Yes — in Missouri you generally need a hunting license (called a permit) to pursue, take, or possess wildlife, and the rule applies to residents and nonresidents alike. Missouri’s Wildlife Code requires the correct permit for the species and season you’re hunting, with narrow exemptions for resident landowners on their own land, youth age 15 and younger, residents 65 and older, and certain disabled veterans and former prisoners of war.1Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 3 CSR 10-5.205 – Permits Required: Exceptions Even inside those exemptions, deer, turkey, bear, and elk always require a species-specific permit.
Who Is Exempt From a Missouri Hunting Permit
Every exemption below has real limits. Read them carefully before assuming you can hunt without paying.
Resident Landowners on Their Own Property
A Missouri resident who owns at least 20 contiguous acres can hunt, trap, and fish on that land without a permit for most species, and immediate household members get the same benefit. Contiguous means a single tract, even if a public road or county line cuts through it.2Missouri Department of Conservation. Landowner Permits
The exemption stops at deer, turkey, bear, and elk. Qualifying landowners can, however, apply for no-cost or reduced-cost deer and turkey permits through the Landowner Permit Application on the MDC website or the MO Hunting app.2Missouri Department of Conservation. Landowner Permits To count as a resident landowner, your home must have been in Missouri for at least 30 consecutive days, and you cannot claim resident hunting privileges in another state.3Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 3 CSR 10-5.220 – Resident and Nonresident Permits
Youth Age 15 and Younger
Residents and nonresidents age 15 and younger can hunt most species without a permit. Deer and turkey tags are still required. A youth who has not completed hunter education must hunt in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult age 18 or older who either holds a hunter-education card or was born before January 1, 1967.4Missouri Department of Conservation. Permit Exemptions
Missouri Residents Age 65 and Older
Residents 65 and older can take wildlife covered by the small game permit without buying one, provided they carry proof of age and residency in the field.1Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 3 CSR 10-5.205 – Permits Required: Exceptions Deer, turkey, bear, elk, the Migratory Bird Hunting Permit, and the Conservation Order Permit still have to be purchased.
Disabled Veterans, Former POWs, and Active-Duty Military
An honorably discharged veteran with a service-related disability of 60 percent or greater, or a former prisoner of war, can hunt most species without a permit while carrying a certified statement of eligibility from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Bear, deer, elk, and turkey permits still apply. Qualifying veterans and those assigned to a Warrior Transition Unit may also buy any permit at resident prices no matter where they live.5Missouri Department of Conservation. Veteran Benefits
Missouri residents currently on full-time active duty in the National Guard (federal status) or U.S. reserve forces, or within 12 months of returning from such duty, can buy a combined small game hunting and fishing permit for $5.50.6Missouri Department of Conservation. Military Reduced Cost Permit
Species That Always Require a Permit
No exemption in Missouri covers deer, turkey, bear, or elk. If you’re hunting any of those animals, you need the specific tag for that species and season, whether you’re a landowner on your own farm, a 12-year-old, a 70-year-old resident, or a disabled veteran. A standard small game permit also does not extend to those species. Using the wrong permit is treated the same as hunting without one.1Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 3 CSR 10-5.205 – Permits Required: Exceptions
You must carry your permit while hunting. Anyone hunting under an age-based, landowner, or veteran exemption must carry a valid Missouri driver’s license, notarized affidavit, or similar official document proving eligibility and show it to any conservation agent who asks.1Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 3 CSR 10-5.205 – Permits Required: Exceptions
Hunter Education Before You Can Buy a Firearms Permit
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1967, must complete an approved hunter education course before buying a firearms hunting permit. Certification is available to people age 11 and older, and once you finish, your certification number is permanent and used for every future purchase.7Legal Information Institute. Missouri Code 3 CSR 10-5.215 – Permits and Privileges: How Obtained; Not Transferable
If you haven’t taken the course, you can buy an Apprentice Hunter Authorization for $12.50 and hunt with firearms in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult mentor age 18 or older who is either hunter-education certified or was born before January 1, 1967.8Missouri Department of Conservation. Apprentice Hunter Authorization
Bowhunter education is not required statewide, but some cities that allow archery hunting within their limits require it, and certain private landowners and corporate landholdings require it before granting access. Many other states also require it for out-of-state bowhunters.9Missouri Department of Conservation. Bowhunter Education
What Missouri Hunting Permits Cost
Fees depend on the species, the method, and your residency status. Common examples:
- Resident Small Game Hunting Permit: $11.50, covering frogs, birds, and small mammals.10Missouri Department of Conservation. Small Game Hunting Permit
- Nonresident Small Game Hunting Permit: $108.50.10Missouri Department of Conservation. Small Game Hunting Permit
- Resident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit: $19.50.11Missouri Department of Conservation. Hunting Permits
- Nonresident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit: $360.12Missouri Department of Conservation. Deer: Permits
- Apprentice Hunter Authorization: $12.50 for residents or nonresidents.8Missouri Department of Conservation. Apprentice Hunter Authorization
Youth ages 6 through 15 can buy resident or nonresident deer and turkey permits at reduced prices.12Missouri Department of Conservation. Deer: Permits Owning property or attending school in Missouri does not make you a resident for pricing; your actual home must have been in the state for at least 30 consecutive days.13Missouri Department of Conservation. Resident Permit Qualifications
Penalties for Hunting Without a Permit
Hunting without the required permit is a criminal offense in Missouri, not a simple ticket. Depending on the violation, it can be charged as a Class A or Class B misdemeanor. A Class A misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail; a Class B carries up to six months.
Courts can also order restitution to the state for illegally taken wildlife, and the amounts escalate quickly for high-value species:
- Wild turkey or paddlefish: $500 to $1,000 per animal.
- Antlered white-tailed deer: $1,000 to $5,000 per animal.
- Black bear or elk: $10,000 to $15,000 per animal.
Missouri runs a point system for wildlife code violations. Convictions carry zero to 16 points and stay on your record for a rolling five-year window. Reaching 16 points triggers a review that can result in the Conservation Commission revoking or suspending your permit privileges for up to a year, and more than 16 points can bring a longer suspension.14Missouri Department of Conservation. Point System for Wildlife Code Violations The Commission may also revoke privileges for any single violation regardless of point total, so a first offense can cost you the ability to hunt if the circumstances are serious.
Hunting while your privileges are suspended or revoked is itself a separate Class A misdemeanor, stacking new criminal exposure on top of whatever caused the suspension.14Missouri Department of Conservation. Point System for Wildlife Code Violations