Get Ready for Missouri’s Spring Turkey Season: Dates Regulations. and Tips
Missouri’s spring turkey season is a highly anticipated event for hunters across the state. This year, the season runs from April 15th to May 5th, giving you plenty of time to bag a delicious gobbler.
Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just getting started, it’s important to be well-prepared for the season. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Missouri’s spring turkey season, including:
- Dates and regulations
- Hunting tips and strategies
- Where to find turkeys in Missouri
- Gear and equipment recommendations
Dates and Regulations:
- Spring Turkey Season: April 15th – May 5th
- Youth Portion: April 6th-7th
- Bag Limit: 1 turkey per hunter
- Shooting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
- Permits: Required for all hunters, including youth hunters. You can purchase permits online or at participating vendors.
Hunting Tips and Strategies:
- Scouting: Spend time scouting for turkeys before the season starts. Look for signs of turkey activity, such as tracks, droppings, and feathers.
- Calling: Turkeys are vocal birds, so calling is an effective way to attract them. Learn how to use different turkey calls, such as the gobble, cluck, and yelp.
- Camouflage: Wear camouflage clothing to blend in with your surroundings.
- Patience: Turkey hunting requires patience. Be prepared to sit still for long periods of time.
- Safety: Always follow safe hunting practices. Wear blaze orange clothing and be aware of your surroundings.
Where to Find Turkeys in Missouri:
Turkeys can be found in a variety of habitats throughout Missouri, including forests, fields, and river bottoms. Some of the best places to find turkeys include:
- Mark Twain National Forest
- Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
- Truman Lake
- Table Rock Lake
Gear and Equipment Recommendations:
- Shotgun: A 12-gauge or 20-gauge shotgun is the most common firearm used for turkey hunting.
- Turkey Choke: A turkey choke will improve the accuracy of your shotgun.
- Turkey Loads: Use turkey loads specifically designed for turkey hunting.
- Camouflage Clothing: Wear camouflage clothing to blend in with your surroundings.
- Turkey Calls: Learn how to use different turkey calls to attract turkeys.
- Binoculars: Binoculars will help you spot turkeys in the field.
Additional Resources:
- MDC Turkey Hunting Regulations: https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey/regulations
- MDC Turkey Hunting Tips: https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey/turkey-hunting-tips
- MDC Turkey Hunting Forecast: https://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey/turkey-hunting-forecast
Get Ready for a Successful Spring Turkey Season:
With careful preparation and the right strategies, you can have a successful spring turkey season in Missouri. Remember to follow all safety regulations and enjoy the experience of hunting these magnificent birds.
Valid Permits
For the full three weeks of the season, extend shooting hours to all day on private property only (public land will still close at 1 PM).
Limits
During the spring youth season, one male turkey or turkey with visible beard
Young people may not harvest another turkey until the second Monday of the regular season if they take one during the youth season. This is so that, for the first week of the regular season, the bird taken during the youth season counts as the first bird.
Turkey Hunting OPENING DAY in Missouri! (FIELD GOBBLERS!)
FAQ
What are the dates of spring turkey season in Missouri?
Can you shoot two turkeys in one day in Missouri?
What are the rules for spring turkey in Missouri 2024?
What is the best time of day to hunt turkeys in spring?
When does spring turkey season start in Missouri?
The annual spring turkey season begins Monday in Missouri. Here’s the outlook.© Houston Herald Wyatt Kell, 12, got this gobbler on his Raymondville family farm Sunday evening hunting with his dad Ryan.
Can you hunt a Turkey in Missouri?
Flood-prone areas in southeast Missouri are closed to all hunting during spring turkey season when river levels exceed certain limits on local river gauges. To see if an area is closed for hunting, visit mdc.mo.gov/semofloods. Use of bait, which includes grain or other feed placed or scat-tered so as to attract turkeys.
When is turkey hunting season?
(B) Fall Firearms Season. Fall season annually will be October 1 through October 31. A person possessing the prescribed turkey hunting permit may take two (2) turkeys of either sex during the season.
Does Missouri have a turkey population?
That first season was tightly regulated and open in only a few counties; since that time, the turkey population has seen remarkable growth. Fast forward to 2024 and many Missourians are once again worried about the state of the turkey population. Harvest between 2017 and 2022 averaged just over 38,000 birds.