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Missouri residents can start applying for black bear, elk hunting permits in May

sara karnes, springfield news-leader
·4 min read
Missouri residents who will be at least 11 years old by the first day of the hunt are eligible to apply during May 1-31.
Missouri residents who will be at least 11 years old by the first day of the hunt are eligible to apply during May 1-31.

The amount of permits for black bear and elk hunting seasons have been set, and folks may start applying for them in May.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer 400 permits for the taking of 40 black bears during the 2023 Missouri black-bear hunting season Oct. 16-25.

Five permits will also be offered to hunt bull elk in Missouri with at least one permit for qualifying landowners in Carter, Reynolds or Shannon counties and the remaining permits for the general pubic. MDC has designated the elk archery portion to run Oct. 21-29, and the elk firearms portion to run Dec. 9-17.

The five permits will be for bull elk with at least one antler being six inches or greater in length and will be valid for both portions.

Missouri residents who will be at least 11 years old by the first day of the hunt are eligible to apply during May 1-31. All permits will be assigned through a random drawing.

Black bear hunting to take place in three management zones

With three Bear Management Zones, or BMZ, in southern Missouri, MDC issues annual permit numbers and harvest quotas. Each permit will be for a specific zone and may be used on public or private property within the zone. Once the specific harvest quotas are filled for each zone, the season for that zone will be closed, according to MDC.

The permit quotas remain the same as the previous black bear hunting seasons, according to Nate Bowersock, MDC Furbearer Biologist.

More:Bears are on the move in Missouri. This expert shares how to protect yourself and the bears

There is a fee of $10 per applicant and applicants must select one of three zones. Those selected will then be eligible to buy a zone-specific permit for $25.

Permit and harvest quotas for the upcoming bear season will be:

  • BMZ 1: Permit quota of 200 issued with a harvest quota of 20 bears.

  • BMZ 2: Permit quota of 150 issued with a harvest quota of 15 bears.

  • BMZ 3: Permit quota of 50 issued with a harvest quota of 5 bears.

Here's what hunters need to keep in mind when participating in black bear season:

  • 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.

Harvest limit is one bear per permit, and only lone black bears may be killed.

"Hunters may not take bears that are known to be in the presence of others bears, including female black bears with cubs," according to MDC. "Bears may not be disturbed, pushed, harassed, or taken from a den."

More:What to do if you encounter a black bear? For starters, never play dead, biologist says

You can 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 online by July 1.

Learn more about black bears and bear hunting in Missouri at mdc.mo.gov/bearhunting.

Hunting methods for elk season are the same as deer season

Chris Irick, of Pleasant Hope, harvested the first elk by archery methods in Missouri’s modern elk hunting history.
Chris Irick, of Pleasant Hope, harvested the first elk by archery methods in Missouri’s modern elk hunting history.

MDC will require a $10 application fee for elk-permit applicants. Those selected will then be eligible to buy a permit at a cost of $50.

"All elk-hunting permits, including those allocated to qualifying area landowners, can be used in Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon counties, except the refuge portion of Peck Ranch Conservation Area," MDC stated.

More:Hunters kill three elk during archery, firearms season in Missouri

The allowed hunting methods for each elk season portion — archery Oct. 21-29 and firearms Dec. 9-17 — will be the same as for deer hunting. The permits allow for the harvest of one bull elk with at least one antler being six inches or greater in length.

You may for the elk-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 elk-permit random drawing will be available online by July 1.

For information on elk and elk hunting in Missouri, visit mdc.mo.gov/elkhunting.

Sara Karnes is an Outdoors Reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Follow along with her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @Sara_Karnes. Got a story to tell? Email her at skarnes@springfi.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: You can start applying for black bear, elk hunting permits in May