At its April 5 meeting, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved recommendations from the Missouri Department of Conservation for the upcoming 2018 migratory-game-bird-hunting seasons and 2018-2019 waterfowl-hunting seasons.
2018 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTING
Mourning Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves, and White-Winged Doves
Season: Sept. 1 through Nov. 29
Limits: 15 daily and 45 in possession combined total for all three species
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Sora and Virginia Rails
Season: Sept. 1 through Nov. 9
Limits: 25 daily and 75 in possession combined for both species
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Wilson’s (Common) Snipe
Season: Sept. 1 through Dec. 16
Limits: 8 daily and 24 in possession
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
American Woodcock
Season: Oct. 15 through Nov. 28
Limits: 3 daily and 9 in possession
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
2018-2019 WATERFOWL HUNTING
Teal
Season: Sept. 8-23
Limits: 6 daily and 18 in possession
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Ducks
Season:
- North Zone: Nov. 3 through Jan. 1, 2019
- Middle Zone: Nov. 3 through 9 and Nov. 15 through Jan. 6, 2019
- South Zone: Nov. 22 through 25 and Dec. 3 through Jan. 27, 2019
Bag Limit: 6 ducks daily with species restrictions of:
- 4 mallards (no more than 2 females)
- 3 scaup
- 3 wood ducks
- 2 redheads
- 2 hooded mergansers
- 2 pintails (new limit)
- 2 canvasbacks
- 2 black ducks
- 1 mottled duck
Possession Limit: Three times the daily bag or 18 total, varies by species
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Coots
Season: Same as duck season dates in the respective zones
Limits: 15 daily and 45 in possession
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Snow Geese (White and Blue Phases) and Ross’s Geese
Season: Nov. 11 through Feb. 6, 2019
Limits: 20 blue, snow, or Ross’s geese daily with no possession limit
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
White-Fronted Geese
Season: Nov. 11 through Feb. 6, 2019
Limits: 2 daily and 6 in possession
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Canada Geese and Brant
Season: Oct. 6-14 and Nov. 11 – Feb. 6, 2019
Limits: 3 Canada geese and brant in aggregate daily, 9 in possession
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Light Goose Conservation Order
Season: Feb. 7 through April 30, 2019
Limits: No daily or possession limits
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
Requirements: Persons must possess a Conservation Order permit to participate in the Conservation Order. An exception to the above permit requirement includes any person 15 years of age or younger provided either she or he is in the immediate presence of a properly permitted adult hunter 18 years of age or older with hunter-education certification or who is exempt.
Methods: For the taking of blue, snow and Ross’s geese, hunters may use shotguns capable of holding more than three shells and recorded or electronically amplified bird calls or sounds or imitations of bird calls or sounds.
YOUTH HUNTING DAYS
North Zone: Oct. 20 and 21
Middle Zone: Oct. 20 and 21
South Zone: Nov. 17 and 18
Limits: Same as during regular waterfowl season
Hours: Same as during regular waterfowl season
Requirements: Any person 15 years of age or younger may participate in youth waterfowl hunting days without permit provided they are in the immediate presence of an adult 18 years of age or older. If the youth hunter is not certified in hunter education, the adult must have the required permits and have in his or her possession proof of hunter-education unless exempt. The adult may not hunt ducks but may participate in other seasons that are open on youth hunting days.
FALCONRY SEASONS
Falconry Season for Doves
Season: Sept. 1 through Dec. 16
Limits: 3 daily and 9 in possession, singly, or in the aggregate (any ducks, coots, or mergansers taken by falconers must be included in these limits)
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Falconry Season for Ducks, Coots, and Mergansers
Season: Open during duck seasons (September teal season, youth hunting days, and duck seasons) and Feb. 10 through March 10, 2019
Limits: 3 daily and 9 in possession, singly, or in the aggregate during the regular duck-hunting seasons (including teal and youth seasons) and extended falconry seasons (any doves taken by falconers must be included in these limits)
Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
HUNTING ZONES
Waterfowl hunting zones in Missouri are divided into North, Middle, and South zones. For a map and more information, visit short.mdc.mo.gov/Zq8. A map of hunting zones will also be included in MDC’s related hunting booklet on migratory game birds, available beginning in July where hunting permits are sold.
NONTOXIC SHOT REQUIREMENTS
Shells possessed or used while hunting waterfowl and coots statewide, and for other species as designated by posting on public areas, must be loaded with material approved as nontoxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
