Missouri Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Seasons for 2025-26

The Missouri Conservation Commission approved recommendations from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at its April 4 meeting for upcoming 2025 migratory-game-bird-hunting seasons and 2025-2026 waterfowl-hunting seasons.

2025 MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTING

Mourning Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves, and White-Winged Doves

Season: Sept. 1 through Nov. 29

Limits: 15 daily and 45 in possession combined total for all three species

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Sora and Virginia Rails

Season: Sept. 1 through Nov. 9

Limits: 25 daily and 75 in possession combined for both species

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Wilson's (Common) Snipe

Season: Sept. 1 through Dec. 16

Limits: 8 daily and 24 in possession

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

American Woodcock

Season: Oct. 18 through Dec. 1

Limits: 3 daily and 9 in possession

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Coots

Season: Same as duck season dates in the respective zones (See dates under Waterfowl Hunting for Ducks)

Limits: 15 daily and 45 in possession

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

2025-2026 WATERFOWL HUNTING

Teal

Season: Sept. 13 - 21

Limits: 6 daily and 18 in possession

Hours: Sunrise to sunset

Ducks

Season:

North Zone: Nov. 1 through Dec. 30

Middle Zone: Nov. 1 - 9 and Nov. 15 through Jan. 4, 2026

South Zone: Nov. 27 – 30 and Dec. 7 through Jan. 31, 2026

Bag Limit: 6 ducks daily with species restrictions of:

4 mallards (no more than 2 females)

3 wood ducks

2 redheads

2 hooded mergansers

2 canvasbacks

2 black ducks

3 pintail

2 scaup for first 45 days and 1 scaup for last 15 days

1 mottled duck

Possession Limit: Three times the daily bag or 18 total, varies by species

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Snow Geese (White and Blue Phases) and Ross's Geese

Season: Nov. 11 through Feb. 6, 2026

Limits: 20 blue, snow, or Ross's geese daily with no possession limit

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

White-Fronted Geese

Season: Nov. 11 through Feb. 6, 2026

Limits: 2 daily and 6 in possession

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Canada Geese and Brant

Season: Oct. 4 - 12 and Nov. 11 – Feb. 6, 2026

Limits: 3 Canada geese and Brant in aggregate daily, 9 in possession

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Light Goose Conservation Order

Season: Feb. 7 through April 30, 2026

Limits: No daily or possession limits

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Methods: For the taking of blue, snow and Ross's geese, hunters may use shotguns capable of holding more than three shells and recorded or electronically amplified bird calls or sounds or imitations of bird calls or sounds.

YOUTH HUNTING DAYS

North Zone: Oct. 25 and 26

Middle Zone: Oct. 25 and 26

South Zone: Nov. 22 and 23

Limits: Same as during regular waterfowl season

Hours: Same as during regular waterfowl season

Requirements: Any person 15 years of age or younger may participate in youth waterfowl hunting days without permit provided they are in the immediate presence of an adult 18 years of age or older. If the youth hunter is not certified in hunter education, the adult must have the required permits and have in his or her possession proof of hunter education unless exempt. The adult may not hunt ducks but may participate in other seasons that are open on youth hunting days.

FALCONRY SEASONS

Falconry Season for Doves

Season: Sept. 1 through Dec. 16

Limits: 3 daily and 9 in possession, singly, or in the aggregate (any ducks, coots, or mergansers taken by falconers must be included in these limits)

Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Falconry Season for Ducks, Coots, and Mergansers

Season: Open during waterfowl seasons (teal, youth, duck) and Feb. 11 through March 10, 2026

Limits: 3 daily and 9 in possession, singly, or in the aggregate during the regular duck-hunting seasons (including teal and youth seasons) and extended falconry seasons (any doves taken by falconers must be included in these limits)

Hours: Sunrise to sunset during the September teal season, one-half hour before sunrise to sunset during the remaining seasons

HUNTING ZONES

Waterfowl hunting in Missouri is divided into three zones: North, Middle, and South. For a map and more information, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl/duck-zones or refer to MDC’s “2025-2026 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest,” available beginning in July where hunting permits are sold.

