Bear hunting season in Missouri 2026 is over, and it was the biggest one yet. The season ran Oct. 17-30, with 36 bears taken out of a maximum harvest of 60. You can’t buy a bear tag over the counter in Missouri. Every hunter goes through a random drawing, and the application window opens once a year.
This guide covers how the 2026 season worked, who can apply, where you can hunt and what the rules require in the field. Use it to plan your application for the next season, and check the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for the official dates once they are set.
Pro Tip: Missouri bear hunting is for residents only. If you’re a nonresident, you can’t apply for a permit at all.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in Missouri 2026
The 2026 black bear season ran October 17 through October 30, 2026, from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. That is a 14-day window, but it can end early in any zone where the quota fills.
Before you hunt each day, you must call 800-668-4045 to check the daily quota and closure status. If harvest has reached 80 percent of a zone’s quota, the director may close that zone the next day. Once a zone closes, the season is over and you may not harvest a bear.
For the 2026 season, MDC offered 2,000 permits to harvest up to 60 black bears across three management zones in the southern part of the state. The season is set each year by the Conservation Commission, so watch MDC’s black bear page for the next set of dates.
Bear Season by Weapon and Method in Missouri: Archery, Muzzleloader and Firearm
Missouri runs a single bear season for all legal methods. There is no separate archery, muzzleloader or firearm window, so every permit holder hunts the same 14 days.
The 2026 results show how hunters split by method. Of the 36 bears harvested, 34 were taken with a firearm and two with archery equipment.
| Method | 2026 Bears Taken |
|---|---|
| Firearm | 34 |
| Archery | 2 |
| Total | 36 |
Orange rules apply to bowhunters too, which is covered in the hours and blaze orange section below.
Spring Bear Season in Missouri
Missouri has no spring bear season. MDC’s seasons page lists a single fall season, and the permit drawing happens in May for that October hunt.
If you’re looking for a spring hunt, Missouri’s spring turkey season is the closest option on the calendar.
Bear Hunting Zones, Units and Management Areas in Missouri
Black bear hunting is allowed south of the Missouri River in three Black Bear Management Zones (BMZs). You may hunt only in the BMZ specified on your permit.
Zone boundaries follow highways. BMZ 1 is the portion of Missouri west of a line running north from the Arkansas border on U.S. Highway 63 to U.S. Highway 60, then west along Highway 60, MO-360 and Interstate 44 to the Oklahoma border. Look at the official zone boundaries map before you choose a zone on your application.
Each zone has its own quota. Under the Wildlife Code, zone-specific harvest quotas are established annually by the Conservation Commission. The code text on 3 CSR 10-7.900 lists older quotas of 20, 15 and 5 bears, so rely on MDC’s annual digest for the current split.
Bear Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in Missouri
You need a Resident Black Bear Hunting Permit. The rule says persons hunting or pursuing black bears must possess a prescribed black bear hunting permit.
- You must have your signed permit on hand when you go afield.
- You may carry your permit on the MO Hunting app.
- The permit is valid only in the BMZ printed on it.
- You can’t transfer your permit to another hunter.
Helpers need paperwork too. Adults who accompany youth hunters ages 11-15 do not need a black bear hunting permit. At all other times, a filled or unfilled Resident Black Bear Hunting Permit is required to assist others in taking bears.
Bear Permit Draws and Lotteries in Missouri
Permits are allocated by random drawing, and the process is the same for everyone. The 2026 application window ran in May, and demand is heavy. In 2025, MDC issued 600 bear permits and drew more than 5,000 applications.
Here is how the drawing works, per MDC:
- The application period is May 1-31.
- It costs $10 to apply, and the fee is nonrefundable.
- You must apply for a specific Black Bear Management Zone.
- You may submit only one application per year.
- Results are available beginning July 1.
Landowners get a boost, but not a separate permit. At least 10 percent of available permits go to resident landowners with qualifying property in the zone they apply for. You must own at least 20 contiguous acres in that zone, and your Landowner Permit Application must be approved before you apply to the drawing. Details are on MDC’s application and draw page.
Nonresident Bear Hunting in Missouri
Nonresidents can’t hunt bear in Missouri. Only Missouri residents may apply for and purchase a permit.
If you live out of state and want to hunt Missouri game, deer season and the state’s waterfowl seasons, such as goose hunting, are open to nonresidents with the right permits.
Bear Bag Limit and Harvest Quota in Missouri
The bag limit is one bear per permit. MDC’s rules allow one black bear of either sex, and only lone bears may be harvested.
