With the arrival of fall, many hunting seasons are either open or will soon be opening. And it can be a tricky calendar to keep up with.

Archery deer and turkey season opened on Sept. 15. It closes for firearms season on Nov. 13 and reopens after firearms season on Nov. 25. The final day of the second portion of archery season is Jan. 15.

Few changes are seen from year to year with archery season, except for CWD restricted counties. Prior to the 2019 season, Boone, Callaway, and Randolph were counties in the CWD zone. The zone has changed for the 2019 deer season and those counties are no longer in the CWD zone. Locally, the nearest counties in the CWD management zone are Gasconade and Macon Counties. The removal of the CWD restrictions places those counties back into the four-point antler restriction for taking antlered deer. Feeding of deer is allowed in those counties again as well. Feed must be removed from the area at least 10 days prior to hunting or it is considered baiting.

Permitting has also changed from the 2019 deer season. The 2019 deer season saw the removal of the lessee landowner permits. For the 2020 season, an individual must sign up to obtain landowner permits. To sign up for landowner permits, please go to huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/permits/qualifications-landowner-permits/landowner-permit-quiz. The acreage requirement for landowner permits has changed from five acres to 20 acres. At least 75 acres are required for additional landowner permits. To be eligible to obtain landowner permits, you either must own the property, or be in the immediate household of the property owner. Non-residents who own property in Missouri may obtain a reduced cost landowner permit.

Hunter orange is required during archery season when hunting during the firearm youth season dates of Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, and from Nov. 27 until Nov. 29. It is also required during the antlerless season of Dec. 4 through Dec. 6. If you are hunting on public ground which does not allow firearm hunting, then you are not required to wear hunter orange clothing.

Youth firearms deer season this year will be the Halloween weekend, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. It is open to youth ages six to 15 to firearm deer hunt. Past years required the adult with the youth to have a deer hunting permit as well as the youth. That is no longer a requirement. Adults aged 18 and above must be within the immediate presence (conversation distance) of a youth and they must be either hunter education certified or exempt due to age. Only one deer may be taken during the youth season and the youth must be able to take the deer without aid from the adult. Youth firearm deer permits, and landowner deer permits may be used during the season.

Fall firearms turkey season opens on Oct. 1 and closes Oct. 31. Two birds of any sex maybe taken during the season. Unlike the spring season, both birds may be taken on the same day.

2020 Duck Season

Waterfowl season is almost upon us. Youth waterfowl season is Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 in the north and middle zones. Regular season opens on Nov. 7 in both zones. The season ends on Jan. 5 in the north zone. The middle zone closes on Nov. 13 and reopens on Nov. 19. It closes for the season on Jan. 10. Six ducks may be taken with no more than four being mallards (two hens), three wood ducks, two black ducks, two canvasbacks, two hooded mergansers, two redheads and two scaup for the first 45 days of the season, one for the last 15 days, also one mottled duck, one pintail and 15 coots. Goose season opens Nov. 11 and lasts until Feb. 6. Three Canada geese and brant combined, two white-fronted geese and 20 light geese may be taken during the season.

Those who duck hunt on one of MDC’s 15 managed waterfowl areas will see a few changes during the 2020-2021 season due to COVID19. There will be no pre-season online draw. All reservations, including ADA blinds will be allocated through the in-season online draw found at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl/waterfowl-waterfowl-draws/waterfowl-reservations/season. Registration dates start on Oct. 20. Hunting will be available no matter the severity of the COVID 19 outbreak. One of four possible reservation/draw levels will be used depending on the virus outbreak in the area. The outline for the draws can be found at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl/waterfowl-managed-hunts#levels.

If you have any wildlife related questions or information, please call Norman Steelman, Audrain County Conservation Agent, at 573-473-8000. You may also call the Operation Game Thief Hotline at 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.