Deer season 2026–27 · last checked Sep 26, 2026
Missouri deer season dates 2026–27
Official dates from Missouri Department of Conservation, by season and zone, plus the public land in Missouri from our directory. Archery opens Sept. 15, 2026. Firearms: Nov. 14, 2026 (Firearms November portion).
Last checked Sep 26, 2026 against the official Missouri Department of Conservation page. Dates vary by zone, unit and county, and agencies can change them. Confirm with Missouri Department of Conservation before you hunt.
Quick answers
- When does archery deer season start in Missouri?
- Sept. 15, 2026, per Missouri Department of Conservation. See the table for zone differences and closing dates.
- When does gun (firearms) deer season start in Missouri?
- Nov. 14, 2026 (Firearms November portion).
- Where are the official rules?
- Missouri Department of Conservation: hunting information. Bag limits, licenses, tags and weapon rules are not repeated here.
Missouri deer season dates, 2026–27
Deer
| Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | — | Sept. 15 – Nov. 13, 2026 and Nov. 25, 2026 – Jan. 15, 2027 |
| Firearms: early antlerless portion | Open counties only | Oct. 9–11, 2026 |
| Firearms: early youth portion | — | Oct. 24–25, 2026 |
| Firearms: November portion | — | Nov. 14–24, 2026 |
| Firearms: late youth portion | — | Nov. 27–29, 2026 |
| Firearms: late antlerless portion | Open counties only | Dec. 5–13, 2026 |
| Firearms: alternative methods portion | — | Dec. 26, 2026 – Jan. 5, 2027 |
- Conservation areas and managed hunts have their own rules. MDC publishes them in the Fall Deer & Turkey booklet and on each area’s page.
Official sources (checked Sep 26, 2026)
Public land in Missouri that may allow deer hunting
Our directory lists 45 named public land units in Missouri (about 2.0M ac, from USGS PAD-US 4.1): 13 state wildlife & game areas, 9 forests & grasslands, 9 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 1 BLM units, 12 lake & reservoir project lands, 1 other public land units. PAD-US shows who manages the land. It doesn’t cover hunting rules. Before you go, check the area’s own rules with the managing agency. WMAs, refuges and forests often have special dates, permits or closed zones.
State wildlife areas & game lands in Missouri
All 13 →- State wildlife / game area
Reed (James A.) Memorial Wildlife Area
3,091 acres
Not recorded · Jackson County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Linscomb Wildlife Area
1,919 acres
Not recorded · St. Clair County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
White (Wm. G. And E. P.) Memorial Wildlife Area
819 acres
Not recorded · Lincoln County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Horton Farm Conservation Area
647 acres
State: department of conservation · Ste. Genevieve County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Murphy (John F.) Memorial State Forest And Wildlife Area
326 acres
Not recorded · Hickory County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Cover (Dan And Maureen) Memorial Wildlife Area
290 acres
Not recorded · Oregon County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Funk Memorial State Forest And Wildlife Area
181 acres
Not recorded · Iron County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Ray (J. Thad) Memorial Wildlife Area
167 acres
Not recorded · Marion County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Upper Mississippi Waterfowl Area
164 acres
Not recorded · St. Charles County
Restricted access
National & state forests and grasslands in Missouri
All 9 →- National Forest land
Mark Twain National Forest
1,508,908 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Oregon County, Ripley County + 27 more
Open access - State forest
Busiek State Forest And Wildife Area
2,494 acres
Not recorded · Christian County
Open access - National Forest land
Mark Twain Purchase Unit
910 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Oregon County
Open access - National Forest land
Current River Purchase Unit
183 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Ripley County
Open access
National wildlife refuges & WPAs in Missouri
All 9 →- National Wildlife Refuge
Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
21,657 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Stoddard County, Wayne County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge
11,024 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Chariton County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Big Muddy National Fish And Wildlife Refuge
10,936 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Saline County, Howard County + 7 more
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
7,444 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Holt County
Restricted access
BLM land in Missouri
- BLM public land
BLM Northeastern States District Office Public Lands
54 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Camden County, Ste. Genevieve County
Open access
Counties with the most listed public land
- Ste Genevieve County (3)
- Hickory County (3)
- Jackson County (3)
- Taney County (3)
- Ozark County (3)
- Wayne County (3)
- Stone County (3)
- Oregon County (3)
- Iron County (3)
Not legal advice and not an official source. This independent site is not affiliated with any government agency. Season dates are copied from the agency pages linked above as of the “last checked” date and may have changed since. The agency’s current regulations are what count. Full disclaimer.
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