The statewide quota is where 2026 changed. MDC recommended raising the quota from 40 to 60 bears and permits from 600 to 2,000. The previous 40-bear quota was based on a 2021 population estimate.
The state is leaning on hunting to manage a growing population. MDC’s Nate Bowersock cited bear population growth of about nine percent per year, and Missouri has an estimated population of about 1,100 bears.
| Season | Permits | Quota | Bears Taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 600 | 40 | 9 |
| 2026 | 2,000 | 60 | 36 |
Baiting Rules for Bear Hunting in Missouri
Check the baiting rules in MDC’s current bear regulations before you set up any stand or camera site. Baiting restrictions in Missouri vary by species and by land type, and conservation areas often add their own limits.
Don’t assume what’s legal for deer or turkey applies to bear. Read the bear-specific methods section of the Wildlife Code and the digest for the year you hunt.
Hunting Bears with Hounds in Missouri
Dogs are off the table for bear in Missouri. One summary of the rules states plainly that dogs are not allowed for black bear hunting. Plan on still-hunting, stand hunting or spot-and-stalk instead.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bear Hunting in Missouri
Missouri’s methods rule sits in the Wildlife Code under 3 CSR 10-7.900. One item stands out: atlatls may not be used to take black bear.
The 2026 harvest shows firearms and archery gear both work, though rifles and shotguns took most of the bears. Read the full methods list in the Wildlife Code before you pick your gear.
Legal Bears and Protected Bears in Missouri
Only a lone bear is legal. You may not harvest a bear that is with one or more other bears, including female bears with cubs.
Denned bears are protected as well. Black bears that have taken refuge in a den may not be harvested or harassed. Either sex is legal if the bear is alone and out of the den.
Pro Tip: Take a second look before you shoot. Cubs can trail behind a sow and stay hidden in brush, and taking a bear that’s with another bear is illegal.
Youth and Special Bear Hunts in Missouri
Missouri has no separate youth bear season. Youth hunters still go through the same drawing and hunt during the same 14 days.
The one youth-specific rule is about mentors. Adults who accompany youth hunters ages 11-15 do not need a black bear hunting permit. Any other helper must hold a filled or unfilled bear permit of their own.
Where to Hunt Bear in Missouri: Public and Private Land
Bears live in the southern half of the state. They are becoming more common and widespread across southern Missouri. Your permit limits you to the BMZ on it, but you can hunt public or private ground inside that zone.
Public land produced the first bear of 2026. Steven Williams of Eminence was the first successful hunter, harvesting his bear on public land in Shannon County. Landowners who won a permit may hunt anywhere within their specified zone.
Always get permission before you hunt private ground, and check area rules on any conservation area before you go.
Best Time to Hunt Bear in Missouri
The legal window is short, so timing matters. Opening weekend is often the best chance, because quotas can close zones early and hunters who wait risk missing out.
Dawn and dusk give you the most movement. Legal hours run from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Call the quota line each morning so you don’t hunt a closed zone.
Bear Hunting Hours, Sunday Hunting and Blaze Orange in Missouri
Shooting hours match the season table: bears may be pursued or taken only from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. The 2026 season ran Saturday through Friday, so it included two Sundays, and no separate Sunday restriction appears in MDC’s bear rules.
Blaze orange is required, even for archers. Hunter orange is required during the entire black bear season, even if you are bow hunting.
Common Mistake: Bowhunters used to deer season sometimes leave the orange at home. In bear season, you must wear it from the first day to the last.
Tagging, Check-In and Reporting a Bear in Missouri
After a harvest, your first job is to follow the check-in steps in MDC’s bear regulations and the annual digest. MDC tracks every bear against zone quotas, which is why the daily quota line is updated nightly.
The quota system depends on timely reporting. Harvest numbers are assessed daily after 10 p.m., and if a quota is reached the zone closes the following day. Report promptly so your zone’s count stays accurate.
Bear Hunting Season in Missouri 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When Was Missouri’s 2026 Bear Season?
It ran October 17 through October 30, 2026, and 36 bears were harvested against a 60-bear quota.
How Do You Get a Bear Permit?
Residents apply in May for a specific zone. The drawing is random, and results are available beginning July 1.
Can Nonresidents Hunt Bear?
No. Only Missouri residents may apply and purchase a permit.
How Many Bears Can You Take?
One per permit, and the bear must be alone. A bear with cubs or other bears is off limits.
Can You Use Dogs or Bait?
Dogs are not allowed. For bait, check the bear-specific methods in the Wildlife Code and the annual digest before you hunt.
Where Else Can You Hunt in Missouri?
If you miss the bear draw, try dove season or rabbit season, both of which don’t need a lottery.