Migratory Game Birds and Waterfowl: Sea

sons, Limits PURPOSE: The Department of Conservation is authorized to select waterfowl hunting season dates and bag limits within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The seasons and limits selected are intended to provide optimum hunting opportunity consistent with the welfare of the species. (1) Migratory game birds and waterfowl may be taken, pos sessed, transported, and stored only as provided in federal reg ulations and this Code. (2) The head or one (1) fully feathered wing must remain at tached to all waterfowl while being transported from the field to one’s home or a commercial preservation facility. (3) Seasons and limits are as follows: (A) Mourning doves, Eurasian collared-doves, and whitewinged doves may be taken from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset from September 1 through November 29. Limits: fifteen (15) doves daily in the aggregate; forty-five (45) in possession; (B) Sora and Virginia rails may be taken from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset from September 1 through November 9. Limits: twenty-five (25) rails daily in the aggregate; seventy-five (75) in possession; (C) Woodcock may be taken from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset from October 18 through December 1. Limits: three (3) woodcock daily; nine (9) in possession; (D) Wilson’s snipe may be taken from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset from September 1 through December 16. Limits: eight (8) snipe daily; twenty-four (24) in possession; (E) Blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal may be taken from sunrise to sunset from September 12 through September 20. Limits: six (6) teal daily in the aggregate; eighteen (18) in possession; (F) Waterfowl Zones: The North Zone shall be that portion of Missouri north of a line running west from the Illinois border at Lock and Dam 25 to Sandy Slough Road East; west on Sandy Slough Road East to Sandy Slough Road North; west on Sandy Slough Road North to Lincoln County Hwy. N; west on Lincoln County Hwy. N to Mo. Hwy. 79; south on Mo. Hwy. 79 to Mo. Hwy. 47; west on Mo. Hwy. 47 to I-70; west on I-70 to U.S. Hwy. 63; north on U.S. Hwy. 63 to U.S. Hwy. 24; west on U.S. Hwy. 24 to Mo. Hwy. 10; west on Mo. Hwy. 10 to U.S. Hwy. 69; north on U.S. Hwy. 69 to Mo. Hwy. 116; west on Mo. Hwy. 116 to U.S. Hwy. 59; south on U.S. Hwy. 59 to the Kansas border. The South Zone shall be that portion of Missouri south of a line running west from the Illinois border on Mo. Hwy. 74 to Mo. Hwy. 25; south on Mo. Hwy. 25 to U.S. Hwy. 62; west on U.S. Hwy. 62 to Mo. Hwy. 53; north on Mo. Hwy. 53 to Mo. Hwy. 51; north on Mo. Hwy. 51 to U.S. Hwy. 60; west on U.S. Hwy. 60 to Mo. Hwy. 21; north on Mo. Hwy. 21 to Mo. Hwy. 72; west on Mo. Hwy. 72 to Mo. Hwy. 32; west on Mo. Hwy. 32 to U.S. Hwy. 65; north on U.S. Hwy. 65 to U.S. Hwy. 54; west on U.S. Hwy. 54 to the Kansas border. The Middle Zone shall be the remainder of Missouri not included in other zones; (G) During years when the federal framework prescribes a sixty- (60-) day duck season, the North Zone season will open on the last Saturday in October, the Middle Zone season will open on the Saturday nearest November 6 until the Monday nearest December 15, close on the Monday nearest December 15 for five (5) days, and then reopen for the remaining days, the South Zone season will open on Thanksgiving Day for four (4) days, close through December 6, and then reopen December 7 through January 31 (as late as the federal framework allows). During years when the federal framework prescribes a fortyfive- (45-) day duck season or thirty- (30-) day duck season, no season date formula will be used. A person possessing the appropriate state and federal permits may take ducks in accordance to the season lengths, bag limits, and speciesspecific opening and closing dates established annually by the Conservation Commission; (H) Ducks and coots may be taken from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset as follows: 1. Ducks and coots may be taken from October 31 through December 29 in the North Zone; from November 7 through December 13 and December 19 through January 10 in the Middle Zone; and from November 26 through November 29 and December 7 through January 31 in the South Zone; and 2. Duck and coot limits are as