Deer permits and migratory bird permits for the fall hunting seasons are now on sale at permit vendors and MDC offices throughout Missouri.
Several changes affecting the availability and cost of youth and non-resident permits went into effect July 1, along with several other changes in Missouri's deer seasons this fall.
The youth deer and turkey hunting permit, which has been available since 1999, will no longer be sold after June 30. Any youth permits sold earlier this year for the spring turkey hunting season will remain valid for the fall firearms deer and turkey seasons.
In years past, youngsters ages 6-15 years could purchase "youth" permits allowing the taking of one turkey in the spring and one in the fall plus one deer during any firearms deer season even though the youngster was not hunter education certified. The youth antlerless deer hunting permit was likewise discontinued.
Instead, young hunters, whether residents or nonresidents, will now be able to buy regular firearms deer hunting permits at half the price paid by adult Missouri residents. The restriction requiring young hunters who aren't hunter education certified to be accompanied by an adult who is (hunter ed certified) remains in effect, but there have been some changes in the age requirements for these "mentor" accompanying hunters to gain consistency.
Until this year, hunters as young as age 17 could serve as mentors for some permit holders, while other permits required the mentor be age 21 or above. In some circumstances, mentors faced no age restrictions. This year when mentoring a firearms hunter who is not hunter education certified and not hunting on a landowner permit, all mentors, including landowners on their own land, must be at least 18 years old and hunter education certified unless they were born before January 1, 1967.
Also new this year is a requirement that youngsters must be at least six years old to receive landowner permits. Reduced cost non-resident landowner deer and turkey permits are no longer available, and prices for non-resident hunting and fishing permits have increased, although there was no increase in the cost of resident permits. Qualifying nonresident students will be allowed to purchase resident permits, except for lifetime permits.
There have been some other non-permit changes placed in effect for the 2009 deer seasons, including some additions to the antler-point restriction area and opening Cape Girardeau county to archery antlerless deer hunting. The order of muzzleloader and antlerless deer seasons is reversed with antlerless season running Nov. 25-Dec. 6 and muzzleloader season Dec. 19-29.
Deer hunting methods and seasons have been changed on some conservation areas. Applications for managed deer hunts on these areas may be submitted now and are due by August 15 to be considered. Persons considering deer hunting this fall should first secure and read a 2009 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Information booklet, available anywhere permits are sold. Detailed information and instructions on how to apply for managed area deer hunts are contained in this booklet, along with all applicable regulations.
Summer has just begun, but it's less than three months until archery deer season begins, and firearms seasons follow soon after. It's time to begin making plans, targeting your rifle and getting stuff ready for another bang-up Missouri deer season.
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Deer permits and migratory bird permits for the fall hunting seasons are now on sale at permit vendors and MDC offices throughout Missouri.
Several changes affecting the availability and cost of youth and non-resident permits went into effect July 1, along with several other changes in Missouri's deer seasons this fall.
The youth deer and turkey hunting permit, which has been available since 1999, will no longer be sold after June 30. Any youth permits sold earlier this year for the spring turkey hunting season will remain valid for the fall firearms deer and turkey seasons.
In years past, youngsters ages 6-15 years could purchase "youth" permits allowing the taking of one turkey in the spring and one in the fall plus one deer during any firearms deer season even though the youngster was not hunter education certified. The youth antlerless deer hunting permit was likewise discontinued.
Instead, young hunters, whether residents or nonresidents, will now be able to buy regular firearms deer hunting permits at half the price paid by adult Missouri residents. The restriction requiring young hunters who aren't hunter education certified to be accompanied by an adult who is (hunter ed certified) remains in effect, but there have been some changes in the age requirements for these "mentor" accompanying hunters to gain consistency.
Until this year, hunters as young as age 17 could serve as mentors for some permit holders, while other permits required the mentor be age 21 or above. In some circumstances, mentors faced no age restrictions. This year when mentoring a firearms hunter who is not hunter education certified and not hunting on a landowner permit, all mentors, including landowners on their own land, must be at least 18 years old and hunter education certified unless they were born before January 1, 1967.
Also new this year is a requirement that youngsters must be at least six years old to receive landowner permits. Reduced cost non-resident landowner deer and turkey permits are no longer available, and prices for non-resident hunting and fishing permits have increased, although there was no increase in the cost of resident permits. Qualifying nonresident students will be allowed to purchase resident permits, except for lifetime permits.
There have been some other non-permit changes placed in effect for the 2009 deer seasons, including some additions to the antler-point restriction area and opening Cape Girardeau county to archery antlerless deer hunting. The order of muzzleloader and antlerless deer seasons is reversed with antlerless season running Nov. 25-Dec. 6 and muzzleloader season Dec. 19-29.
Deer hunting methods and seasons have been changed on some conservation areas. Applications for managed deer hunts on these areas may be submitted now and are due by August 15 to be considered. Persons considering deer hunting this fall should first secure and read a 2009 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Information booklet, available anywhere permits are sold. Detailed information and instructions on how to apply for managed area deer hunts are contained in this booklet, along with all applicable regulations.
Summer has just begun, but it's less than three months until archery deer season begins, and firearms seasons follow soon after. It's time to begin making plans, targeting your rifle and getting stuff ready for another bang-up Missouri deer season.
