For years, Missouri landowners have treasured the long-held tradition of harvesting deer and turkey on their own property.
Yet recent changes in state regulations have made it harder for many Missourians to exercise those rights.
That is why I will be reintroducing legislation aimed at restoring clarity and fairness to landowner hunting permits.
My bill strikes at the heart of this issue by rolling back regulatory barriers the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) put in place in recent years.
Under current MDC rules, landowners must own at least 20 acres of land and must register their property before receiving a no-cost hunting permit.
That is a marked departure from the prior regulations, which allowed landowners with as little as five acres to obtain permits without onerous registration requirements.
At first glance, this may seem like a niche policy debate confined to hunters. But the implications are broader and deeply rooted in community concerns about rural access, regulatory overreach, and effective wildlife management.
Many Missouri landowners are uncomfortable with burdensome registration procedures that require added paperwork and create an unwelcome encroachment on property rights.
By restoring the five-acre standard and doing away with registration, my legislation would make it easier for landowners to take responsibility for wildlife on their property.
The bill also allows landowners to request, once per year, a free two-day hunting permit for a nonresident immediate family member.
This provision encourages family traditions to stay intact and helps keep Missouri’s hunting heritage alive for younger generations and relatives.
There are many compelling arguments in favor of the legislation. For example, active, responsible hunting on private land is one of Missouri’s best natural tools for managing wildlife populations.
Our state faces well-documented challenges with deer overpopulation, a reality that directly affects public safety and health.
Deer on crowded landscapes contribute to a high number of vehicle collisions each year, often resulting in property damage, injury, and even fatalities.
Moreover, dense deer populations can accelerate the spread of diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), which has been detected in parts of the state and threatens deer herds across the Midwest.
Allowing more landowners to hunt wildlife on their property can help harvest animals responsibly and reduce these risks, strengthening both conservation and public safety outcomes.
Legislators who support this effort believe the bill is a fair way to address the challenges the state faces while protecting landowner hunting rights.
It keeps basic safety and wildlife stewardship expectations intact, while removing barriers that have discouraged some landowners from hunting on their own ground.
As this bill begins its journey through the legislative process in the upcoming legislative session, it presents a test of whether Missouri will support small landowners and local wildlife management or whether regulatory hurdles will remain in place for another year.
For rural families and hunters across the state, the stakes are clear: restoring access to landowner hunting rights is about tradition, safety, and responsible stewardship of Missouri’s cherished outdoor heritage.
(Mitch Boggs represents District 157 of the Missouri House of Representatives. He can be reached at 573-751-4077 or by email at Mitch.Boggs@house.mo.gov.)
