Squirrel and Black Bass Hunting Seasons Begin May 22

More hunting and fishing opportunities are on deck starting this weekend.

Squirrel and black bass hunting seasons begin on Saturday, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The eastern gray squirrel and fox hunting season runs through February 15, 2022.

Permitted hunting methods range from shotguns and rifles to other legal firearm methods, including archery equipment, slingshots, or atlatls. The daily hunt and capture limit is 10, with a possession limit of 20.

Hunters may hunt squirrels with the following permits: Archery, Daily Small Game, Small Game Hunting and Fishing, and Small Game Hunting.

“Chasing small game is a great way to introduce people to hunting,” Justin McGuire, MDC Education Program Coordinator, said in a press release. “Because of the long season, liberal daily limits, and abundance of game, squirrel hunting provides many outdoor opportunities during the different seasons in Missouri.”

Cage-style traps can also be used during hunting season to hunt squirrels, as long as the hunters have valid permits. Traps must be labeled with the hunter’s full name and address, or Conservation Number, serviced daily, and have an opening of 144 square inches or less.

The catch and hold season for largemouth bass, such as largemouth bass, largemouth bass, and spotted or Kentucky bass, lasts through February 2022.

These fish are found primarily in streams south of the Missouri River.

“Black bass can be legally caught and released year-round anywhere in Missouri, and legal-size bass can be kept year-round away from reservoirs and streams with no closed season,” MDC stated.