August 19th, 2026 Local News
Jefferson City, Mo. (KFMO) - The Missouri Department of Conservation is reminding deer hunters, landowners and others about several changes to the Wildlife Code of Missouri ahead of the 2026 deer-hunting season.
MDC says the changes are designed to simplify regulations, respond to public input and continue efforts to manage chronic wasting disease, or CWD.
The antlered buck limit for hunters using nonresident deer hunting permits has been reduced from two to one. Nonresidents who qualify for nonresident landowner permits will continue to have an antlered buck harvest limit of two.
MDC says the number of nonresident deer hunters in Missouri has increased by nearly 50 percent over the past 10 years. The department says residents have increasingly expressed concerns about land access and the impact of nonresident hunting pressure on their hunting experiences.
MDC says the reduced limit is intended to address those concerns and help alleviate increasing pressure from nonresident deer hunting.
The Early Youth Portion of deer season has been moved one week earlier this year. The youth portion will take place October 24th and 25th. MDC says the change is intended to help avoid conflicts with Halloween activities later in October.
The Early Youth Portion typically takes place two weekends before the November portion. This year, it will occur three weekends before the November portion.
MDC has removed the antler-point restriction in the final 18 counties where the requirement was still in effect. The department says yearling bucks, which are protected by the antler-point restriction, can travel many miles and potentially spread CWD over long distances.
MDC says removing the restriction will help minimize the spread of CWD while also making deer regulations easier for hunters to understand.
MDC has also removed the designation of a statewide CWD Management Zone. The department says a majority of Missouri counties have either had a confirmed case of CWD or are located within 10 miles of a confirmed case. Because of that, MDC says a designated management zone is no longer necessary.
The change is also intended to simplify regulations for hunters.
Although the CWD Management Zone designation has been removed, restrictions on placing feed and minerals for deer will continue in counties within 10 miles of where CWD has been detected. MDC says placing feed and mineral for deer can artificially concentrate animals, increasing the risk of disease transmission.
Hunters and landowners can find information about the feed and mineral prohibition in MDC's Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet.
MDC has eliminated the separate CWD Portion of the firearms deer season. The department says the change is intended to simplify the structure of the firearms season without significantly affecting the overall deer harvest.
Mandatory CWD sampling during the opening weekend of the November Portion of firearms deer season will now operate on a four-year county rotation. Under the new system, every Missouri county will be included in mandatory sampling once every four years.
MDC says the rotation will allow staff to continue monitoring areas where CWD is already present while also helping detect the disease early in new areas. The department also says the rotation will simplify mandatory sampling requirements for hunters.
For the 2026 season, mandatory CWD sampling will be conducted in 28 counties on November 14th and 15th.
Hunters should check MDC's current regulations to determine whether their county is included in this year's mandatory sampling.
MDC has increased the minimum acreage requirement for CWD Management Permits and simplified the application process. Landowners must now have at least 20 contiguous acres located in a CWD Core Area to qualify for CWD Management Permits.
MDC says the change makes the acreage requirement consistent with other no-cost landowner deer hunting permits and should reduce confusion.
Qualifying landowners in CWD Core Areas can receive five no-cost CWD Management Permits for use on their property during deer season. MDC says eligible landowners will receive information by mail about the application process.
MDC also says it will not conduct targeted deer removals after the hunting season and currently has no plans to resume the activity. The decision follows public engagement and continued evaluation of the department's deer and CWD management efforts.
Instead, MDC staff will work with hunters, landowners and other partners to develop localized approaches in which hunter harvest is the primary tool for managing deer numbers and CWD during the regular deer season.
Hunters should review the latest Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet before the season begins, as several rules have changed for 2026.