Missouri Archery Deer Season 2026-27

Legal equipment

Missouri allows compound bows, recurve bows, and (in most cases) crossbows during archery season, each meeting the state's minimum specifications. Some equipment rules — broadhead design, crossbow eligibility, and any zone-specific restrictions — vary and are set by the wildlife agency each year. Confirm the current equipment list with Missouri's wildlife agency before you hunt.

Tags and antlerless rules during archery

Tag allowances and antlerless-only windows vary by zone and by segment within Missouri's deer season — some of the dates in the table above are antlerless-only, while others allow either sex. Review each zone row for its specific rules, and confirm current tag limits, antler-point restrictions, and any special antlerless permits required for the archery season with Missouri's wildlife agency.

How archery overlaps firearms season

Archery segment one closes November 13, just before the November firearms portion opens November 14. Archery segment two then resumes November 25 — while the November firearms portion is still open through November 24 — and continues through the muzzleloader-eligible alternative-methods window in late December and early January.

What changed for 2026-27

Season dates are set annually by Missouri's wildlife agency and can shift from year to year based on herd surveys, weather, and management goals. The dates above reflect the official 2026–27 season as published by the Missouri wildlife agency; check the source link above for any addenda issued after publication, and always reverify before you hunt.

Frequently asked questions