Bear Hunting Season in Missouri: Dates, Permits, Zones, and Regulations
June 17, 2026
Missouri’s black bear population has grown steadily for years, and the state’s bear hunting season has expanded right along with it. With an estimated population of about 1,100 bears growing at roughly 9% per year, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has determined that a regulated harvest is the most effective long-term population management tool. That means real opportunities for Missouri hunters — but also a highly structured permit system, strict zone rules, and specific legal methods you need to understand before you ever set foot in the woods.
Whether you’re applying for your first bear permit or refining your approach after a few seasons, this guide walks you through everything you need to know about bear hunting season in Missouri, from the draw process and season dates to legal weapons, bag limits, and zone boundaries.
Key Insight: Missouri’s bear hunt is a residents-only, limited-draw season. Non-residents are not eligible to apply for a black bear hunting permit.
Bear Species You Can Hunt in Missouri
Missouri is home to one huntable bear species: the American black bear (Ursus americanus). Black bears are becoming more common and widespread across the southern half of Missouri, and the Conservation Department has determined that the state’s bear population can sustain a limited and highly regulated harvest — providing opportunity for Missourians to participate in the sustainable harvest of a valuable natural resource while allowing the bear population to continue to grow.
Black bears in Missouri are the same species found throughout much of North America, though the Ozark population is genetically distinct and has been recovering naturally for decades. Over the years, the population has moved northward, causing bear sightings in the St. Louis area, which led the department to implement a regulated bear hunting season. Adult male black bears (boars) in Missouri can weigh well over 200 pounds, while females (sows) are typically smaller. The first Missouri bear season, held in 2021, produced a harvest that included a 268-pound boar taken in Zone 1 — a sign of the quality animals available in the Ozarks.
No other bear species — including grizzly or brown bears — are present in Missouri. All legal harvest targets a lone black bear of either sex, subject to specific restrictions outlined below.
Important Note: You may never harvest a bear that is with one or more other bears, including a female with cubs. Bears in dens are also completely off-limits.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in Missouri
For the 2026 Missouri black bear hunting season, MDC has set the season window as October 17–30, 2026. By regulation, the black bear hunting season begins the third Monday in October and runs for ten consecutive days, or until the Black Bear Management Zone-specific harvest quota is reached — whichever comes first.
That means the 2026 season runs a maximum of 14 calendar days (October 17–30), but individual Bear Management Zones can close earlier if their quota is filled. If the harvest has reached or exceeded 80 percent of the harvest quota, the director of the Conservation Department may close hunting within that Black Bear Management Zone on the following day. Once the harvest quota is met or the director closes the season for the BMZ in which you are hunting, the season is over and you may not harvest a black bear.
| Season Element | 2026 Details |
|---|---|
| Season Open | October 17, 2026 |
| Season Close (max) | October 30, 2026 |
| Season Length | Up to 14 days (zone-dependent) |
| Hunting Hours | One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset |
| Early Closure Trigger | 80% of zone harvest quota reached |
You are required to call 800-668-4045 prior to hunting each day to determine if the harvest quota has been met. This line is updated no later than midnight on each day of the black bear hunting season, with harvest numbers assessed daily after 10 p.m. Should a harvest quota be reached, the season will close for that BMZ on the following day. Make that call every single morning before you head out — skipping it is not worth the risk.
If you also hunt deer in Missouri, be aware that the deer hunting season in Missouri overlaps with the bear season window, so plan your fall schedule accordingly.
Bear Hunting Licenses and Tags in Missouri
Missouri’s black bear hunt is a permit-draw system — you cannot walk into a store and buy a bear tag over the counter without first being selected in the draw. Here is how the process works.
Who Can Apply
Only Missouri residents 11 years of age and older who have completed an approved hunter education course (or were born before January 1, 1967) are eligible to purchase a resident black bear hunting permit. You must be a Missouri resident to apply — non-residents are not eligible under any circumstances.
The Application Draw Process
Black bear hunting permits are allocated through a random drawing. The application period runs May 1–31, with results available beginning July 1. It costs $10 to apply, and this fee is nonrefundable. You must apply for a specific Black Bear Management Zone.
For 2026, MDC is offering 2,000 permits to harvest up to a maximum of 60 black bears across three MDC black-bear management zones. MDC increased the number of available permits from 600 to 2,000 and increased the harvest quota limit from 40 to 60 bears to expand hunting opportunities. This is a significant expansion from prior seasons and reflects the continued growth of Missouri’s bear population.
Pro Tip: If you are selected in the draw, you may purchase your permit beginning July 1 — either over the counter at any permit vendor at no surcharge, or online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits using a credit card.
Landowner Preference and Youth Hunters
At least 10% of the permit quota is awarded to approved resident landowners. If you own land within a Bear Management Zone, check the MDC website to see whether you qualify for a landowner permit preference.
Adults who accompany youth hunters ages 11–15 do not need a black bear hunting permit. The adult must be 18 or older and be hunter-education certified or born before January 1, 1967. At all other times during the black bear hunting season, a filled or unfilled Resident Black Bear Hunting Permit is required to assist others in taking bears.
