Changes include a new nonresident trout permit & new nonresident migratory bird permit
JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri is home to more than 1 million anglers, 500,000 hunters, and several thousand trappers.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) issues nearly 2.6 million hunting, fishing, and trapping permits each year.
To keep pace with continually rising costs of goods and services, MDC is increasing some nonresident, resident, and commercial permit prices for 2026.
Changes include increases to nonresident deer and turkey hunting permits to bring MDC nonresident-permit prices more aligned with surrounding states, creating a new nonresident migratory bird permit at a price of $60, and creating a new nonresident trout permit at a price of $24.
Additional revenue from permit sales will help MDC maintain and improve its nationally recognized programs and services for hunters, anglers, wildlife watchers, and others.
Additional revenue from permit prices will also help MDC with rising costs of maintaining infrastructure at conservation areas, fish hatcheries, intensively managed wetlands, lake and river accesses, and shooting ranges that are many decades old and in need of significant repair or replacement.
Approximately 43,000 nonresidents hunt deer, 10,000 nonresidents hunt spring turkeys, and 165,000 nonresidents fish in Missouri annually.
More than 400,000 Missourians hunt deer or turkey and more than one million fish annually.
In response to concerns raised by resident hunters, MDC surveyed both resident and non-resident hunters.
While the proportion of nonresident hunters and anglers is low compared to residents, the opinion survey and public feedback showed Missourians generally supported raising nonresident hunting permits to bring them more in line with surrounding states.
MDC added that other states also continue to increase nonresident permit prices.
“Across deer, turkey, and waterfowl, one potential change supported by residents is adjusting permit prices to be more in alignment with surrounding states,” said MDC Director Jason Sumners.
The Missouri Conservation Commission gave initial approval to the proposed MDC permit price adjustments at its May 16 open meeting and final approval at its Oct. 3 meeting.
The most common proposed permit price adjustments are listed along with current prices and comparable average prices of surrounding states, as applicable.
Below are the current, 2026, and 2024 average prices for surrounding states on all permits. Hunting, fishing, and trapping permits include:
• Resident Hunting and Fishing — $20.50 (current), $22.50 (2026 price), and $43.72 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Fishing — $13 (current), $14 (2026 price), and $23 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Annual Fishing — $53.50 (current), $57 (2026 price), and $57.50 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Daily Fishing — $9 (current), $9 (2026 price), and $8.31 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Trout — $12 (current), $12 (2026 price), and $12.75 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Youth Trout — $6 (current), $6 (2026 price), and $7 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Trout — $24 (new for 2026).
• Apprentice Authorization — $10.50 (current) and $12.50 (2026 price).
• Resident Small Game Hunting — $10.50 (current), $11.50 (2026 price), and $27.57 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Trapping — $11 (current), $12 (2026 price), and $30.13 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Small Game Hunting — $102 (current), $108.50 (2026 price), and $126.84 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Daily Hunting — $15 (current), $16 (2026 price), and $66.04 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Furbearer Hunt/Trap — $208.50 (current), $221.50 (2026 price), and $258.69 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Migratory Bird — $7.50 (current), $8 (2026 price), and $14.81 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Migratory Bird — $60 (new for 2026).
• Resident Conservation Order — $5.50 (current) and $5.50 (2026 price).
• Non-Resident Conservation Order — $51 (current) and $11.50 (2026 price).
• Resident Spring Turkey — $18 (current), $19.50 (2026 price), and $50.69 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Youth Spring Turkey — $9 (current), $9.75 (2026 price), and $15.25 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Spring Turkey — $243.50 (current), $258.50 (2026 price), and $255.22 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Youth Spring Turkey — $9 (current), $9.75 (2026 price), and $38.56 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Fall Turkey — $14 (current), $15 (2026 price), and $53.64 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Youth Fall Turkey — $7 (current), $7.50 (2026 price), and $21.50 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Fall Turkey — $141.50 (current), $150 (2026 price), and $219.58 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Youth Fall Turkey — $7 (current), $7.50 (2026 price), and $56.25 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Firearm Deer — $18 (current), $19.50 (2026 price), and $57.13 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Youth Firearm Deer — $9 (current), $9.75 (2026 price), and $19.69 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Firearm Deer — $288 (current), $305.50 (2026 price), and $443.13 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Youth Firearm Deer — $9 (current), $9.75 (2026 price), and $95.46 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Managed Deer — $18 (current) and $19.50 (2026 price).