follows: The daily bag limit of ducks is six (6) and may include no more than four (4) mallards (no more than two (2) of which may be female), three (3) wood ducks, two (2) redheads, two (2) hooded mergansers, three (3) pintail, one (1) mottled duck, two (2) canvasback, and two (2) black ducks. The possession limit is eighteen (18), including no more than twelve (12) mallards (no more than six (6) of which may be female), nine (9) wood ducks, six (6) redheads, six (6) hooded mergansers, three (3) pintails, three (3) mottled ducks, six (6) canvasbacks, and six (6) black ducks. The daily limit of scaup is two (2) and a possession limit for scaup is six (6) in the North Zone from October 31 through December 14, in the Middle Zone November 7 through December 13 and December 19 through December 26, and in the South Zone November 26 through November 29 and December 7 through January 16. The daily limit of scaup is one (1) and a possession limit for scaup is three (3) in the North Zone December 15 through December 29, in the Middle Zone December 27 through January 10 and in the South Zone January 17 through January 31. The daily limit of coots is fifteen (15) and the possession limit for coots is fortyfive (45); (I) Geese may be taken from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset as follows: 1. Blue, snow, and Ross’s geese may be taken from Novem ber 11 through February 6 statewide; 2. White-fronted geese may be taken from November 11 through February 6 statewide; 3. Canada geese and brant may be taken from October 3 through October 11 and from November 11 through February 6 statewide; and 4. Goose limits are as follows: The daily bag limit is three (3) Canada geese and brant in aggregate, twenty (20) blue, snow, or Ross’s geese, and two (2) white-fronted geese, statewide. The possession limit is nine (9) Canada geese and brant in aggregate and six (6) white-fronted geese. There is no possession limit for blue, snow, and Ross’s geese; (J) Ducks, geese, brant, and coots may be taken by youth hunters fifteen (15) years of age or younger from October 24 through October 25 in the North Zone; from October 31 through November 1 in the Middle Zone; and from November 21 through November 22 in the South Zone. The daily and possession limits for ducks, geese, and coots are the same as during the regular duck, goose, and coot hunting seasons. Any person fifteen (15) years or younger may participate in the youth waterfowl hunting days without permit provided they are in the immediate presence of an adult eighteen (18) years of age or older. If the youth hunter does not possess a hunter education certificate card, the adult must be properly licensed (i.e., must meet any permit requirements that allow small game hunting) and have in their possession a valid hunter education certificate card unless they were born before January 1, 1967. The adult may not hunt ducks but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special youth days; (K) Shells possessed or used while hunting waterfowl and coots statewide, and for other wildlife as designated by posting on public areas, must be loaded with material approved as nontoxic by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; (L) Electronically activated mechanical calls may be used and possessed to pursue and take waterfowl and coots. Such calls shall not be capable of producing recorded or electronically amplified bird calls or sounds or electronically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds; (M) Persons who possess a valid Conservation Order permit may chase, pursue, and take blue, snow, and Ross’s geese from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset from February 7 through April 30. Any other regulation notwithstanding, methods for the taking of blue, snow, and Ross’s geese include using shotguns capable of holding more than three (3) shells, and with the use or aid of recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electrically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds, including electronically activated calls. An exception to the above permit requirement includes any person fifteen (15) years of age or younger, provided either 1) the person is in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult (must possess a Conservation Order permit) who is eighteen (18) years of age or older and has in their