NONTOXIC SHOT REQUIREMENTS

Shells possessed or used while hunting waterfowl and coots statewide, and for other species as designated by posting on public areas, must be loaded with material approved as nontoxic by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Get more information on nontoxic-shot requirements, allowed types, and conservation areas requiring use at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/nontoxic-shot-regulations.

CHANGE TO FEDERAL DUCK STAMP

Per the Federal Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023, the Federal Duck Stamp has been converted to a digital version and hunters are no longer required to carry a paper copy. Hunters must have a digital version in their possession.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on migratory-bird and waterfowl hunting, visit mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species and select the specific species, or get MDC’s “2025-2026 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest,” available beginning in July where hunting permits are sold.

 

Hopkins Food Pantry to Hold Open House

To commemorate the one year anniversary of the opening of the Hopkins Food Pantry, the pantry board members will hold an Open House on Sunday, April 27 from 11:30 - 1:30 across the street from the Hopkins Christian Church at 102 S. 5th Street, Hopkins, MO.  The public is invited to attend.

The Hopkins Food Pantry opened on April 25, 2024 in the parsonage of the Hopkins Christian Church with eleven households using the pantry.  A year later, 44 households have used the pantry serving an unduplicated count of 106 people.  The pantry is a 501c3 non-profit charity associated with Second Harvest Community Food Pantry of St. Joseph, MO.

A household in need of food can receive food from USDA (based on income and/or government services) and donated food.  However, anyone can receive the food that has been donated; there are no income guidelines for those items.  No one goes away empty-handed; we are here to help anyone in need or going through financial difficulties.

The Hopkins Food Pantry is open the 2nd and 4th Thursdays, January - October.  In November and December, we are open the 1st and 3rd Thursdays.  The food pantry board members are:  Deena Poynter, Marilyn Glidden, Judy Crane, Don Crane, Dick Baldwin and Cindy Baldwin. 

Please join us April 27 for the Open House!  We will have refreshments and people will be able to see the physical layout of the pantry and have their questions answered.  Additional volunteers are always needed and donations of food, personal items, household items and cash are always welcomed. 

There will be a Hopkins Community Club Beef and Noodle dinner from 11:00 - 1:00 on April 27 at the Hopkins Community Building, so people can attend both.

 

Franklin Pigg 1933-2025

Franklin Edward Pigg was born to James Homer and Hazel (Gladstone) Pigg on November 13, 1933, on a farm north of Gentry, Missouri, where he lived his entire life and where he planted, harvested crops, and raised livestock. Edward passed away April 4, 2025, at the age of 91.

Edward attended Union School for 8 years and graduated from Albany High School in 1951. He worked in the winters at a photographic studio and a meat processing plant until he started raising livestock.

Edward married Betty Jane Graham on June 8, 1957. To this union three children were born, Kenton, Allen, and Roger. Betty and Edward were married 64 years at the time of her passing on March 8, 2021.

He was also preceded in death by his brothers James and Warren, sister Evelyn, granddaughter Stephanie Pigg and grandson Brian Pigg.

Edward served eight years in the Albany National Guard in Albany. He was a member of the Knox Presbyterian Church where he served as Elder and Sunday School teacher.

In his free time, Edward enjoyed photography, woodworking and watching the grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow.

Survivors: sons, Kenton (Susan) Pigg, Kansas City, MO; Allen (Peggy) Pigg, Worth, MO; and Roger (Kerri) Pigg, Worth, MO; 6 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Service: 2:00 PM Thursday, April 10 at the Roberson-Polley Chapel, Albany. Burial in the Knox Cemetery, Worth, MO. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the chapel. Friends may call anytime after 9:00 AM on Thursday. Memorial Contributions: Knox Cemetery Fund in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, MO 64402.