• Non-Resident Managed Deer — $288 (current) and $305.50 (2026 price).
• Resident Antlerless Deer — $7.50 (current), $7.50 (2026 price), and $22.08 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Youth Antlerless Deer — $3.75 (current), $3.75 (2026 price), and $14.70 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Antlerless Deer — $27 (current), $29 (2026 price), and $90.80 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Youth Antlerless Deer — $3.75 (current), $3.75 (2026 price), and $85.50 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Archery — $20.50 (current), $22 (2026 price), and $55.38 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Resident Youth Archery — $10.25 (current), $11 (2026 price), and $20.25 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Archery — $288 (current), $305.50 (2026 price), and $456.88 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Youth Archery — $10.25 (current), $11 (2026 price), and $96.02 (average of surrounding states in 2024).
• Non-Resident Landowner Spring Turkey — $179.50 (current) and $190.50 (2026 price).
• Non-Resident Landowner Fall Turkey — $104.50 (current) and $111 (2026 price).
• Non-Resident Landowner Archery — $212 (current) and $225 (2026 price).
• Non-Resident Landowner Firearm Deer — $212 (current) and $225 (2026 price).
Lifetime permits include:
• Lifetime Fishing/Hunting (Over 60) — $38 (current) and $40.50 (2026 price).
• Lifetime Fishing/Hunting (Aages 40-59) — $322 (current) and $349 (2026 price).
• Lifetime Fishing/Hunting (ages 30-39) — $376 (current) and $407 (2026 price).
• Lifetime Fishing/Hunting (ages 16-29) — $430 (current) and $465.50 (2026 price).
• Lifetime Fishing/Hunting (under 16) — $295 (current) and $320 (2026 price).
• Lifetime Conservation Partner (over 60) — $75 (current) and $81.50 (2026 price).
• Lifetime Conservation Partner (ages 40-59) — $644 (current) and $698 (2026 price).
• Lifetime Conservation Partner (ages 30-39) — $752 (current) and $814.50 (2026 price).
• Lifetime Conservation Partner (ages 16-29) — $859 (current) and $930.50 (2026 price).
• Lifetime Conservation Partner (under 16) — $591 (current) and $640 (2026 price).
Common commercial permits include:
• Commercial Fishing — $31 (current) and $44 (2026 price).
• Wildlife Hobby — $11 (current) and $13 (2026 price).
• Class 1 Wildlife Breeder — $54 (current) and $63 (2026 price).
• Class 2 Wildlife Breeder — $269 (current) and $316 (2026 price).
• Class 3 Wildlife Breeder — $54 (current) and $63 (2026 price).
• Gamebird Hunting Preserve — $132 (current) and $201 (2026 price).
• Taxidermy Tanning — $32 (current) and $38 (2026 price).
• Dog Training Area — $22 (current) and $25 (2026 price).
• Field Trial/Retriever — $22 (current) and $25 (2026 price).
Permit price adjustments are based on the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) related to cost-of-living increases from 2008 to 2024.
CPI is a commonly used measurement of the average changes over time in prices paid by consumers for consumer goods and services.
MDC is recommending a gradual price increase over 10 years at 50% of CPI growth for resident permits and an accelerated price increase for nonresident deer and nonresident turkey hunting permits to bring these permit prices more in alignment with other states.
These changes will become effective Jan. 1, 2026.
According to MDC, the costs of conservation work continue to increase while resident permit prices remain good bargains when compared to surrounding states.
Permit sales account for about 17 percent of MDC annual revenue.
Other significant revenue sources for MDC include the Conservation Sales Tax at about 62 percent and federal reimbursements at about 15 percent of total MDC revenue.
Sales and rentals, interest, and other sources make up the remaining 6 percent of MDC revenue.
Missourians on average pay $24 annually for conservation efforts through the Conservation Sales Tax.
MDC receives no funds through fines from tickets or citations and no funding from the state’s general revenue budget.