possession a valid hunter education certificate card, or was born before January 1, 1967, or 2) the person possesses a valid hunter education certificate card. A daily bag limit will not be in effect February 7 through April 30 (See 3 CSR 10-5.436 and 3 CSR 10-5.567 for Conservation Order Permit requirements); and (N) Migratory game birds, to include only doves, ducks, mer gansers, and coots, may be taken by hunters with birds of prey as follows (See 3 CSR 10-9.442 for additional provisions about falconry including season lengths and limits for wildlife other than migratory game birds. See 3 CSR 10-9.440 for falconry per mit requirements): 1. Doves may be taken from September 1 through December 16 from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset. Daily limit: three (3) doves; possession limit: nine (9) doves, except that any waterfowl taken by falconers must be included within these limits; and 2. Ducks, mergansers, and coots may be taken from sunrise to sunset from September 12 through September 20 statewide, and from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset as follows: in the North Zone, October 24 through October 25, October 31 through December 29, and February 11 through March 10; in the Middle Zone, October 31 through November 1, November 7 through December 13, December 19 through January 10, and February 11 through March 10; and, in the South Zone, November 21 through November 22, November 26 through November 29, December 7 through January 31, and February 11 through March 10. Daily limit: three (3) birds singly or in the aggregate, including doves; possession limit: nine (9) birds singly or in the aggregate, including doves. AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const., and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* This version of rule filed Sept. 24, 1975, effective Oct. 10, 1975. Amended: Filed July 13, 1976, effective Aug. 12, 1976. Amended: Filed Sept. 9, 1976, effective Oct. 11, 1976. Emergency amendment filed Aug. 9, 1977, effective Sept. 1, 1977, expired Sept. 19, 1977. Amended: Filed Sept. 6, 1977, effective Oct. 15, 1977. Emergency amendment filed Nov. 30, 1977, effective Dec. 10, 1977, expired Jan. 3, 1978. Amended: Filed July 5, 1978, effective Aug. 11, 1978. Amended: Filed Sept. 5, 1978, effective Oct. 12, 1978. Emergency amendment filed Aug. 25, 1978, effective Oct. 24, 1978, expired Jan. 20, 1979. Amended: Filed April 25, 1979, effective Aug. 11, 1979. Amended: Filed June 14, 1979, effective Aug. 11, 1979. Emergency amendment filed July 30, 1979, effective Oct. 1, 1979, expired Jan. 25, 1980. Amended: Filed Aug. 31, 1979, effective Oct. 11, 1979. Amended: Filed April 2, 1980, effective July 11, 1980. Emergency amendment filed Aug. 1, 1980, effective Sept. 1, 1980, expired Sept. 15, 1980. Amended: Filed Aug. 1, 1980, effective Sept. 13, 1980. Amended: Filed Aug. 29, 1980, effective Oct. 11, 1980. Amended: Filed June 1, 1981, effective Sept. 11, 1981. Amended: Filed July 31, 1981, effective Sept. 11, 1981. Amended: Filed Sept. 8, 1981, effective Oct. 11, 1981. Amended: Filed June 1, 1982, effective Sept. 1, 1982. Amended: Filed July 12, 1982, effective Aug. 12, 1982. Amended: Filed Aug. 31, 1982, effective Oct. 11, 1982. Amended: Filed May 27, 1983, effective Sept. 1, 1983. Amended: Filed Aug. 29, 1983, effective Oct. 11, 1983. Amended: Filed May 29, 1984, effective Sept. 1, 1984. Amended: Filed Sept. 4, 1984, effective Oct. 11, 1984. Amended: Filed June 7, 1985, effective July 11, 1985. Emergency amendment filed Sept. 3, 1985, effective Sept. 14, 1985, expired Jan. 12, 1986. Amended: Filed Sept. 3, 1985, effective Oct. 1, 1985. Amended: Filed May 28, 1986, effective July 1, 1986. Amended: Filed Sept. 5, 1986, effective Oct. 11, 1986. Amended: Filed April 29, 1987, effective Aug. 1, 1987. Amended: Filed June 10, 1987, effective July 11, 1987. Amended: Filed Sept. 2, 1987, effective Oct. 11, 1987. Amended: Filed Feb. 3, 1988, effective May 1, 1988. Emergency amendment filed Aug. 9, 1988, effective Aug. 20, 1988, expired Sept. 30, 1988. Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 1988, effective Oct. 14, 1988. Amended: Filed Sept. 11, 1989, effective Oct. 13, 1989. Amended: Filed May 31, 1990, effective June 29, 1990. Emergency amendment filed Aug. 30, 1990, effective Oct. 1, 1990, expired Jan. 20, 1991. Amended: Filed Aug. 30, 1990, effective Feb. 14, 1991. Emergency amendment filed Aug. 6, 1991, effective Aug. 27, 1991, expired Oct. 30, 1991. Amended: Filed May 31, 1991, effective Oct. 31, 1991. Emergency amendment filed Sept. 10, 1991, effective Nov. 1, 1991, expired Feb. 15, 1992. Amended: Filed Sept. 10, 1991, effective Feb. 6, 1992. Emergency amendment filed July 30, 1992, effective Sept. 1, 1992, expired Sept. 30, 1992. Amended: Filed July 30, 1992, effective Feb. 26, 1993. Emergency amendment filed Sept. 1, 1992, effective Oct. 20, 1992, expired Feb. 5, 1993. Emergency amendment filed Sept. 18, 1992, effective Oct. 1, 1992, expired Oct. 20, 1992. Amended: Filed Sept. 1, 1992, effective April 8, 1993. Emergency amendment filed Aug. 16, 1993, effective Sept. 1, 1993, expired Sept. 30, 1993. Amended: Filed Sept. 10, 1993, effective Sept. 21, 1993. Amended: Filed Oct. 1, 1993, effective Oct. 11, 1993. Amended: Filed June 9, 1993, effective Dec. 9, 1993. Amended: Filed June 13, 1994, effective July 1, 1994. Amended: Filed Aug. 30, 1994, effective Sept. 9, 1994. Amended: Filed May 30, 1995, effective July 1, 1995. Amended: Filed Aug. 30, 1995, effective Sept. 10, 1995. Amended: Filed June 5, 1996, effective July 1, 1996. Amended: Filed Aug. 23, 1996, effective Sept. 3, 1996. Amended: Filed June 11, 1997, effective July 1, 1997. Amended: Filed Aug. 5, 1997, effective Aug. 16, 1997. Amended: Filed Aug. 29, 1997, effective Sept. 9, 1997. Amended: Filed June 11, 1998, effective July 1, 1998. Amended: Filed Aug. 3, 1998, effective Aug. 15, 1998. Amended: Filed Sept. 3, 1998, effective Sept. 15, 1998. Amended: Filed Jan. 21, 1999, effective Feb. 1, 1999. Amended: Filed June 2, 1999, effective July 1, 1999. Amended: Filed Sept. 1, 1999, effective Sept. 11, 1999. Amended: Filed Dec. 20, 1999, effective Jan. 1, 2000. Amended: Filed July 6, 2000, effective Aug. 1, 2000. Amended: Filed Aug. 28, 2000, effective Sept. 7, 2000. Amended: Filed June 1, 2001, effective June 15, 2001. Amended: Filed Aug. 30, 2001, effective Sept. 15, 2001. Amended: Filed July 2, 2002, effective July 17, 2002. Amended: Filed Aug. 30, 2002, effective Sept. 10, 2002. Amended: Filed July 8, 2003, effective July 23, 2003. Amended: Filed Sept. 5, 2003, effective Sept. 19, 2003. Amended: Filed July 6, 2004, effective July 20, 2004. Amended: Filed Aug. 30, 2004, effective Sept. 10, 2004. Amended: Filed July 7, 2005, effective July 18, 2005. Amended: Filed Aug. 24, 2005, effective Sept. 6, 2005. Amended: Filed July 14, 2006, effective Aug. 1, 2006. Amended: Filed Aug. 23, 2006, effective Sept. 11, 2006. Amended: Filed June 27, 2007, effective Aug. 1, 2007. Amended: Filed Aug. 14, 2007, effective Sept. 1, 2007. Amended: Filed July 7, 2008, effective Aug. 1, 2008. Amended: Filed Aug. 6, 2008, effective Sept. 1, 2008. Amended: Filed July 2, 2009, effective Aug. 1, 2009. Amended: Filed Aug. 14, 2009, effective Sept. 1, 2009. Amended: Filed July 13, 2010, effective Aug. 1, 2010. Amended: Filed Aug. 20, 2010, effective Sept. 1, 2010. Amended: Filed July 7, 2011, effective Aug. 1, 2011. Amended: Filed Aug. 26, 2011, effective Sept. 1, 2011. Amended: Filed June 26, 2012, effective Aug. 1, 2012. Amended: Filed Aug. 24, 2012, effective Sept. 1, 2012. Amended: Filed June 25, 2013, effective Aug. 1, 2013. Amended: Filed Aug. 16, 2013, effective Sept. 1, 2013. Amended: Filed Sept. 27, 2013, effective March 1, 2014. Amended: Filed July 14, 2014, effective Aug. 1, 2014. Amended: Filed Aug. 25, 2014, effective Sept. 1, 2014. Amended: Filed July 8, 2015, effective Aug. 1, 2015. Amended: Filed Aug. 20, 2015, effective Sept. 1, 2015. Amended: Filed April 29, 2016, effective May 15, 2016. Amended: Filed April 10, 2017, effective May 15, 2017. Amended: Filed April 9, 2018, effective May 15, 2018. Amended: Filed April 12, 2019, effective May 15, 2019. Amended: Filed April 9, 2020, effective May 15, 2020. Amended: Filed March 26, 2021, effective May 15, 2021. Amended: Filed Aug. 27, 2021, effective Sept. 6, 2021. Amended: Filed March 25, 2022, effective May 15, 2022. Amended: Filed March 14, 2023, effective May 30, 2023. Amended: Filed Sept. 8, 2023, effective Feb. 29, 2024. Amended: Filed April 5, 2024, effective May 15, 2024. Amended: Filed April 4, 2025, effective May 15, 2025. Amended: Filed March 27, 2026, effective May 15, 2026. *Original authority: 252.040, RSMo 1945, amended 1989.