Missouri Fishing License

Age: Persons age 15 and younger (resident or nonresident) are exempt from a general fishing permit. Missouri residents age 65 or older are exempt from the general fishing permit, but may still require a Trout Permit or prescribed-area daily tags.

Senior: Residents 65 or older are exempt from purchasing the general Resident Fishing Permit.

Disability: Missouri residents are exempt if they are: permanently unable to move without the aid of a wheelchair; have corrected vision of 20/200 or less; have 20 degrees or less of visual concentric contraction; or are diagnosed with cerebral palsy or a mental disability and are accompanied by a licensed adult angler. Disabled veterans (resident or nonresident) with a service-related disability of 60% or greater or who were a prisoner of war (with certified statement) are exempt from the general permit (trout/daily tags may still apply).

Military: Active personnel assigned as a patient to a Warrior Transition Brigade/Unit or military medical center are exempt from the general permit. Active duty military and their families stationed in Missouri, and resident active duty military stationed out of state, qualify for resident permit prices. Resident National Guard and Reserve members mobilized in the previous 12 months qualify for a reduced-cost hunting and fishing permit.

Private Property: Resident landowners (who own five acres or more) and their immediate households may fish on land they own. This exemption applies only if they own all the land around the body of water.

License-Free Days: Any person may fish in state waters without a general fishing permit, trout permit, or prescribed area daily tag during Free Fishing Days. The statutory dates for 2026 are the Saturday and Sunday following the first Monday in June, which is **June 6 and 7, 2026**.

Other: Customers and guests may fish for trout without a permit on private, licensed trout-fishing areas.