Turkey hunting is a popular pastime in Missouri, with two main seasons in the spring and fall. Knowing the dates, hours, permits, and regulations can help hunters have a safe and successful turkey season. This article provides a complete overview of when turkey season occurs in Missouri along with key details on how to legally hunt turkeys in the state.
Overview of Turkey Seasons in Missouri
There are two main turkey seasons in Missouri – a longer spring season and a shorter fall season.
The spring season occurs in April and May and is the more popular option It is open to both adult and youth hunters There is also a special youth-only weekend in early April,
The fall turkey season runs from October through January It is split into separate archery and firearms segments Fall firearms turkey hunting has some county restrictions,
Turkeys of either sex can be harvested during the fall while spring hunters can only take birds with visible beards (generally males).
Spring Turkey Season Dates and Details
The 2024 spring turkey dates in Missouri are:
- Youth Season: April 6-7, 2024
- Regular Season: April 15 – May 5, 2024
Hours: The season is open from a half-hour before sunrise until 1 PM during the regular spring season. The youth weekend follows sunrise to sunset hours.
Limits: The youth season has a one turkey limit. During the regular spring season hunters can harvest 2 bearded turkeys but only one per day.
Permits: A Spring Turkey Hunting Permit is required in addition to a small game hunting permit or full hunting license.
Methods: Shotguns, archery, crossbows, and atlatls are allowed. Electronic calls and baiting are prohibited.
Fall Turkey Season Dates and Details
The 2024 fall turkey dates in Missouri are:
- Archery: September 15 – November 15, 2024
- Firearms: October 1 – October 31, 2024
- Archery: November 27, 2024 – January 15, 2025
Hours: The fall season follows sunrise to sunset hours.
Limits: The combined archery and firearms portions have a 2 turkey limit either sex.
Permits: A Fall Turkey Hunting Permit is required. An archery permit alone is no longer valid.
Methods: Same as spring but rifles, handguns, and night vision devices are also prohibited.
County Restrictions: 7 counties are closed to fall firearms turkey hunting.
Youth Turkey Hunting Season
The youth turkey season takes place on the weekend before the regular spring season opens. It allows hunters ages 6-15 to get out before everyone else. One bearded turkey can be harvested.
This season lets young hunters learn and gain experience in a more relaxed environment. Youth are still allowed to hunt during the later regular spring season too.
All standard spring season permits, hours, and methods apply. Adults can assist but not carry a weapon.
Turkey Hunting Permits in Missouri
To hunt turkeys in Missouri, hunters need a permit in addition to their small game permit or hunting license.
The Spring Turkey Hunting Permit covers both the youth and regular spring seasons.
The Fall Turkey Hunting Permit covers the archery and firearms segments. Only one fall permit is needed.
Lifetime hunting permit holders still need to get the annual Spring and Fall Turkey permits.
Safety Tips for Turkey Hunting
Turkey hunting demands specialized knowledge and preparation for success and safety:
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Stalk roosted birds at a distance – Don’t approach too closely and spook the flock.
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Use good camouflage and concealment when setup. Avoid excess movement.
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Sit with your back to a tree for protection from unintended shots.
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Clearly identify your target and what’s beyond it. Be 100% certain before shooting.
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Use turkey specific ammunition like #4 shot or smaller shotgun loads. Pattern your shotgun.
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Be sure of safe firearm handling. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire. Treat every gun as if it’s loaded.
Following the dates, hours, permit requirements and safety tips will help hunters have an enjoyable time in the woods during Missouri’s spring and fall turkey seasons. With careful preparation and skill, hunters can harvest turkeys while maintaining ethical, lawful practices.
Regulation changes include: a new firearms early antlerless portion, a new firearms CWD portion and changes to firearms antlerless permit numbers in most counties.
Hold on to your seats, there are changes coming to Missouri hunting seasons in the new year.
The Missouri Department of Conservation just recently announced the dates for hunting turkey and deer in 2023 and 2024. They also changed the rules for hunting deer. Some of these changes are a new section on firearms early antlerless, a new section on firearms CWD, and in most counties, changes to the permit numbers for firearms early antlerless.
