Missouri Waterfowl Season Opens Oct. 31 as New Hunting Dates Take Effect

MISSOURI — Duck and coot hunting season is set to begin Saturday, Oct. 31, in Missouri's north zone, with changes to season dates for the 2026-2030 hunting seasons.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) approved new waterfowl season date formulas for the next five years. The formulas are designed to accommodate hunters with different experience levels, hunting locations, target species and hunting styles.

In developing the formulas, the department considered feedback from more than 9,000 people who completed opinion surveys and nearly 400 hunters who participated in 13 waterfowl hunting workshops.

2026-2027 Waterfowl Season Dates

The 2026-2027 duck and coot hunting seasons are divided into three zones, each with its own opening and closing dates.

The north zone opens Saturday, Oct. 31, for a continuous 60-day season.

The middle zone opens Saturday, Nov. 7, and closes Dec. 14 for a five-day break. The season then reopens to allow hunters to complete the 60-day season.

The south zone opens on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, for four days before closing through Dec. 6. Hunting resumes Dec. 7 and continues through Jan. 31, 2027.

Required Hunting Permits

Hunters age 16 and older must carry the appropriate permits when hunting ducks and coots in Missouri.

The required permits include a Small Game Hunting Permit, a Migratory Bird Hunting Permit and a Federal Duck Stamp.

A resident Small Game Hunting Permit costs $11.50, while a nonresident permit costs $108.50. Nonresidents also have the option of purchasing a $16 daily Small Game Hunting Permit, which is valid for one day.

The Migratory Bird Hunting Permit costs $8 for residents and $60 for nonresidents. The permit is required for migratory bird hunters age 16 and older, including landowners.

Hunters also must have a Federal Duck Stamp. Missouri's electronic duck stamp costs $32, including a $7 handling fee, and is valid immediately for the entire season. A traditional paper duck stamp costs $25 and is available at some U.S. Post Offices.

Hunters who purchase an electronic stamp no longer need to sign and carry the physical stamp while hunting. The paper stamp is mailed after purchase and must be signed across the face before hunting.

Permits can be purchased online through the Missouri Department of Conservation's permit system , through the free MO Hunting or MO Fishing mobile apps, or by calling 800-392-4115. Permits are also available from permit vendors.

Daily Limits and Hunting Regulations

Hunters may take up to six ducks per day, subject to species-specific restrictions.

The daily limits include:

Four mallards, with no more than two hens.

Three pintails.

Three wood ducks.

Two black ducks.

Two canvasbacks.

Two hooded mergansers.

Two redheads.

Two scaup combined, including greater and lesser scaup, during the first 45 days of the season, reduced to one during the final 15 days.

One mottled duck.

The daily limit for coots is 15.

Federal and state regulations also specify which equipment and hunting methods are allowed

Shotguns must be 10 gauge or smaller and manufactured or modified to hold no more than three shells combined in the magazine and chamber. Hunting dogs are permitted, and motorboats or sailboats may be used only when the motor is off or the sails are furled and the boat has stopped moving.

Hunters must use nontoxic shot approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Lead shot and other shot not listed as nontoxic are prohibited.

Other prohibited equipment and methods include rifles, pistols, firearms that fire a single projectile per discharge, live decoys, bait, sink boxes and recorded or electronically amplified bird calls. Night-vision, infrared and thermal-imaging equipment also are prohibited, along with devices that cast a beam of light on game.

Additional restrictions apply to certain firearms, vehicles, aircraft and hunting equipment. Hunters should review the complete regulations before heading into the field.

The full regulations, including possession limits and additional restrictions, are available in the 2026-2027 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Hunters can find the digest and additional information through the department's official website at mdc.mo.gov