Summary of Missouri Deer Baiting Regulations
Use of bait while hunting is illegal. Bait includes grain or other feed placed or scattered so as to attract deer.
Grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable products used to attract deer are prohibited year-round within CWD Management Zone counties. The following exceptions are allowed:
- Feed placed within 100 feet of any residence or occupied building
- Feed placed in a manner that excludes access by deer
- Feed and minerals used solely for normal agricultural, forest management, or wildlife food-plot production practices
- Feed placed as part of a feral hog or CWD management effort authorized by the Conservation Department
Detailed Regulations
Baiting Regulations:
- Use of bait while hunting is illegal. Bait includes grain or other feed placed or scattered so as to attract deer or turkeys.
- An area is considered baited for 10 days after complete removal of the bait.
- A hunter can be in violation if they take or attempt to take a deer or turkey by the aid of bait where the hunter knows or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited.
- It is illegal to place bait in a way that causes others to be in violation of the baiting rule.
- Doe urine and other scents may be used to attract deer while hunting, as long as the scents are not used on or with grain or other food products.
- Mineral blocks, including salt, are not considered bait. However, mineral blocks that contain grain or other food additives are prohibited.
- The use of mineral blocks and salt is not allowed on conservation areas.
- It is legal to hunt over a harvested crop field, but it is not legal to add grain or other crops, such as apples, to the field after it has been harvested.
- Manipulating crops, such as mowing or knocking them down, is not considered baiting for deer and turkeys; however, it is illegal to hunt waterfowl over manipulated crops.
Grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable products used to attract deer are prohibited year-round within CWD Management Zone counties. The following exceptions are allowed:
- Feed placed within 100 feet of any residence or occupied building
- Feed placed in a manner that excludes access by deer
- Feed and minerals used solely for normal agricultural, forest management, or wildlife food-plot production practices
- Feed placed as part of a feral hog or CWD management effort authorized by the Conservation Department