License | Firearms Any-Deer Permit |
|---|---|
Resident | $19.50 |
Resident Youth | $9.75 |
Nonresident | $360 |
Nonresident Youth | $9.75 |
License | Firearms Antlerless Deer Permit |
Resident | $7.50 |
Resident Youth | $3.75 |
Nonresident | $34 |
Nonresident Youth | $3.75 |
License | Managed Deer Hunting Permit |
Resident | $19.50 |
Resident Youth | $9.75 |
Nonresident | $360 |
Nonresident Youth | $9.75 |
License | Archer’s Hunting Permit |
Resident | $22 |
Resident Youth | $11 |
Nonresident | $360 |
Nonresident Youth | $11 |
License | Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit |
Resident | $7.50 |
Resident Youth | $3.75 |
Nonresident | $34 |
Nonresident Youth | $3.75 |
License | Antlered Elk Hunting Permit |
Resident | $50 |
Resident Youth | -- |
Nonresident | -- |
Nonresident Youth | -- |
License | Bear Permit |
Resident | $25 |
Resident Youth | -- |
Nonresident | -- |
Nonresident Youth | -- |
License | Fall Turkey Hunting Permit |
Resident | $15 |
Resident Youth | $7.50 |
Nonresident | $176.50 |
Nonresident Youth | $7.50 |
License | Spring Turkey Hunting Permit |
Resident | $19.50 |
Resident Youth | $9.75 |
Nonresident | $304.50 |
Nonresident Youth | $9.75 |
License | Resident | Resident Youth | Nonresident | Nonresident Youth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Firearms Any-Deer Permit | $19.50 | $9.75 | $360 | $9.75 |
Firearms Antlerless Deer Permit | $7.50 | $3.75 | $34 | $3.75 |
Managed Deer Hunting Permit | $19.50 | $9.75 | $360 | $9.75 |
Archer’s Hunting Permit | $22 | $11 | $360 | $11 |
Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit | $7.50 | $3.75 | $34 | $3.75 |
Antlered Elk Hunting Permit | $50 | -- | -- | -- |
Bear Permit | $25 | -- | -- | -- |
Fall Turkey Hunting Permit | $15 | $7.50 | $176.50 | $7.50 |
Spring Turkey Hunting Permit | $19.50 | $9.75 | $304.50 | $9.75 |
Deadlines and draw results |
Date |
Management deer permit application deadline |
July 31, 2026 |
Management deer permit draw results |
August 15, 2026 |
Management spring turkey permit application deadline |
February 28, 2026 |
Management spring turkey permit results |
March 15, 2026 |
Elk permit application deadline |
May 31, 2026 |
Elk permit draw results |
July 1, 2026 |
Black Bear permit application deadline |
May 31, 2026 |
Black Bear permit draw results |
July 1, 2026 |
Deadlines and draw results | Date |
Management deer permit application deadline | July 31, 2026 |
Management deer permit draw results | August 15, 2026 |
Management spring turkey permit application deadline | February 28, 2026 |
Management spring turkey permit results | March 15, 2026 |
Elk permit application deadline | May 31, 2026 |
Elk permit draw results | July 1, 2026 |
Black Bear permit application deadline | May 31, 2026 |
Black Bear permit draw results | July 1, 2026 |
Missouri offers a diverse and thriving hunting landscape, known especially for its abundant whitetail deer and wild turkey populations. The state's strong habitat, varied terrain, and mix of agricultural and forested areas contribute to exceptional trophy quality and hunting success. In recent years, Missouri has expanded opportunities for elk and black bear, with controlled hunts through a permit lottery system for residents. several options for deer and turkey tags are available over the counter, while some tags do require a drawing. While much of Missouri is private land, the state provides a wealth of public hunting through Conservation Areas and other managed lands, making it a versatile and promising destination for big game hunters of all levels.
Missouri uses a random lottery system for its management hunts. For deer and turkey management hunts there is not a specific nonresident allocation percentage and all applicants are on an equal playing field. Elk and Black bear tags are resident only.
Currently Missouri does not have a specific nonresident allocation quota and they are treated the same as residents in the draw.
Hunters may apply individually or as a group of up to 6 applicants for deer and turkey hunts. There are no group applications for Elk or Black Bear permits.
