Deer hunting has already started with the archery portion, and the firearm portions will start soon on October 29, 2022. With a lot of new people in the area, you may not know all the rules and regulations of Missouri.
Firearm
Fully automatic guns are not allowed. You can’t use a gun that is larger than .4 or .22 unless you’re a waterfowl hunter, trapper, landowner on your land, or elk hunter.
Bait
If you “think outside the box” and decide to use another form to get the deer where you are, don’t! Poisons, tranquilizing drugs, chemicals, and explosives can’t be used. You also can’t bait a deer with grain or other feed. Unless hunting on conservation land, you can use mineral and salt blocks. An area is considered baited for ten days after the complete removal of the bait. Hunters can use mouth and hand calls, though.
Hunter Orange
Hunters are required to wear a hunter orange hat and vest, visible from all sides, when deer hunting. [1] If you are accompanying a young hunter, both the hunter and mentor have to wear orange.
Harvesting
After you shoot the deer, you need to harvest it. It is illegal to intentionally leave or abandon any portion of the deer that is commonly used as human food.
Selling
You can sell or give away deer antlers, hides, and feet. They must be accompanied by the seller’s full name, address, the number and species of the parts, and the full name and address of the buyer. [2]
Sportsmanship
While hunting, be a good sportsman. If you want to hunt on private land, obtain permission from the landowner. If the deer is not instantly killed, do all that you can to find the wounded deer. You cannot hunt on land marked with purple paint without the landowner’s permission.
Methods
Be aware of when each deer hunting method portions are such as the youth hunting, archery, and firearm portions.
Gun Safety
Make sure when you’re handling a gun that you use proper safety. Keep it pointed at the ground or up to the sky. Keep the safety on until right before you shoot. Never point the gun at another person. Have a clear shot of the deer before you shoot.
Notes:
- ^https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/hunter-orange-requirement (go back ↩)
- ^https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/deer-regulations (go back ↩)
