Missouri hunters can apply for bear permits during May at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer 400 permits for the taking of a maximum of 40 black bears during the 2023 Missouri black-bear hunting season this fall, Oct. 16-25.
Only Missouri residents who will be at least 11 years of age by the first day of the hunt for which they are applying are eligible to apply for bear permits during the application period of May 1-31. All permits will be assigned through a random drawing.
The Missouri Conservation Commission gave final approval to the bear season recommendations from MDC during its March 14 open meeting in Jefferson City.
MDC has established three Bear Management Zones (BMZ) in southern Missouri and will issue annual permit numbers and harvest quotas for each of the three BMZs. Each permit will be for a specific BMZ and may be used on public or private property within the BMZ. Once the specific harvest quotas are filled for each BMZ, the season for that BMZ will be closed.
There is a fee of $10 per applicant. Applicants must select one of three BMZs. Those selected will then be eligible to buy a BMZ-specific permit at a cost of $25.
Permit and harvest quotas for the Oct. 16-25 bear season will be:
Hunting hours will be a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. Hunters must call MDC prior to hunting each day to determine the closure status of the BMZ for which they are permitted. Hunters will be allowed to use both archery and firearms methods with allowable methods being the same as those for deer and elk, except the use of an atlatl. Baiting and the use of dogs will not be allowed.
The harvest limit will be one bear per permit. Only lone black bears may be taken. Hunters may not take bears that are known to be in the presence of other bears, including female black bears with cubs. Bears may not be disturbed, pushed, harassed, or taken from a den.
Learn more about black bears and bear hunting in Missouri at mdc.mo.gov/bearhunting.
Apply for the bear-permit random drawing May 1 - 31 online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, through MDC's free MO Hunting app, through a permit vendor, or by calling 1-800-392-4115. Results of the bear-permit random drawing will be available online by July 1.
