Licenses & permits
Licenses, permits & hunter education
Missouri doesn't sell one big hunting license. Instead, you buy the permit that matches your hunt — one for deer, one for turkey, one for small game, and so on. Pick the right one for what you're after, and add any stamps that go with it.
Most firearm hunters also need hunter education before they can buy a permit — unless they were born before 1967. And there are real breaks for the people closest to the land: landowners and kids pay little or nothing.
Permits
What permit do I need?
Missouri has no single hunting license — you buy the permit that matches your hunt. Prices change yearly; confirm on the MDC permits page.
| Hunt | Resident adult | Nonresident adult | Youth | Landowner note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Firearms Any-Deer or Archer's Hunting permit | Same permits at nonresident prices; only one antlered deer in 2026 | Youth (6–15) firearms/archery permits at reduced prices | Resident landowners: no-cost deer permits on their own land |
| Turkey | Spring and/or Fall Turkey permit | Nonresident spring = one bearded turkey (2026) | Youth turkey permits at reduced prices | Resident landowners: no-cost turkey permits on their own land |
| Small game | Small Game Hunting permit | Nonresident Small Game permit (or $16 daily) | 15 and under: free with hunter-ed card or a qualified adult | Residents 65+ may hunt small game without a permit |
| Waterfowl (ducks/geese) | Small Game + Missouri Migratory Bird permit + Federal Duck Stamp | Add the new $60 Non-Resident Migratory Bird Permit | Youth waterfowl days for hunters 15 and under | No landowner exemption from the federal duck stamp |
| Furbearers / trapping | Small Game (to hunt) or Trapping permit (to trap) | Nonresident Furbearer Hunting & Trapping permit — NOT the Small Game permit | Same youth rules as small game | Resident landowners may trap on their own land under MDC rules |
Full price list: MDC Hunting Permits.
Permits
Common permit prices
| Permit | Resident | Nonresident | Nonres. landowner | Youth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Game Hunting Covers squirrel, rabbit, quail, pheasant, crow, frogs, and hunting furbearers. | $11.50 | $108.50 | — | — |
| Firearms Any-Deer | $19.50 | $360 | $225 | $9.75 |
| Archer's Hunting | $22 | $360 | $225 | $11 |
| Firearms Antlerless Deer | $7.50 | $34 | — | $3.75 |
| Spring Turkey | $19.50 | $304.50 | $190.50 | $9.75 |
| Fall Turkey | $15 | $176.50 | $111 | $7.50 |
| Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Needed for ducks, geese, doves, snipe, woodcock, and rails. | $8 | — | — | — |
| Non-Resident Migratory Bird Permit (NEW) New for 2026 (effective Jan. 1, 2026): all nonresidents hunting migratory birds need this. | — | $60 | — | — |
| Federal Duck Stamp Waterfowl hunters 16+. The e-stamp is valid all season and usable right away; the paper stamp must be signed in ink across the face. | $25 paper / $32 e-stamp | $25 paper / $32 e-stamp | — | — |
| Trapping (resident) Also covers rabbits and groundhogs. | $11 | — | — | — |
| Apprentice Hunter Authorization Hunt with a qualified mentor before you finish hunter education. Cannot be used for bear or elk. | $12.50 | $12.50 | — | — |
| Black Bear Draw only. Apply May 1–31 with a $10 application fee; resident landowner price applies to qualifying landowners. | $25 | — | $25 | — |
| Elk Draw only, residents only. Apply May 1–31 with a $10 application fee. | $50 | — | $50 | — |
Resident landowners get no-cost deer and turkey permits on their own land. Full list: MDC Hunting Permits.
Hunter education
Hunter education — who needs it
You must finish an approved hunter-education course to buy firearms permits (or to act as a mentor) if you were born on or after January 1, 1967. It is one-time and honored in all 50 states.
Who can skip it
Getting certified
How to get certified
There are two ways to earn your hunter-education card:
- 1 Ages 11+: finish an online, classroom, or self-study knowledge portion, then an in-person skills/field session with a final exam.
- 2 Residents 16+: an all-online option — pass the exam with 80% or better.
Age note: you must be at least 11 years old to enroll.
Before you're certified
Apprentice Hunter Authorization
The Apprentice Hunter Authorization ($12.50) lets people 16+ (or born on/after Jan. 1, 1967) who aren't certified yet hunt with firearms in the immediate presence of a licensed mentor age 18+. It's valid up to two permit years and can't be used for bear or elk.
Landowners
Landowner permits
Resident landowners with 20 or more acres in one tract get no-cost deer and turkey permits to hunt their own land. Nonresident landowners with 75 or more acres get reduced-cost permits. Either way you still follow the regular seasons, limits, and Telecheck reporting — the break is on price, not on the rules.
Details and how to qualify: MDC Landowner Permits.
Where to buy
Where to buy your permit
You can buy a permit four ways:
- Online at MDC's buy-permits page.
- The free MO Hunting app, which keeps your permits on your phone.
- In person at permit vendors — many sporting-goods stores, bait shops, and county offices.
- By phone at 800-392-4115 (a small convenience fee applies).
Before you hunt
Missouri Porch explains; the MDC decides.
Data current for the 2026 / 2026–27 season. Last checked against MDC: 2026-06-18. Dates, prices, quotas, and county rules change every year. Confirm with MDC before you hunt.
This is a plain-English summary, not the law. Always check the current MDC regulations before you hunt. As MDC puts it, the booklet is NOT a legal document and regulations are subject to revision during the year.
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