Missouri Hunting Laws
Missouri sets no minimum bullet diameter for deer rifles or handguns — any centerfire cartridge firing an expanding-type bullet is legal. Muzzleloaders and airguns, however, must be .40 caliber or larger, and airguns must be charged only from an external high-compression source (hand pump, air tank, or compressor).
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in Missouri
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
Air Gun
1 rule| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Airguns for deer must be .40 caliber or larger and charged only from an external hand pump, air tank, or air compressor — onboard/self-contained charging systems don't qualify.
"air-powered guns, .40 caliber or larger, charged only from an external high compression power source (external hand pump, air tank, or air compressor)" |
3 CSR 10-7.431(5)(C) | Aug 2026 |
All weapons
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species |
Hunter orange cap/hat plus shirt, vest, or coat required during the youth and November firearms deer season portions; camo orange doesn't qualify. Migratory-bird hunters, archery-only hunters in municipalities, and a few other groups are exempt.
"During the youth and November portions of the firearms deer hunting season, all hunters shall wear a cap or hat and a shirt, vest, or coat having the outermost color commonly known as hunter orange, which shall be pla..." |
3 CSR 10-7.410(1)(R) | Aug 2026 |
| All species | No prohibition on suppressors appears anywhere in the Wildlife Code's hunting-methods rule; secondary sources report suppressed hunting is legal in Missouri, but no rule affirmatively states this. | 3 CSR 10-7.410 Hunting Methods (1)(A)-(T), reviewed in full | Aug 2026 needs review |
Handgun
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer rifle and handgun bullets must be expanding-type; full hard metal case (FMJ) projectiles and buckshot are prohibited.
"handguns or rifles firing expanding-type centerfire ammunition... Prohibited, in use or possession: ...4. Full hard metal case projectiles" |
3 CSR 10-7.431(5)(C)-(D) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
No minimum caliber — any expanding-type centerfire handgun cartridge is legal for deer.
"handguns or rifles firing expanding-type centerfire ammunition" |
3 CSR 10-7.431(5)(C) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Self-loading deer rifles/handguns are capped at 11 rounds total (magazine + chamber combined).
"Self-loading firearms with capacity of more than eleven (11) cartridges in magazine and chamber combined with the exception of concealable firearms, as defined in Chapter 571, RSMo. Firearms possessed under this excep..." |
3 CSR 10-7.431(5)(D)2 | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
1 rule| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Muzzleloaders, including cap-and-ball firearms, must be .40 caliber or larger.
"Muzzleloader: muzzleloading firearms as defined in 3 CSR 10-20.805 (including cap-and-ball firearms) .40 caliber or larger." |
3 CSR 10-7.431(5)(B) | Aug 2026 |
Rifle
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
No minimum caliber — any expanding-type centerfire rifle cartridge is legal for deer.
"Any legal method: archery and muzzleloader methods; atlatl; shotguns; handguns or rifles firing expanding-type centerfire ammunition; and air-powered guns, .40 caliber or larger, charged only from an external high com..." |
3 CSR 10-7.431(5)(C) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer rifle and handgun bullets must be expanding-type; full hard metal case (FMJ) projectiles and buckshot are prohibited.
"handguns or rifles firing expanding-type centerfire ammunition... Prohibited, in use or possession: ...4. Full hard metal case projectiles" |
3 CSR 10-7.431(5)(C)-(D) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Self-loading deer rifles/handguns are capped at 11 rounds total (magazine + chamber combined).
"Self-loading firearms with capacity of more than eleven (11) cartridges in magazine and chamber combined with the exception of concealable firearms, as defined in Chapter 571, RSMo. Firearms possessed under this excep..." |
3 CSR 10-7.431(5)(D)2 | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species |
Nontoxic shot is required statewide for waterfowl/coots, and on Conservation Areas (Missouri's term for WMAs) specifically posted as nontoxic-only for other species.
"Shells possessed or used while hunting waterfowl and coots statewide, and for wildlife or coots designated by posting on public areas, must be loaded with material approved as nontoxic by the United States Fish and Wi..." |
3 CSR 10-7.440(3)(K) | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Shotguns used for turkey and other wildlife (not black bear, deer, or elk) are capped at 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined.
"Except for hunting black bear, deer, and elk, any shotgun having a capacity of more than three (3) shells must have the magazine cut off or plugged with a device incapable of removal through the loading end, so as to ..." |
3 CSR 10-7.410(1)(H) | Aug 2026 |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in Missouri on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
3 CSR 10-7 — Wildlife Code: Hunting: Seasons, Methods, Limits
Missouri Secretary of State, Code of State Regulations · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official Missouri hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact Missouri Department of Conservation directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.