own land in Missouri without a license?
Missouri resident landowners with 5 or more acres, and their immediate household, may hunt that land without a permit — except bear, deer, elk, and turkey. Taking deer or turkey under this privilege needs at least 20 contiguous acres, and waterfowl still needs the federal Duck Stamp.
Verified · Missouri Department of Conservation · Last verified 2026-08-27
Publisher's note. Re-verified 2026-08-27 against the linked MDC source, fetched directly. Note what that source is: an MDC newsroom announcement, not a regulations page. It states that the Missouri Conservation Commission approved these dates at its Dec. 12 open meeting, and lists them under the heading '2026-2027 Firearms Deer Hunting Dates'. An agency announcement of a commission decision is a primary source, but it is a snapshot - if MDC later amends a portion, this URL will not change. The permanent home for these rules is the MDC Fall Deer and Turkey booklet, and that is where a re-verification should end up if anything here looks off. Confirmed line by line: Archery 'Sept. 15 through Nov. 13 and Nov. 25 through Jan. 15, 2027' (this file splits it into two rows); Firearms Early Antlerless Oct. 9-11 in open counties; Firearms Early Youth Oct. 24-25; Firearms November Nov. 14-24; Firearms Late Youth Nov. 27-29; Firearms Late Antlerless Dec. 5-13 in open counties; Firearms Alternative Methods Dec. 26, 2026-Jan. 5, 2027. The announcement carries one footnote that explains a date this file would otherwise look wrong on: the Commission approved moving the early youth portion a week earlier in years when it would overlap Halloween, which is why Oct. 24-25 sits where it does. Bag stays 'set by permit and county' by design - Missouri allocates antlerless by county, and the open-county lists are not modeled here.