Skip to content
Season November 1 to January 15

Missouri Pheasant Season 2026

Missouri's pheasant season runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. The youth season comes first, Oct 24 to 25. The 2026 outlook has birds down 8% on last year.

Nov 1
Opening day
Sunday
Jan 15
Last day
Friday, 2027
2 roosters a day
Daily limit
4 in possession
Down 8%
2026 outlook
on last year
Are there birds this year

The 2026 Missouri pheasant outlook

The 2026 outlook from the Missouri Department of Conservation has birds down 8% on last year, with a survey index of 0.23 pheasants per 30-mile route.

Down 8%2026 August Quail and Pheasant Roadside Survey, 2026 outlook
The 2026 statewide count of 0.23 pheasants per 30-mile route was down 8% compared to 2025. The pheasant range in Missouri is limited to the northern third of the state.
2026 August Quail and Pheasant Roadside Survey, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source
Against last year
down 8% compared to 2025
Survey index
0.23 pheasants per 30-mile route
RegionIndexChange
Northwest Prairie0.11-50.00
Northern Riverbreaks0.29-12.12
Northeast Riverbreaks0.3831.03
Western Prairie0
Mississippi Lowlands0
Advertisement
Dates and limits

Missouri pheasant season dates and bag limit

Missouri's pheasant season opens Sunday, November 1, 2026, and closes January 15, 2027. The youth season comes first, Oct 24 to 25. The daily limit is 2 roosters and 4 in possession. Only roosters may be taken.

  1. MissouriNov 1
    Season, Nov 1 to Jan 15; Youth, Oct 24 to 25
General season Youth huntsMissouri, Nov 1 to Jan 15
General season
Sunday, November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027
Youth season
Oct 24 to 25
Daily limit
2 roosters a day
Possession
4 in possession
Which birds
Roosters only
  • Pheasant: Hunting: YouthOct 24 to 25youths age 6 through 15
  • Pheasant: HuntingNov 1 to Jan 15statewide, males only
Daily limit: 2 male pheasants Possession limit: 4 male pheasants
Missouri Department of Conservation, read October 8, 2026. Read it at the source

Missouri Department of Conservation regulations, read October 8, 2026.

License

What it takes to hunt pheasants in Missouri

Residents
Small Game Hunting Permit $11.50
Nonresidents
Small Game Hunting Permit $108.50

Every Missouri license, resident and nonresident, with what each costs, is on the Missouri hunting license page.

Missouri pheasant questions

Advertisement

Pheasant season in other states

Pheasant openers in every stateThe whole season on one calendar, with each agency's outlook.Missouri small game seasonsQuail, grouse, rabbit and squirrel dates in Missouri.Missouri hunting licenseWhat a Missouri license costs and who needs one.Missouri waterfowl seasonsDuck and goose dates in Missouri, by zone.Missouri duck migrationWhere the ducks are in Missouri this week.Missouri CWD testingDeer sampling rules in Missouri.
A brown speckled hen pheasant walking through rows of young green wheat with old stubble between them
A hen in a South Dakota wheat field. Hens carry next year’s birds, so the bag in the wild bird states is written for roosters only, and the brown bird that gets up beside a rooster is the one to let fly. “NRCSSD03010 - South Dakota (6147)(NRCS Photo Gallery)”, Dennis Larson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Public domain

Missouri read October 8, 2026 from Missouri Department of Conservation, every source linked above. An agency can move a date or close an area between the printed regulations and opening day, so its page is the one that governs. Every state is on the pheasant season calendar.