Illustration
State guide
When to catch Missourithrough the year
We follow 4 places in Missouri for winter wildlife, spring migration, wildlife by season and fall foliage: fall at Mingo Refuge, winter at Clarence Cannon Refuge and Loess Bluffs Refuge, spring at Loess Bluffs Refuge and Mingo Refuge and summer at Loess Bluffs Refuge. Each timing below is the place's own source, in its words; none is a forecast.
When are you going?
Fall in Missouri
Good in fall
- Clarence Cannon RefugeLarge concentrations of waterfowl: October and November are the best months
- Clarence Cannon RefugeResident deer, raccoons, squirrels and opossums: seen year round
- Loess Bluffs RefugeFall snow geese (peak in mid to late November)
- Loess Bluffs RefugeMigrating waterfowl on their way south
- Mingo RefugeBald cypress turn color in September
- Mingo RefugeFall color peak, usually the last week of October
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Winter in Missouri
- PHASE · WINTER WILDLIFESeptember and October, then 2 moreMingo Refuge · Missouri
- SEASON · WINTER WILDLIFEOctober and November are the best monthsClarence Cannon Refuge · Missouri
- SEASON · WINTER WILDLIFEFrom mid-October, peaking in mid- to late NovemberLoess Bluffs Refuge · Missouri
Good in winter
- Clarence Cannon RefugeResident deer, raccoons, squirrels and opossums: seen year round
- Loess Bluffs RefugeBald eagles, best in December and January (migration peak usually by December 1)
- Loess Bluffs RefugeMigrating waterfowl on their way south
- Loess Bluffs RefugeSpring snow goose migration (arrive mid-February, peak mid-March)
- Mingo RefugeWinter waterfowl in large numbers, November to February (peak usually early to mid-December)
- Mingo RefugeMore bald eagles as winter visitors arrive, December to February
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Spring in Missouri
- SEASON · SPRING MIGRATIONFrom mid-February, peaking in mid-MarchLoess Bluffs Refuge · Missouri
- SEASON · SPRING MIGRATIONApril and May are the best monthsMingo Refuge · Missouri
- SEASON · SPRING MIGRATIONApril and MaySwan Lake Refuge · Missouri
Good in spring
- Clarence Cannon RefugeShorebird and warbler migrations usually peak around the first week of May
- Clarence Cannon RefugeResident deer, raccoons, squirrels and opossums: seen year round
- Loess Bluffs RefugeSpring snow goose migration (arrive mid-February, peak mid-March)
- Mingo RefugeSpring migratory birds: April and May are the best months
- Mingo RefugeBald eagles nest, December to April
- Mingo RefugeOzark Highlands Auto Tour Route and Sweet Cabin Trail open, March to November
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Summer in Missouri
Good in summer
- Clarence Cannon RefugeResident deer, raccoons, squirrels and opossums: seen year round
- Loess Bluffs RefugeWildlife with young
- Mingo RefugeOzark Highlands Auto Tour Route and Sweet Cabin Trail open, March to November
- Mingo RefugeAll refuge waters open to fishing and boating, March 1 to September 30
- Swan Lake RefugeWildlife Drive open to vehicles, dawn to dusk (first Saturday in March to the end of October)
- Swan Lake RefugeFirst Fridays at the Refuge: family evening programs on the first Friday of each month (April–August)
Open places and seasons from each place's sources; no peak claimed.
Places in Missouri
Pin color: each place's season now or next
- Spring
- Fall
- Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Planning a Missouri trip
Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · checked Sep 29 · How we know