The state-record typical whitetail scored a hefty 205 points. Firearms deer season is divided into segments for modern firearms hunters and muzzleloaders, and archery deer and turkey season runs from Oct. 1 through Jan. 15. Trappers pursue raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, mink, beaver, mink, otters, muskrats and other furbearers starting Nov. 20. The Conservation Department offers educational opportunities for people who would like to take part in hunting but lack experience. Becoming an Outdoorswoman, Beyond Becoming an Outdoorswoman and Wonders of the Outdoor World programs offer adults and children the chance to learn outdoor skills from experts in a safe, pressure-free environment.
Youth deer, dove and waterfowl hunts cater to the needs of young hunters and their adult chaperones.
People with mobility impairments also will find programs to give them access to hunting opportunities. Missourians are justifiably proud of their long history of supporting professional, science-based management of their wild resources. Forty years later, they returned to the polls to approve a one-eighth of 1 percent sales tax for conservation. This sales tax has allowed Missouri to develop wildlife management programs that are the envy of the nation. To learn more about hunting opportunities in Missouri, visit the Conservation Department's website .