Drawing Procedures for Waterfowl Season

The Missouri Department of Conservation provides a wide variety of waterfowl hunting opportunities throughout the state. On 15 areas managed intensively for waterfowl, a statewide system is used to allocate the available hunting opportunity—half as reservations for Missouri residents chosen through random drawing, and half to walk-in (also known as “poor line”) hunters who draw on-site each morning at the various waterfowl hunting areas.

Hunters holding a reservation are guaranteed an opportunity to go afield, but are not guaranteed the best locations. Reservation holders draw one number (also known as a “pill”) on behalf of their party. Hunters trying their luck in the “poor line” drawing at Bob Brown, Columbia Bottom, Eagle Bluffs, Grand Pass, Marais Temps Clair, Otter Slough, and Ten Mile Pond Conservation Areas will be using the Every Member Draws (EMD) procedure. All other conservation areas that use a morning draw to allocate hunting positions will continue to use the One Member Draw (OMD) procedure. On EMD areas, every member of a waiting list hunting party draws a pill and the party uses its best (lowest) number drawn. On OMD areas, one member of a waiting list party draws one pill for the party. On high demand areas, the EMD system puts more hunters in the marsh by creating an incentive for hunters to team with family and friends—up to the maximum of four hunters—instead of hunting alone, thereby better utilizing the available opportunity.

After the pills are drawn the lowest number gets first choice of the available hunting locations, followed by the second-lowest number, and so on until all available locations are spoken for. On any given day there may be more waiting list parties than hunting locations, so it’s possible that not everyone in the poor line gets to hunt that day.

General Procedures:

Reservation Holders:

Waiting List:

Disabled-Accessible Waterfowl Blinds - Reservation Procedure

Reservations for disabled-accessible blinds will begin the first working day on or after October 1st. Persons with a disability are encouraged to reserve a blind at least three days prior to the date they want to hunt.

Individuals who desire to reserve a blind should call the Area or Regional Office listed below. When an individual calls for a reservation they will be read our definition of a person with a disability:

Individuals who are physically disabled to the extent that they are permanently or temporarily unable to move from place to place without the use of a wheelchair, walker, prosthesis, forearm crutches or a comparable mobility related device, or have other physical conditions that restrict mobility .

Staff do not assume the responsibility for determining whether or not a person fits the definition, it is up to each individual. Once a caller agrees that they fit the definition, clerical staff will complete their name, address, telephone number and conservation number on a special use permit or specified form.

Note: A hunter who has reserved a disabled-accessible blind is not required to be present at the designated draw time. However, at least one member of the party is required to attend the draw or the blind may be offered to another eligible party at the draw (except for blinds located in refuge pools on areas where opportunity does not exceed demand. On these areas, blinds are reserved for the day and no members of the party need to attend the morning drawing).

Party members registered to hunt a disabled-accessible blind are not eligible to participate in the daily draw procedure unless they first forfeit their ADA blind reservation.

Youth - There will be no advance period for youth hunters under 16 years of age to reserve a disabled-accessible blind; youth wishing to hunt from a disabled-accessible blind must attend the morning drawing. Individuals with a disability receive first preference for disabled-accessible blinds. If a blind has not been reserved in advance and is not claimed at the draw by an individual with a disability (or a member of their party) - the blind may be offered to any youth present. If more than one youth is present at the draw, all must participate in the draw and low number has first choice of the blind.

Blinds in Refuge - Disabled-accessible blinds in a designated waterfowl refuge can only be reserved in advance (or claimed at the morning draw by a person with a disability or member of their party). Disabled-accessible blinds in a designated waterfowl refuge will not be offered to youth hunters at the morning draw.

Blinds not in Refuge - Disabled-accessible blinds not in a designated refuge may, at the discretion of area staff, be placed in the daily draw if not reserved by a person with a disability.  

All hunters must check in, check out, and complete the green waterfowl hunting tag. Hunters may take up to three individuals with them during the hunt. Blinds will comfortably and safely accommodate four people.

Only one reservation per person with a disability may be held at any point in time for each area. Once an individual uses their reservation, they may make another reservation.

To reserve a blind on one of these areas, please call the number listed below :