MDC offers a free online introduction course on Black Bear Hunting Basics as part of its OutdoorELN (Extended Learning Network), accessible at missouri.outdooreln.org/course/black-bear-hunting-basics/. First-time applicants should complete this course before the season.
If you hunt other species in Missouri, you may also find useful context in the guides for turkey hunting season in Missouri and dove hunting season in Missouri, since many bear hunters pursue multiple species during the fall.
Legal Methods and Weapons for Bear Hunting in Missouri
Missouri allows both archery and firearms methods during the black bear season, but several specific restrictions apply. Knowing what is and is not legal before you go is essential.
Legal Archery Equipment
Legal archery equipment includes longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows. Atlatls may not be used to take black bear.
Legal Firearms
Centerfire rifles and handguns using expanding-type bullets (such as lead or copper) are legal for bear. Self-loading firearms with a capacity of more than 11 cartridges in the magazine and chamber combined are prohibited. Fully automatic weapons are prohibited for all hunting.
Prohibited Methods and Equipment
- Using bait to hunt black bears is illegal. Bait is defined as any type of food placed or scattered in an attempt to attract bears to the area, including grain, livestock feed, bird food, pet food, food produced for human consumption, and concentrated food powder. Scents and minerals, including salt, are not bait; however, mineral blocks with food additives are considered bait.
- Electronic calls or electronically activated calls are prohibited, as are artificial lights, night vision equipment, thermal imagery equipment, and telemetry equipment.
- Dogs may not be used in hunting bear.
- Motor-driven air, land, or water conveyances, including drones, may not be used to pursue, take, drive, or molest wildlife.
- Hunting bears while they are in a stream or other body of water is prohibited.
- It is illegal for anyone — except landowners and lessees on land they own or lease and certain agricultural workers — to drive all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in Missouri’s streams and rivers unless the ATV is on a crossing that is part of the highway system.
Hunter Orange Requirements
All persons hunting black bear and their companions must wear a cap or hat and a shirt, vest, or coat of the color commonly known as hunter orange, which must be plainly visible from all sides. Camouflage orange does not satisfy this rule.
Important Note: The hunter orange requirement applies to all members of your hunting party — not just the permit holder. Make sure every person in the field is properly equipped before you begin.
Hunters in neighboring states may find it useful to compare regulations. See the guides for hunting laws in Arkansas and hunting laws in Tennessee, both of which also have active black bear hunting programs.
Bag Limits and Harvest Reporting Requirements in Missouri
Bag Limit
Those selected to receive a permit may take one (1) black bear of either sex within the zone specified on the permit. There is no distinction between male and female bears for harvest eligibility — however, the following restrictions always apply regardless of sex:
- Only lone black bears may be harvested. You may not harvest a bear that is with one or more other bears, including female bears with cubs.
- Black bears that have taken refuge in a den may not be harvested or harassed.
Telecheck and Tooth Submission
Black bears (or parts thereof, excluding the gallbladder), when reported in accordance with established procedures and labeled with the full name and address of the taker, the date taken, and the Telecheck confirmation number, may be possessed, transported, and stored by anyone.
Hunters who take a black bear must submit either an upper or lower premolar from the harvested bear to the department within ten (10) days of harvest. The tooth must be mailed, shipped, or delivered in person to: Furbearer Program, Missouri Department of Conservation, 3500 East Gans Road, Columbia, MO 65201. This tooth is used by MDC biologists to determine the bear’s age and inform future population management decisions.
Gallbladder Prohibition
Regardless of the state of harvest, black bear gallbladders may not be bought, sold, offered for sale, transferred, or given away. Extracted black bear gallbladders may not be transported into or within Missouri. This is a firm prohibition with no exceptions.
Common Mistake: Some hunters assume that Telechecking their bear completes all reporting obligations. It does not — you must also mail the required premolar tooth to MDC within 10 days of harvest. Missing this step is a regulatory violation.
Missouri hunters who also pursue game in neighboring states may want to review the hunting laws in Kansas, hunting laws in Indiana, and hunting laws in Ohio for reference.
Bear Hunting Zones and Units in Missouri
Black bear hunting is allowed south of the Missouri River in three Black Bear Management Zones (BMZs). Your permit is valid only in the Black Bear Management Zone specified on the permit. Hunting outside your designated zone — even if bears are present — is illegal.
Zone Boundaries
The three BMZs are defined by major highway corridors across southern Missouri:
| Zone | General Location | Boundary Description |
|---|---|---|
| BMZ 1 (West) | Southwest Missouri / western Ozarks | West of US-63 north from Arkansas border to US-60; west on US-60 to MO-360; west on MO-360 to I-44; west on I-44 to the Oklahoma border |
| BMZ 2 (East) | Southeast Missouri / eastern Ozarks | East of US-63 north from Arkansas border to I-44; east on I-44 to MO-47; north on MO-47 to the Missouri River; east along the Missouri River to the Illinois border |
| BMZ 3 (South-Central) | South-central Ozarks | South of a line from the Kansas border east along the Missouri River to MO-47; south on MO-47 to I-44; west on I-44 to US-63; south on US-63 to US-60; west to MO-360; west to I-44; west to the Oklahoma border |
MDC distributes the 2026 permit quota of 2,000 permits and a harvest cap of 60 black bears across all three zones. Zone-specific harvest quotas are established annually by the Conservation Commission. For 2025, as a point of reference, the quotas were set at 20 black bears for BMZ 1, 15 for BMZ 2, and 5 for BMZ 3. The 2026 zone-specific breakdown will be published by MDC before the season opens.
