Archery  season will run according to and with the Missouri Department of Conservation Archery dates beginning September 15, 2024 to November 15, 2024 and reopens November 27, 2024 to January 15, 2025. There will be no hunting of any kind permitted during the firearm deer season.

General Provisions.

  1. NO FIREARMS PERMITED.
  2. ARCHERY ONLY-Compound bow, crossbow, long bow, recurve bow are permitted.
  3. NO HUNTING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, unless participating in the MDC/City of Cape Girardeau Managed Hunt.
  4. Deer harvested within the city limits of Cape Girardeau must be reported within 48 hours of harvesting.  Reporting is preferred to be done on line on the City of Cape Girardeau web page or by leaving a telephone or written message at the Cape Girardeau Police Department between 8am-5pm by calling 573-339-6621 Ext. 1196.  Name of the hunter, sex of the deer, location of harvest, and confirmation number must be included.
  5. Hunters must submit the Missouri Department of conservation confirmation number when reporting their harvest.
  6. Each hunter must permanently mark each arrow or bolt with their MDC identification number.
  7. All hunting must be conducted from an elevated stand not less than (10) feet in height.  All stands must face the interior of the property so that arrows are directed down and must not land closer than (25) feet from any side or rear property line.  Each stand must be identified by marking or tagging the stand with the Missouri Department of Conservation identification number and must be located within (5) five feet from the ground for inspection.
  8. All persons hunting in the City of Cape Girardeau are responsible to harvest an antlerless deer first prior to taking an antlered deer.
  9. It shall be unlawful to discharge any archery device from across a street, sidewalk, road, highway, playground.
  10. It shall be unlawful to discharge any archery device at any person, vehicle, dwelling, house, church, school, playground or building.  It shall be unlawful to discharge any archery device within 150 yards of any church, school, or playground.
  11. It shall be unlawful to discharge any archery device within (30) thirty yards of any dwelling, building, structure or vehicle, unless the person has previously received express authority to discharge the archery device from the owner of the dwelling, building, structure or vehicle.
  12. No arrow or projectile used to hunt within the City of Cape Girardeau may be discharged at such an angle or distance to land on public or private property other than the property which the hunt has been authorized.
  13. No arrow or projectile used to hunt within the City of Cape Girardeau may be discharged to land within (30) yards of any street, sidewalk or public right of way.
  14. Hunters must be 18 years of age or older to hunt within the City Limits of Cape Girardeau.

 

Hunting Permits.

  1. No person shall engage in hunting within the city limits of Cape Girardeau without obtaining a Missouri Archery Permit from the Missouri Department of Conservation and must complete a hunter safety course approved by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

 

Deer Retrieval.

  1. Any person who kill or injures any deer while hunting shall make a reasonable search to retrieve the deer and take it into their possession.
  2. This section does not authorize the act of trespass.
  3. It shall be the hunters responsibility to immediately notify any property owner, the fact of an injured or dead deer is or might be located on their property.
  4. In the event the hunter can’t obtain permission of a property owner to conduct a reasonable search or retrieval of the deer, the hunter shall immediately notify the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

 

Field Cleaning.

  1. Any person who kills any deer while hunting shall not field dress the deer in a public or conspicuous location.
  2. Any person who field dresses or otherwise processes a deer shall dispose of the discarded organs and or body parts in plastic bags in a private trash depositories or other appropriate means.  Nothing here shall authorize illegal dumping of solid waste.
  3. Transporting the deer carcass along any public right of way is prohibited unless it is covered or hidden from public view.

 

Hunting on private property.

  1. No person carrying an archery device of any type shall enter onto another property without having obtained written permission from the owner(s), lessee or person in charge of the property by signing a completed authorization form from the City of Cape Girardeau.  This form must be carried on the person of the hunter during the hunt. This form can be completed as an application online.  Hunting will be allowed once application has been approved.    Applications will be approved Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 am to 4 pm.
  2. The hunter, landowner, lessee or person in charge of any property which authorized to hunt has been granted, shall all be held responsible for the actions of those persons to whom such authorization has been granted.
  3. Prior to hunting within the City of Cape Girardeau, every person shall provide proof of a current state permit and certification of an archery device hunter safety course.
  4. No hunting shall be permitted on tracts of land under (2) two acres in area and the property lines must be marked no trespassing.