Missouri Laws

Alternative hunting equipment includes atlatls, crossbows, bows and arrows, muzzleloaders, and air rifles.

Missouri’s laws for alternative hunting equipment include the following.

• Atlatls are legal for many game species and during many firearms seasons.
• Crossbows are legal for everyone during all firearms hunting and archery seasons.
• Longbows, recurve bows, and compound bows are legal during all firearms hunting seasons.
• Muzzleloaders are legal for all firearms hunting seasons, but you must use the proper type of ammunition and the correct caliber or gauge of muzzleloader.
• Air rifles are legal for many game species and during many firearms seasons.
• To use alternative hunting equipment during firearms seasons, you must:
  • Have hunter education certification or...
  • Be exempt from the hunter education certification requirement, for example, because you are under 16 years of age and are hunting in the immediate presence a qualified adult mentor or...
  • Purchase an Apprentice Hunter Authorization and hunt with a properly licensed adult hunter or...
  • Meet any other legal requirements as specified by the Missouri Department of Conservation.