The Missouri Conservation Commission approved the hunting dates and regulations changes at its open meeting Dec. 2 in Jefferson City.
The changes to deer hunting rules were made because of the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) and the rise in deer populations across the state, according to a news release from MDC’s Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle.
“Because the number of deer in most Missouri counties is growing, we’re giving hunters more chances to kill deer next year, both inside and outside the CWD Management Zone,” Isabelle explained.
Increasing deer populations lead to decision to add antlerless harvest dates
Deer populations are at desired levels in most counties, but are continuing to increase. Because of this, additional antlerless harvest is needed to stabilize those deer numbers, Isabelle said.
“Adding an early antlerless period to the firearms deer season and making more antlerless permits available in most counties will give hunters more chances to kill antlerless deer and help us reach our deer management goals,” Isabelle said.
The new firearms early antlerless portion Oct. 6-8, 2023, will be in the same 100 counties open for the firearms late antlerless portion Dec. 2-10, 2023. See regulation details and a map of open counties on MDCs website.
MDC says that this change to seasons for hunting deer without antlers is similar to what a number of other Midwestern states have already done. After the early antlerless part, more antlerless deer will be killed before the November part of firearms season, when most hunters are focused on getting a buck, Isabelle said.
“The early antlerless portion was planned to happen when the weather is usually nice and when there will be less conflict with archery hunters, who spend most of their time hunting in late October and early November when the rut is coming up,” Isabelle explained.
Missouri’s spring turkey hunting season begins soon with some new changes
FAQ
What are the dates for turkey season in Missouri?
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Season
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Dates
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Turkey: Spring: Youth (ages 6-15)
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Apr 06, 2024 – Apr 07, 2024
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Turkey: Spring
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Apr 15, 2024 – May 05, 2024
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Turkey: Archery
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Sep 15, 2024 – Nov 15, 2024 Nov 27, 2024 – Jan 15, 2025
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Turkey: Fall Firearms
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Oct 01, 2024 – Oct 31, 2024
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Can you carry a pistol while turkey hunting in Missouri?
What are the best counties in Missouri for turkeys?
When can you buy turkey tags in Missouri?
When does Missouri’s spring turkey hunting season start?
Missouri’s spring turkey season begins April 15. Here’s what to know Missouri’s upcoming spring turkey hunting season is forecast to be a good one. The three-week season (April 15-May 5) comes on the heels of a youth hunting weekend that accounted for 3,721 harvested birds throughout the Show-Me State, the most in that span in seven years.
Can you hunt a Turkey with a bow in Missouri?
Anyone hunting turkeys during the fall firearms turkey season may not be in possession of both a firearm and a bow. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri. Valid Permits Spring Turkey Hunting Permit Allowed & Prohibited Methods Turkey: Spring: Allowed Methods Shotguns with shot not larger than No. Crossbows…
Can you hunt a Turkey during fall season?
The fall turkey hunting permit allows for two turkeys during fall turkey season (archery and firearms portions combined). Some counties are closed to firearms hunting during the firearms portion. Youths who take a turkey during the youth season may not harvest a second bird until the second Monday of the regular season.
Can a child Hunt a Turkey in Mississippi?
Youth may also hunt during the regular Spring Turkey season. If you do not take one during the first week, then you may take two turkeys during the second and third week. You may not take two turkeys on the same day. Fall firearms turkey hunting is not permitted in Dunklin, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid, Newton, Pemiscot, and Scott counties.
When can youth hunters harvest a second Turkey?
Youths who take a turkey during the youth season may not harvest a second bird until the second Monday of the regular season. This is because the bird taken during the youth season counts as the first bird for the first week of the regular season. Youth hunters who are age 6-15 on opening day may hunt.
Why does Missouri have a dwindling Turkey population?
Missouri had a dwindling turkey population for more than a decade before the recent jump in harvests. Scientists in several reports have pointed to myriad reasons that may have contributed to the decline, including weather variables, disease, hunting, predators, habitat change and parasites.