MO Missouri Porch

Hunting & Fishing

Quick start

The whole system, fast: how permits work, where you can go, how to stay safe, and how to do it right — with links to the deep guides for the species detail. New here? This is the one-page map.

Hunting and fishing in Missouri are two halves of one system — learn it once, and you can take to the woods or the water anywhere in the state.

Find your starting point

Which permit do you need?

Find the row that fits you, then start there. Prices change each year — confirm the current number in the app.

Resident, 16–64, want to fish
A Resident Annual Fishing permit (or the combination permit if you'll also hunt small game). Buy it in the MO Fishing app.
Resident, 65 or older
No small-game or fishing permit needed — but you still need trout, migratory-bird, Federal Duck Stamp, and species permits.
Youth 15 & under (resident or nonresident)
Fish and hunt most small game with no permit; an uncertified youth hunting must stay with a qualified adult. Deer and turkey are separate.
Nonresident, 16 or older, want to fish
A Nonresident Annual Fishing permit (no senior exemption) or a Daily Fishing permit.
New hunter, 16+, want to hunt with a firearm
Hunter education first — or an Apprentice Authorization to hunt with a mentor — then the right hunting permit.
Want to hunt deer or turkey
A species permit on top of the basics. See the Hunting guide.
Want to hunt waterfowl
Three things: a small-game/bird privilege + the Missouri Migratory Bird Permit + a Federal Duck Stamp.
Want to fish a trout park
A daily trout tag (plus a fishing permit if you're required to have one).
Missouri resident who owns 5+ acres
You and your household may fish your own land without a permit (for a pond or lake, you must own all the land around it).
Just want to go frogging
A fishing OR a small-game permit covers frogs — and turtles, crayfish, mussels, and clams too.

The cheat sheet

The whole system at a glance

Nine cards, the whole system. For seasons, limits, and species detail, follow the deep guides below — that's where the specifics live, so they stay current.

The system

One system to learn

  • One agency: the Missouri Department of Conservation.
  • One rulebook: the Wildlife Code of Missouri.
  • One permit account for both hunting and fishing.
  • Learn it once, and you've got the foundation for both.

The loop

The five-step loop

  • Permit → where you can go → follow the Wildlife Code.
  • Report your harvest (Telecheck deer, turkey, bear, elk; no check-in for fish).
  • Take only your share, and do it right.

Permits

Who needs one

  • Residents 16–64 need a fishing permit; nonresidents 16 and up need one.
  • Resident seniors 65 and older skip the small-game and fishing permits (no exemption for nonresident seniors).
  • The combination permit also covers frogs, turtles, and crayfish.
  • A trout tag is IN ADDITION to a permit. Prices change yearly — check the app.

New to hunting?

Start here

  • Born on or after Jan 1, 1967? Complete hunter education before a firearms permit.
  • Not certified yet? Try an Apprentice Authorization and hunt with a mentor.
  • Fishing needs no course at all.

Where to go

Public and private land

  • More than 1,000 conservation areas — in every county.
  • Each area has its own permitted activities and rules — check each one.
  • On private land, get the owner's permission first.

Free Fishing Days

Two June days

  • Two days each June: no fishing permit or trout tag needed.
  • Every other rule, limit, and trespass law still applies.

Safety

Stay safe out there

  • The four firearm rules: treat every gun as loaded; safe muzzle direction; finger off the trigger; be sure of your target and beyond.
  • Check the hunter-orange rule for your exact activity.
  • Tree stands: wear a full-body harness, connected from the ground up.
  • On the water, wear a life jacket — and kids under 7 must wear one aboard.

Do it right

The ethics

  • Fair chase, and don't waste what you take.
  • Get permission, and consider Share the Harvest.
  • Report poaching to Operation Game Thief: 1-800-392-1111.

Why it works

The conservation story

  • A citizen-built, public-trust system — wildlife held in trust for everyone.
  • The conservation sales tax funds the majority; permits and federal programs add substantial support.

Go deeper

Now pick your pursuit

That's the system. The species detail — seasons, limits, antler rules, trout-park mechanics — lives in the deep guides, so it stays current: the Hunting guide and the Fishing guide.

See also: Target Shooting, Boating, Wildlife, Weather, Land & Property Rights, Foraging, and Camping.

Always check before you go

Missouri Porch explains the system; the Wildlife Code is the law.

Last checked: 2026-06-18. Missouri Porch explains how the system works. The Wildlife Code of Missouri and applicable federal law are the authority; the current MDC summaries, species pages, and posted area rules are the practical guide — and they can change. Always check your species, season, water, and location before you go.

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