Conservation areas listed by MDC are open for black bear hunting as permitted in Chapter 11 of the Wildlife Code. Hunting is permitted on department areas except as further restricted by signs, area brochures, or Chapter 11. A valid area daily hunting tag may be required in addition to statewide permits. Check the MDC’s bear hunting conservation areas page for a current list of open areas within your zone.
Hunters interested in bear hunting in other states with strong black bear programs should check out the guides for hunting laws in Virginia, hunting laws in Montana, and hunting laws in Idaho.
Tips for a Successful Bear Hunt in Missouri
Missouri’s black bear season is challenging by design. The most bears ever harvested in Missouri in a single season is 12, and because bear density is relatively low, it takes a lot of work — simply sitting in the woods for a week or two gives you a low likelihood of encountering a bear. The hunters who succeed are the ones who prepare thoroughly before the season opens.
Scout Your Zone Early and Often
Because permits are zone-specific, you need to know your BMZ’s terrain, food sources, and travel corridors well before October. Focus your pre-season scouting on mast-producing areas — white oak flats, persimmon groves, and pawpaw thickets are all high-value food sources for bears in the Ozarks during October. Look for tracks, scat, claw marks on trees, and overturned logs as sign of active bear use.
Use MDC’s bear management zone boundaries and map to confirm exactly where your zone boundaries fall before you scout or hunt.
Call the Quota Hotline Every Morning
The quota status line (800-668-4045) is updated no later than midnight on each day of the black bear hunting season. Harvest numbers are assessed daily after 10 p.m., and if a harvest quota is reached, the season closes for that BMZ on the following day. The director may close hunting early within a BMZ if harvest reaches 80 percent of the quota. Make this call your first task every morning — hunting in a closed zone is a serious violation.
Choose the Right Weapon for the Terrain
Missouri’s Ozark terrain — dense hardwood ridges, deep hollows, and brushy creek bottoms — can limit visibility to under 50 yards in many spots. If you are hunting from a tree stand in thick timber, archery or a compact rifle may serve you better than a long-range setup. If you are hunting open ridge tops or field edges where bears are foraging on acorns, a centerfire rifle gives you more flexibility. Match your equipment to the specific habitat you are hunting.
Pro Tip: Bears in Missouri are most active during early morning and late afternoon. Position yourself near food sources at first and last light, and plan your entry and exit routes to minimize scent intrusion into your hunting area.
Understand What You Can and Cannot Do
Missouri’s bear regulations prohibit several tactics that are legal in other states. Using bait to hunt black bears is illegal — bait is defined as any type of food placed or scattered in an attempt to attract bears to the area. Dogs may not be used in hunting bear. Electronic calls and artificial lights are also prohibited. If you have hunted bears in states where baiting or hounding are permitted, make sure you reset your expectations before hunting Missouri.
Be Patient and Selective Before the Shot
Only lone black bears may be harvested, and you may not harvest a bear that is with one or more other bears, including female bears with cubs. Before squeezing the trigger or releasing an arrow, confirm that the bear you are targeting is alone. If a second bear appears — even briefly — hold off. The penalty for harvesting a bear in the company of another bear is not worth the risk.
Plan Your Pack-Out in Advance
A mature Missouri black bear can weigh 200 to 300 pounds or more. ATVs are prohibited for most hunters on conservation areas and in streams, so plan your pack-out carefully. Hunt within a practical distance of a road or trailhead, bring enough help for the job, and have your processing plan arranged before the season opens. It is illegal to intentionally leave or abandon any portion of any wildlife that is commonly used as human food.
Complete All Post-Harvest Requirements
After a successful harvest, your obligations are not finished. Telecheck the bear immediately, label the carcass with your name, address, date taken, and Telecheck confirmation number, and submit either an upper or lower premolar to MDC within ten days of harvest. Regardless of the state of harvest, black bear gallbladders may not be bought, sold, offered for sale, transferred, or given away, and extracted gallbladders may not be transported into or within Missouri.
Missouri hunters who pursue multiple species throughout the year may also find these resources helpful: coyote hunting laws in Missouri, hunting laws in Minnesota, and hunting laws in South Carolina.
Key Insight: Missouri’s bear hunt is one of the most tightly regulated big-game seasons in the Midwest. The combination of a limited draw, zone-specific quotas, daily closure checks, and post-harvest reporting requirements means that preparation and attention to detail are just as important as woodsmanship. Hunters who treat the regulations as seriously as the hunt itself are the ones who come away with a tag filled — and their privileges intact.