Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 578
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 578.050 (2026)

Bullbaiting and cockfighting

✓ current as of May 2026
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  578.050.  Bullbaiting and cockfighting — penalty. — 1.  A person commits the offense of bullbaiting or cockfighting if he or she:

  (1)  Keeps, uses, or in any way is connected with or interested in the management of, or receives money for the admission of any person to, any place kept or used for the purpose of fighting or baiting any bull, bear, cock, or other creature, except dogs;

  (2)  Encourages, aids, assists, or is present at any place kept or used for such purpose; or

  (3)  Permits or suffers any place belonging to him or her, or under his or her control, to be so kept or used.

  2.  The offense of bullbaiting or cockfighting is a class A misdemeanor.

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(RSMo 1939 § 4789, A.L. 1984 H.B. 1210, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)

Prior revisions: 1929 § 4397; 1919 § 3653; 1909 § 4857

Effective 1-01-17

(1985) Held, section 578.050, RSMo, is unconstitutionally vague and contravenes the due process clause of Amendments V and XIV of the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 10 of the Missouri Constitution. State v. Young, 695 S.W.2d 882. (Mo.  banc).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1985–2011 · leading case: State v. Young, 695 S.W.2d 882 (Mo. 1985).
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State v. Young, 695 S.W.2d 882 (Mo. 1985). · cites it 54× “Young was convicted upon jury-waived trial of "being present at a cockfight" in violation of section 578.050, RSMo 1978. He challenges the constitutional validity of section 578.”
United Gamefowl Breeders Ass'n of Missouri v. Nixon, 19 S.W.3d 137 (Mo. 2000). · cites it 3× “On September 10, 1985, this Court declared unconstitutional section 578.050 RSMo 1978, which outlawed “fighting or baiting any bull, bear, cock, or other creature.”
Turner v. Missouri Dep't of Conservation, 349 S.W.3d 434 (Mo. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 3× “” There, section 578.050 RSMo 1978 — which prohibited “being present at a cockfight” — was declared void for vagueness.”
Edmondson v. Pearce, 2004 OK 23 (Okla. 2004). “Mo.Rev.Stat. § 578.050 (1978). 38 . The statute under review in State v.”
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