How to Get Your 2026 Missouri Hunter Education Online in 3 Easy Steps
Ready to hunt in Missouri this season? Don't forget that the state requires all hunters born on or after January 1, 1967, to complete a hunter education course.
The information you'll learn through a state-approved hunter safety course helps you stay safe in the field. Through a state-approved hunter safety course, you'll learn proper firearm handling, tree stand safety, why hunters wear blaze orange for hunts, the hunting laws for your state, and more.
So, if you're planning a hunt in Missouri in 2026, keep reading to learn how to get your Missouri hunter education certification and hunting license.
How Do I Get My Hunter Education Card in Missouri?
All hunters born on or after January 1, 1967, must pass a hunter safety course to earn a hunter education card in Missouri.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) offers two options for hunter education that meet this requirement.
1. Take the Two-Step Format (Ages 11+)
This option requires two steps to earn your hunter education card: a Knowledge portion, and a Skills Session with final exam.
During the Knowledge portion, hunters can complete the requirement in three ways:
- An online hunter education course (like Hunter-Ed)
- A self-study guide
- A classroom session
Then, if you are between the ages of 10 and 16 years old, you must also complete the four-hour Skills Session with a final exam. When attending the session, bring your online skills session qualifier certificate or your completed chapter reviews.
After completing the Skills Session and final exam, you'll receive your Missouri hunter education card.
2. Take an All Online Course (Ages 16+)
Adults and young hunters ages 16 and older can complete the certification process completely online through an approved course provider (again, like Hunter-Ed). There is no Skills Session requirement for adult and older youth hunters.
Work through the course text, videos, and animations to learn hunter safety essentials. Then, pass the unit quizzes and final exam and print your Missouri hunter education certificate (i.e, the Conservation Permit Card).
3 Easy Steps to Get Your 2026 Missouri Hunting License
With your hunter certification, you're ready to get your license and hunt! Here are three easy steps to get your Missouri hunting license.
- Meet the Requirements (and Complete a Hunter Education Course)
Remember: all hunters born on or after January 1, 1976, must complete a hunter education course before hunting in Missouri.
Hunter-Ed makes it easy to do that through our course approved by the MDC! - Choose the Right License Type and Purchase It
Determine which hunting permit you need. Choose from species-specific and other types of licenses. Then, purchase your license online via the MDC website or through the MO Hunting app, by phone, or in person at an MDC office or a retail location. - Carry Proof of Your License When Hunting
Bring your valid hunting license and any necessary tags, stamps, or permits for every hunt.
Next, let's look at these steps in more detail.
Step 1: How to Take the Missouri Hunter Education Course
The easiest way to get your hunter safety certification in Missouri is to take the Hunter-Ed Online course!
The Hunter-Ed course:
- Can be completed in about 3 hours.
- Is available anywhere you can connect to the internet using a computer, phone, or tablet.
- Provides free access to the course study guide to help you learn the material and pass the quizzes.
- Includes illustrations, games, animations, videos, and quizzes to help you learn the required material. Score at least 60% on the quizzes and 80% on the final exam to pass.
- Allows you to work at your own pace and start and stop as needed.
- Is available in English and Spanish.
- Gives you free access to Hunter Perks!
- Is approved by the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA) and MDC.
If you are between the ages of 10 and 16, you must also complete a 4-hour Skills Session to receive your certification.
Step 2: Get Your Hunter Education Certificate
After completing the course through Hunter-Ed and passing the final exam, you've met the hunter education requirements for Missouri!
In your Hunter-Ed student portal, print your Hunter Education Certificate. You can hunt right away with your printed card.
Your Hunter Education Card is Your Proof of Certification
Your hunter safety card is a crucial document for the hunting season, so keep it safe. Always carry it when you hunt (along with your hunting license). Be prepared to show it to wildlife officials if they ask for it during a hunt.
If you lose your card, visit the MDC website to order a replacement card before hunting season begins.
Step 3: Where to Get Your Missouri Hunting License in 2026
Your Missouri hunter safety course is now behind you. You're ready to get your hunting license and hunt!
Remember: you'll need a new hunting license every year, unless you have a lifetime license.
Buy a Missouri Hunting License Online
The easiest way to get your license is to buy it online. This can be particularly convenient if you don't live close to a retail location, or you plan to hunt in Missouri while you're a resident of another state.