The MDC accepts payments via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover
Most deer and turkey permits in Missouri are available over the counter, including for nonresidents. However, both residents and nonresidents must apply during the managed hunt draw to access special management areas, which offer additional hunting opportunities. Elk and black bear permits are allocated through a lottery system and are available to residents only.
Missouri offers several youth hunting opportunities depending on the species you are interested in. Deer - Missouri offers excellent youth deer hunting opportunities, including a dedicated Youth Firearms Deer Season for hunters aged 6–15 in early and late November. Youth-only managed hunts are also available for ages 11–15, providing structured, mentored experiences on conservation lands through a lottery draw system.
Turkey - Missouri offers a special spring youth turkey season for hunters aged 6–15, held the weekend before the regular season. Youth may continue hunting during the regular spring season under the same permit. Mentors (18+, hunter-education certified or exempt) are required to accompany youth—though mentors need no permit during youth season
Permits cannot be returned, exchanged, or transferred
Want to learn more about specific hunting areas in this state? GOHUNT’s Unit Profiles are an excellent place to start. Think of them as your all-in-one scouting hub — packed with insider details, maps, and the kind of local knowledge you’d normally only get from years in the field.
You’ll get access to comments from other hunters, real photos from the unit, and deep-dive data on terrain, access, harvest stats, and more. Even better? These profiles help you cut through the guesswork so you can focus on finding animals, not just figuring out where to start.
Some content is open to everyone, but GOHUNT members unlock the full experience — all the data, all the features, all in one spot. Whether you’re chasing your first tag or planning your next trophy hunt, our Unit Profiles are built to give you an edge before your boots ever hit the dirt.
You must be 6 years or older to hunt deer or turkeys. Youth age 6 through 15 can purchase resident or nonresident deer and turkey hunting permits at reduced prices. If a youth is hunter-education certified, they may hunt alone. However, if a youth is not hunter-education certified, they must hunt in the immediate presence of an adult who has a valid hunter-education certification card or was born before Jan. 1, 1967. The adult does not need a permit during the youth portions of firearms deer season. (Adults may not hunt deer with a firearm during the youth portions.) At all other times during the fall deer and turkey seasons, the adult must be properly licensed. Adults accompanying youth deer hunters must wear hunter orange. Regardless of age, youth hunters must be able to hold, aim, and shoot their firearm or bow by themselves.
You must complete an approved hunter-education course before you can purchase firearms deer and turkey hunting permits unless born before January 1, 1967.
Missouri does offer bowhunters education classes but these are not a requirement to hold bow licenses in the state. While it is not required by statewide game regulations, many cities that allow archery hunting inside their city limits require bowhunter-education certification to participate.
You must wear hunter orange if you are hunting any species of game during firearms deer season(with some exceptions), are hunting elk or accompanying an elk hunter during the firearms portion of the elk season, are hunting black bear or accompanying a black bear hunter, are hunting on an area that is having a managed firearms deer hunt, or you are serving as a mentor to another hunter during firearms deer season or on an area that is having a managed firearms deer hunt. To satisfy this rule, you must wear both a hunter-orange hat and a hunter-orange shirt, vest, or coat. The hunter-orange color must be plainly visible from all sides. Camouflage orange does not satisfy this rule.
Before hunting in Missouri hunters should be aware of what weapons are legal for the seasons they may be hunting. Archery - Longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, crossbows, and atlatl. No minimums for draw weight, arrow weight or length, and broadheads.
Muzzleloader - Any firearm capable of being loaded only from the muzzle; including any firearm capable of having the powder or propellant loaded from the breech, provided the bullet or projectile(s) is/are capable of being loaded only from the muzzle. Firearms - Pistols, revolvers, and rifles propelling a single projectile at one (1) discharge including those powered by spring, air, or compressed gas, and shotguns not larger than ten (10) gauge. Handguns - Any firearm originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile (bullet) from one (1) or more barrels when held in one (1) hand, and having a short stock designed to be gripped by one (1) hand at an angle to and extending below the line of the bore(s), with a barrel less than sixteen inches (16") in length, measured from the face of the bolt or standing breech (excluding any muzzle device not permanently attached to the barrel), and an overall length less than twenty-six inches (26") as measured between the muzzle of the barrel and the rearmost portion of the firearm (excluding any pistol brace, muzzle device, or other firearm accessory not permanently attached to the firearm). The use of a pistol brace is specifically authorized, and a second hand may be used for support when firing.
