10 Changes Missouri Deer Hunters Need to Know This Year

If you've been a deer hunter in Missouri for many years, you know that there always seems to be a change in the rules for each season and this year is no exception. There are 10 changes that have been made to deer season regulations in Missouri that you'll want to make sure you're aware of before heading out into the woods.

Here are the adjustments to deer rules and regulations from the Missouri Department of Conservation:

Nonresident Buck Limits

• Nonresident hunters using standard permits can now harvest only one antlered buck, down from two.
• Nonresidents who qualify for nonresident landowner permits keep a limit of two.

Season Schedule Changes

• Moved one week earlier to October 24–25, 2026, to avoid conflicts with Halloween.
• The separate CWD portion of the firearms deer season has been eliminated to simplify the schedule.

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Rules

• The official designation of CWD Management Zones has been removed.
• Mandatory CWD testing now uses a four-year county rotation, with 28 counties tested on November 14–15, 2026.
• Antler-Point Restrictions (APR): Removed in the final 18 counties where they were still used.
• Feeding deer remains illegal in counties within 10 miles of a confirmed CWD case.
• Landowner permits: Free CWD management permits now require at least 20 contiguous acres inside a CWD Core Area
• No post-season removals: MDC is ending targeted post-season deer removals

All of these changes are why it's vital to follow the Missouri Department of Conservation on social media as they often share updates to policies, rules and regulations. As an example, within the last hour as I write this, MDOC announced they will be meeting with landowners about CWD core areas.