Missouri Department of Conservation

Upland Game Bird Regulations

Hunting and Permit Information

All game bird hunters, except turkey hunters, must have a Missouri small game permit, unless exempt. Turkey hunters must have a permit for the fall or spring turkey season.

Check the Seasons page for season and bag limit information. The sunrise/sunset table can help you make sure you don't hunt before or after legal start/end times.

Permit Requirements for Hunters Younger Than 16

Resident and nonresident hunters age 15 and younger do not need to purchase permits to hunt doves, rails, snipe, teal and woodcock in Missouri. However, they must either be in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult hunter or have in their possession a valid Hunter Education Certificate Card while hunting.

Non-toxic Shot

Beginning March 1, 2007, twenty-one conservation areas will have a nontoxic shot only regulation for all hunting with a shotgun. The nontoxic shot regulation will reduce cases of lead shot ingestion, which can be fatal to birds including doves and eagles.

Improve Your Wingshooting Skills

Want to improve your shotgunning skills, deepen your commitment to conservation and reduce hunting expenses? Sign up for one of our wingshooting programs.

Early Migratory Birds

Migratory birds include dove, rail, snipe, teal and woodcock. Hunters will need the following:

• a Missouri small game permit, unless exempt
• a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit, if 16 years of age and older

To hunt teal, hunters 16 years of age and older also will need a federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.

Additional information, including seasons, limits, shot requirements, bird identification and federal regulations summary is available in the Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Digest, which is updated each July.

Doves

Hunters can pursue doves on 100 different conservation areas, including 2,800 acres of managed dove areas located in 800 fields. Each public area may have regulations that are slightly different from statewide regulations, and many areas require advanced reservations for hunting.

For the second year in a row, extreme weather conditions during the spring and summer of 2008 may limit dove hunting prospects on some conservation areas. Flooding along the Missouri River and its tributaries either destroyed or delayed planting sunflower and wheat plots for doves, although late-planted food plots may provide hunters with excellent late-season pass shooting.

Hunters are encouraged to check field conditions before the season opens September 1, or contact the regional offices for current conditions.

Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse and Quail

Pheasant and ruffed grouse hunting are allowed in certain counties. Please see the Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations, which is available on the web in February and at permit vendors in March.

You'll Find Good Hunting on Quail Emphasis Areas

If you're looking for new places to pursue quail, check out the Department's Quail Emphasis Areas. These are located throughout the state, and recently the Department has ramped-up quail habitat-improvement efforts on them.

Youth-Only Quail and Pheasant Seasons

Youth Quail and Pheasant Season: October 30, 2010 to October 31, 2010
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To provide more opportunities for hunters ages 6 through 15, the Conservation Commission has established youth-only quail and pheasant seasons. Both seasons take place in October. Youths who are not hunter education certified must hunt in the immediate presence of a properly licensed and hunter ed-certified adult. Adults may assist youths, BUT THE ADULT MAY NOT HUNT quail or pheasant. The quail season takes place statewide. The pheasant season will be held in the north zone only. The north zone is defined as north of Interstate 70 and also in the portion of St. Charles County south of Interstate 70. Check the permits and regulations page for more details.

Waterfowl

Waterfowl hunters will need:

• a Missouri small game permit, unless exempt
• a Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit, if 16 years of age and older
• a federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, if 16 years of age and older

Waterfowl hunters should see the Missouri Waterfowl Hunting page to access the online waterfowl reservation system, check season dates and regulations, and find many informational reports and harvest summaries.

Teal hunting information is included in the Migratory Bird Hunting Digest.

Turkey

Spring turkey hunting information is available on the web in January and at permit vendors in March.

Fall turkey hunting information is available on the web in July and at permit vendors in August.

Migratory Bird Hunting Digest

Annually updated bird hunting digest.