You can also purchase hunting permits through the MO Hunting app.
Buy Over the Phone
Use your credit card to buy a hunting license over the phone. Call 800-392-4115 to order, then allow 10 days for your permit to arrive.
Buy In Person
If you prefer to pick up a license in person, the State of Missouri has plenty of locations offering hunting licenses. Pick up a license at an MDC department office or at a retail location, like sporting goods stores, Wal-Marts, and other locations selling hunting and fishing equipment.
Why Hunter Education Is Important
Before you purchase your permit or step into the timber, taking a hunter education course helps ensure you’re genuinely ready. Whether this is your first year in the field or you’ve been hunting Missouri seasons for years, it’s a solid refresher that keeps your knowledge current and your habits sharp.
Hunter education focuses on what truly counts when you’re out there: safe firearm use and making smart choices in real hunting situations. It’s straightforward, practical instruction designed to keep you, your hunting partners, and everyone else in the woods safe. The bottom line is simple—everyone heads home at the end of the day.
You’ll also learn practical skills you’ll rely on, from finding your way in and out of hunting areas to handling basic first aid and dealing with unexpected situations outdoors. Just as importantly, the course reinforces respect for private property, other hunters, and the wildlife Missouri is proud to offer.
At its core, hunter education is about responsibility and ethical hunting—protecting the resource and preserving our hunting heritage for the next generation.
Why are a State-Specific Hunter Education Courses Important?
Most states honor hunter education “reciprocity,” meaning a valid hunter education card from another state is often accepted. That’s helpful if you’ve already completed a course and plan to hunt beyond your home state.
Training from another state won’t cover Missouri’s seasons, regulations, land access considerations, or safety guidelines. And those details make a real difference once you’re in the field.
So, before relying solely on a course from another state, consider completing Missouri’s hunter education program. It’s time well spent to make sure you’re hunting legally, safely, and with confidence when it matters most.
Hunters get more with Hunter-Ed.
You get a learn-at-your-pace online course that covers the essentials hunt safely (while meeting the MDC's requirements). Plus, you also get access to Hunter Perks.
Hunter Perks is an exclusive offering from Hunter-Ed, and it's completely free for students!
As soon as you purchase your course, you unlock complete access to:
- Discounted Digital Hunting Tools: Hunter-proven resources (including app subscriptions) to help you hunt better.
- Curated Blog and Video Content: Links to informational blogs and videos to help you keep learning about how to be a better hunter.
- Ongoing Education Opportunities: Find additional courses (also offered at a discount) to help you learn about more aspects of hunting.
- Hunting Regulations: Links to stay updated on the hunting regulations for Missouri each year.
Plus, your Hunter Perks include discounts on gear and contests to win free stuff, so you have everything you need for great hunts (while saving money).
Get Hunter Safety Certified in Missouri with Hunter-Ed
Don't wait for the hunting season to get here before you take the Missouri hunter education course. You won't be able to hunt without it!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have answers to your questions about the Missouri hunter education certification!
Q: Do I need a hunter education course to hunt in Missouri?
Yes, you need hunter education in Missouri to hunt legally if you were born on or after January 1, 1977.
Q: Can you take the Missouri Hunter Safety course online?
Yes, you can take the Missouri hunter safety course online as part of the state's requirements. Hunter-Ed is an approved online course! Hunters between the ages of 10 and 16 must also complete Skills Session to finish the safety course.
Q: How Soon Should I Sign Up for a Hunter Education Course?
Sign up for your hunter education course to complete it at least a few weeks before your hunting season begins.
Q: Do I Need a Certification for Every Season?
No, you don't need to recertify for hunter safety every season. Your Missouri hunter education course covers the only certification you'll need to hunt in the state after completing the course and passing the final exam. Your certification is valid for life!
Q: How Much Does it Cost to Get My Hunter Education Certification?
When taking the course through Hunter-Ed, the course fee is $24.95. This cost includes the course and study guide, unlimited tries to pass the final exam, your hunter education card, and Hunter Perks.
Q: What happens if you hunt without hunter ed?
Hunting without the required Hunter Education certification can result in penalties, including fines. Your hunting license may also be invalid until you complete the course.
