The rules of the woods

No matter what you hunt, a handful of Missouri rules always apply — here they are in everyday words. These are the steady, statewide rules that don't change from one animal to the next. Learn them once and they'll keep you legal whether you're after deer, ducks, squirrels, or frogs.

• Hunting hours. For most game you may hunt from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Crows are sunup to sunset only. Frogs and raccoons may be taken at night. When in doubt, look up the hours for what you're hunting.
• Hunter orange. You must wear hunter orange during firearms deer season, during the firearms elk portion, during all of bear season, and on managed firearms hunts. Wear a hat and a vest, shirt, or coat — bright orange that's visible from all sides. Camouflage orange doesn't count.
• No baiting. Bait is illegal for deer, turkey, bear, and elk. An area stays "baited" for 10 days after the last of the bait is gone, so cleaning it up doesn't make it legal right away. Scents are okay, but you may not place minerals or salt on conservation areas or in CWD counties.
• Dogs. Dogs are allowed for many animals, but never for deer, elk, or turkey, and never for the water furbearers (muskrat, mink, beaver, otter, and nutria).
• Public roads. You can't take game from or across a public road with a firearm, bow, or crossbow.
• No drones or vehicles to chase game. You can't use drones or motor vehicles to chase or spot wildlife. A motorboat is only allowed with the motor off and the boat stopped — and never for deer, bear, or elk.
• Lights and night vision. While carrying a weapon you generally can't use lights or night vision. The exceptions are frogs, treed raccoons and furbearers, and coyotes during the legal night windows.
• No wanton waste. You may not waste game. If you take it, you have to retrieve it and use it.
• Tag, report, and label. Deer, turkey, bear, and elk must be Telechecked by 10 p.m. the day you take them. Stored game must be labeled with your name, your address or Conservation Number, the date, and the confirmation number.
• Bear gallbladders. Bear gallbladders may never be sold, traded, or given away.

• Get permission before you hunt private land.
• Know your target and what's beyond it before you shoot.
• Retrieve and use your game.
• Pack out your trash and your spent shells.
• Report violations when you see them.