Deer hunting in Missouri opens Sept. 15 with the archery season which runs through Nov. 11 and then again from Nov. 23 through Jan. 15, 2023. The two firearms youth portions occur on Oct. 29 and 30 and Nov. 25-27.
The firearms November portion runs Nov. 12-22. The antlerless portion runs Dec. 3-11. The alternative-methods portion runs Dec. 24 through Jan. 3, 2023.
New this year, hunters age 15 years or younger on Sept. 15 are now exempt from the antler-point restriction during archery season and all portions of firearms deer season. The antler-point restriction has been removed for Barton and Vernon counties. Hunters may now fill additional firearms antlerless permits in a number of counties.
MDC encourages deer hunters to share their harvests by donating surplus venison to the Share the Harvest program to help feed hungry Missourians. Find information on Share the Harvest here.
The CWD Management Zone consists of counties where or near where CWD has been found. Barton, Greene, Ripley, and Vernon counties are new to the CWD Management Zone this year.
Special regulations apply in CWD Management Zone counties, including during Nov. 12–13, hunters who harvest deer in CWD Management Zone counties (except Gasconade, Knox, St. Charles, and Warren) must take the deer or deer head on the day of harvest to an MDC mandatory CWD sampling station.
The use of grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable products used to attract deer is prohibited year-round in CWD Management Zone counties. Deer harvested from CWD Management Zone counties must be reported through Telecheck before they can be removed from the county of harvest.
Hunters must follow carcass-movement restrictions for deer harvested in a CWD Management Zone county, and must also follow carcass-movement restrictions when bringing parts of harvested deer and other cervids into Missouri from another state.
Free voluntary CWD sampling and testing of harvested deer will be available during the entire deer season at select locations, including some MDC offices, participating taxidermists and meat processors. MDC also offers self-service freezer drop-off locations within the CWD Management Zone for hunters to deposit harvested deer heads to have tested for CWD. Instructions, packing supplies, and information tags are available at the sites.
For more information on deer hunting in Missouri, visit the MDC website.