Archery season ended on Jan. 15 concluding the final deer season for the 2025-2026 seasons. The final tally statewide was 301,954 deer harvested. The past season in 24-25 saw Missouri hunters take 275,656 deer. Local county totals for the whole deer season are as follows: Audrain - 2,309, Boone - 3,449, Callaway - 5,346, Monroe - 3,770, Montgomery - 3431, Pike - 4861, Ralls - 2750 and Randolph - 2481. High harvest counties were Franklin - 6,770, Howell - 5,490 and Callaway - 5,346. Pike County locally fell in the top 10 harvest counties with the sixth most deer harvested in the state.

For those who plan early and need those dates to get vacation now, the dates for the next firearms deer season and turkey seasons are already approved. The spring turkey season will start with spring youth season on April 11-12. The regular season will start on April 20 and last until May 10. Archery deer and turkey seasons start on Sept. 15 and last until Nov. 13. Archery season continues Nov. 25 and lasts until Jan 15, 2027. Fall firearms turkey season is from Oct. 1-31. Firearms deer season dates are as follows: Early Antlerless is Oct. 9-11, Early Youth is Oct. 24-25, Firearms November portion is Nov. 14-24, Late Youth is Nov. 27-29, Late Antlerless is Dec. 5-13 and alternative methods will run from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5, 2027.

With the first of February comes the traditional day for catch and keep on Missouri’s urban trout impoundments. To fish for the trout, a fishing permit is needed. If you keep the trout, a trout permit is needed. Four trout is the daily limit and eight trout may be possessed total. This does not mean a person can catch four in the morning and four later that day. Kiwanis Lake in Plunkett Park has been stocked with trout for this winter fishing season. It is prohibited to ice fish in the bodies of water that are controlled by the City of Mexico. As well as being prohibited, ice can change quickly on a body of water and after you go under, finding a way out can be extremely difficult. Other areas which offer winter trout fishing nearby are Cosmo-Bethel Park in Columbia, Veterans Park in Fulton, Beuth Park Lake in Moberly, Huckleberry Lake in Hannibal, and McKay Lake in Jefferson City.

Small game and trapping seasons are ending for the 2025-2026 season. Trapping season for furbearers ends on Feb. 28. Beaver season ends on March 31. Please remember, otters and bobcats must be registered or tagged prior to April 10. Other small game such as rabbit and squirrel will end on Feb. 15. From Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, artificial light, night vision, and infrared or thermal imagery equipment may be used to take coyotes only. Light geese season opens with the Conservation Order on Feb. 7. Any number of Snow, Blue, and Ross’s geese can be taken under the Conservation Order. Electronic calls are permitted and shotguns which can hold more than three rounds in the magazine and chamber combined may be used during the Conservation Order. A Conservation Order permit is needed to hunt light geese during the Conservation Order.

If you have any wildlife related questions or information, please call me, Norman Steelman Audrain County Conservation Agent at 573-473-8000. You may also call the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 1-800-392-1111 if you have information regarding a violation of the Missouri Wildlife Code. You may remain anonymous, and you may ask to be considered for a reward if you wish.