Hunting Permit Information
Everyone who hunts or traps must have an appropriate hunting or trapping permit or qualify for an exemption. (Click here for permit prices) Also, every hunter born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, unless hunting on a Youth Deer & Turkey Hunting Permit, must have completed an approved hunter education program in Missouri or another state and display a hunter education certificate card to buy any firearms hunting permit. A hunter education card need not be displayed if certification can be verified at the vendor's computer terminal.
You must be at least 11 years old to receive hunter education certification. The Missouri Conservation Heritage Card with a hunter education number on it is an accepted hunter education certificate card. Hunters who have a hunter education certificate card are required to carry their card or a permit with the hunter education number on it while hunting with a firearm.
Any person 6 through 15 years old may purchase a Youth Deer & Turkey Hunting Permit without displaying a hunter education certificate card. This permit allows a youth to hunt in the immediate presence of a licensed adult who has a valid hunter education certificate card or a resident landowner (who was born before 1967) on the landowner's land.
The exceptions as to whom must have a permit to hunt and trap are:
- Missouri resident landowners or lessees residing on leased land, and any member of their immediate households, may hunt--except deer or turkey during the fall season--or trap on lands they own or, in the case of lessees, where they live, without a permit. However, a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit is required for waterfowl, snipe, doves, woodcock and rails; and the hunter must comply with appropriate seasons, methods, limits and checking requirements.
- Any Missouri resident 65 years of age or older may hunt (but not trap) wildlife--except deer or wild turkey--without a permit but must carry proof of age and residence when hunting. However, a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit is required for waterfowl, snipe, doves, woodcock and rails.
- Anyone age 15 and younger may hunt (but not trap) wildlife--except deer or wild turkey--without a permit, IF: he or she is in the immediate presence of a licensed adult hunter OR he or she carries a valid hunter education certificate card.
- Any honorably discharged resident veteran having a service-related disability of 60 percent or greater or who was a prisoner of war during military service, may hunt (but not trap) wildlife--except deer or wild turkey--without a permit but must carry a certified statement of eligibility from the Veterans Administration when hunting. However, a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit is required for waterfowl, snipe, doves, woodcock and rails.
A Missouri resident, for permit purposes, is a person who does not claim resident privileges in another state or country and whose actual residence and legal permanent home address are both in Missouri and have been for at least 30 days before applying for the permit. Owning real estate or attending a Missouri school does not in itself make you a legal resident. Immigrants who possess an I-551 Resident Alien Card may receive resident permit privileges if they meet the resident requirements listed above.
Missouri residents employed by the United States in the District of Columbia or serving in the U.S. armed forces, and all members of the U.S. armed forces, and their immediate families stationed and residing in Missouri, may purchase resident permits.
The Conservation Commission may suspend, revoke or deny a permit or privilege for cause, especially for injuring another person while hunting.
Accepting a permit means that you:
- agree to observe all the rules of the Wildlife Code;
- will allow an agent of the Conservation Department to inspect your picture ID, permit, game taken and your hunting or trapping equipment;
- will hunt or trap wildlife in a safe manner;
- will not loan your permit or hunting method exemption to another; and
- will sign and carry your permit while hunting or trapping. If you ordered your permit by telephone or on-line and have not received the permit by mail, you must carry the permit authorization number and picture identification with you while small game hunting or trapping until your permit arrives. However, to hunt deer and turkey, you must have the actual permit in your possession.
