what hunting season is it in missouri

It is currently late small‑game and furbearer season in Missouri, with some species still open into March 2026, but major deer and turkey hunting seasons are closed until spring.

Below is a clear breakdown based on the most recent statewide season frameworks available. Always double‑check exact current dates on the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) site before you hunt, since regulations can change mid‑cycle.

What hunting season is it in Missouri right now?

As of March 19, 2026:

• Most deer and fall turkey seasons are over; those wrapped up in late 2025 or early 2026 depending on the portion and zone.

• Several small game seasons (like squirrel, rabbit, and some upland birds) run through February 15, 2026, so they have just closed or are ending around now.

• Some furbearer hunting and trapping seasons for species like bobcat and mink extend into February 2026, so they have also just ended or are at their tail end by March.

• Coyote hunting is listed as a year‑round season, so that is still open.

• New 2026 spring turkey dates are set to begin in April, so turkey season is not open yet but is coming up soon.

Key 2025–2026 Missouri hunting windows

These are example date ranges from current Missouri hunting resources that show what’s open or just recently closed around early 2026.

Quick “what can I hunt now?” checklist

If you are asking “what hunting season is it in Missouri” specifically for planning a trip in March 2026, use this mental checklist before you go out:

1. Big game:
   • Deer: Assume closed until the 2026–27 season, which starts in fall.

 * Turkey: Wait for April youth and regular spring seasons.

2. Small game:
   • Squirrel and rabbit: Seasons ended mid‑February 2026.

 * Upland birds (quail, pheasant): Seasons ended January 15, 2026.

3. Migratory / other species:
   • Crow: Season usually ends in early March; check if the exact closing date for 2026 has passed.

 * Ducks, geese, doves: Highly date‑ and zone‑specific; you must confirm on MDC’s site or current booklet.

4. Furbearers:
   • Most regulated furbearer seasons are closed by late February.

 * Coyote hunting remains open year‑round statewide (subject to local rules).

Forum‑style angle & “latest news”

On forums and local hunting groups, the trending topic right now is less “what’s open today” and more “what’s changing next season,” especially around deer regulations and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management.

• The Missouri Conservation Commission has approved a new framework for 2026–27 deer and turkey seasons , including removing the special CWD portion of firearms deer season and eliminating the CWD Management Zone.

• Hunters are debating whether these changes mean more flexibility and opportunity or more risk to the deer herd long‑term.

You’ll often see posts like:

“With the CWD zone going away and changes to the firearms structure, are we going to see more pressure in some counties or will it spread things out?”

This kind of discussion doesn’t change what’s open today , but it does matter if you’re planning hunts for late 2026 and beyond.

Story‑style example: planning a March 2026 hunt

Imagine you’re a hunter in central Missouri in mid‑March 2026, itching to get back out after deer season. You pull up the MDC page and your 2025–26 booklet and see that rabbit and squirrel closed in February, quail and pheasant shut down in January, and the last crow days ended around March 3.

You realize your realistic options right now are:

• Coyote hunting on private or allowed public land, using predator calls and focusing on early‑morning or late‑evening stands.

• Scouting for spring turkey: walking timber edges, glassing fields, and marking roost trees so you’re ready when youth and regular spring seasons open in April.

In other words, March is that in‑between window: major seasons are closed, but it’s a perfect time to chase coyotes and prep for turkey.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.