Missouri Deer Hunters Face New Rules for 2026 Season

By Blake Jackson

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has announced several updates to deer hunting regulations for the upcoming season, with changes aimed at simplifying rules and addressing concerns raised by hunters and landowners.

One of the most significant revisions reduces the antlered buck limit for nonresident hunters from two bucks to one. However, nonresident landowners who qualify for landowner permits may still harvest up to two antlered bucks.

MDC said the change responds to growing concerns from Missouri residents about increased hunting pressure and competition for land access as nonresident participation has risen in recent years.

MDC has also adjusted the Early Youth Portion of deer season, moving it one week earlier to October 24-25 to avoid conflicts with Halloween activities.

To help manage chronic wasting disease (CWD) and simplify regulations, the agency removed antler-point restrictions in the remaining 18 counties where they were still in effect. Officials noted that younger bucks can travel long distances and potentially spread the disease to new areas.

Additional changes include eliminating designated CWD Management Zones and discontinuing the special CWD firearms hunting portion.

Feed and mineral restrictions for deer will remain in counties located within 10 miles of confirmed CWD detections because concentrating deer can increase disease transmission risks.

Mandatory CWD testing during the opening weekend of the November firearms season will now operate on a four-year county rotation, with 28 counties scheduled for sampling this season.

MDC also increased the minimum acreage requirement for CWD Management Permits to 20 contiguous acres and simplified the application process for eligible landowners.

The agency further announced that it will not conduct post-season targeted deer removals. Instead, MDC plans to work with hunters and landowners to use regular hunting-season harvest as the primary tool for managing deer populations and limiting the spread of chronic wasting disease.

Photo Credit: pexels-jim-fawns