Unlawful retrieval of large or small game
This law is about going onto someone else's private land to retrieve animals while hunting. A person breaks this law if they go on private land — land they don't own or have permission to be on — to get wildlife, and while there they either chase animals toward their hunting partners on nearby land, or they shoot at animals that came from that private land. If the land was open to the public and the person followed all the rules for being there, that is a valid defense. Breaking this law is a class B misdemeanor.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
578.525. retrieval of large or small game — — . — 1. A person commits the of unlawful retrieval of large or small game if he or she, while engaged in the retrieval of from private land that is not owned or in the possession of such person with permission of the landowner or of the land:
(1) Intentionally drives or any large or small game located on the land toward other hunters of the retriever's same hunting group located on other parcels of land or right-of-ways; or
(2) Intentionally discharges a firearm at large or small game that originates from the private land during retrieval.
2. It shall be an affirmative defense to for a violation of this section that the were at the time open to members of the public and the person complied with all lawful conditions imposed concerning access to or the of remaining on the premises.
3. The offense of unlawful retrieval of large or small game is a .
Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.
Source & history notes
(L. 2007 S.B. 198, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.