Small game
Small game hunting in Missouri
Small game is the easy on-ramp to hunting in Missouri. One Small Game Hunting Permit covers squirrel, rabbit, quail, pheasant, and crow — so you don't need a different permit for each animal. The seasons are long, the limits are generous, and you can hunt close to home. Get the permit, learn your season and your limit, and you're ready to go.
The short version: grab the Small Game Permit (or skip it if you qualify below), pick a species that's in season, and stay under the daily and possession limits. There's no Telecheck and no tagging for small game — just mind your limits.
Seasons
Small game dates — 2026 / 2026–27
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Squirrel | May 23, 2026 – Feb. 15, 2027 |
| Rabbit | Oct. 1, 2026 – Feb. 15, 2027 |
| Bobwhite quail | Nov. 1, 2026 – Jan. 15, 2027 |
| Pheasant | Nov. 1, 2026 – Jan. 15, 2027 |
| Crow | Nov. 1, 2026 – March 3, 2027 |
| Groundhog | May 11 – Dec. 15, 2026 |
Dates change every year — confirm on MDC Seasons.
Limits
Small game limits
| Species | Daily | Possession | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squirrel | 10 | 20 | — |
| Rabbit | 6 | 12 | No more than 2 daily / 4 in possession may be swamp rabbits. |
| Bobwhite quail | 8 | 16 | — |
| Pheasant | 2 male birds | 4 male birds | Males (roosters) only. |
| Crow | No limit | No limit | — |
Good to know
A couple of small-game wrinkles
- Swamp rabbits have tighter rules down in the southeast Bootheel — check the current booklet before you hunt them there.
- Crows may be hunted with electronic calls, and you can keep hunting them until sunset.
Permits
Small game permit
| Permit | Resident | Nonresident | Nonres. landowner | Youth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Game Hunting Covers squirrel, rabbit, quail, pheasant, crow, frogs, and hunting furbearers. | $11.50 | $108.50 | — | — |
| Nonresident Daily Small Game | — | $16 | — | — |
Resident landowners get no-cost deer and turkey permits on their own land. Full list: MDC Hunting Permits.
No permit needed
Who can skip the permit
Not everyone needs to buy the Small Game Permit:
A statewide deer-season twist
Watch out during firearms deer season
During the November firearms deer portion, small-game rules tighten up across the whole state. If you're hunting small game with other guns during that portion, you may be limited to a .22 rimfire or shot no bigger than No. 4. And in ten southeast counties, you can't use dogs to hunt squirrels or rabbits during the daylight hours of that portion.
Is my county different?
No dogs for squirrel/rabbit during the November deer portion
In these southeast counties you can't use dogs to hunt squirrels or rabbits during the daylight hours of the November firearms deer portion:
- Butler
- Carter
- Dent
- Iron
- Madison
- Oregon
- Reynolds
- Ripley
- Shannon
- Wayne
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