With Missouris current hunting season winding down, hunters may already be making preparations for next year. Prepare those vacation requests, because the dates for the 2024-2025 hunting season have been determined, along with a few adjustments to state hunting regulations.
The Missouri Conservation Commission set hunting dates, approved changes to spring turkey hunting season with extended hours and granted initial approval of proposed additional changes to the fall turkey hunting season at its Dec. 8 open meeting in Jefferson City.
Turkey hunting is a popular outdoor activity in Missouri. With abundant wild turkey populations across the state, there are plenty of opportunities to bag your bird. But first, you need to know when turkey season occurs and what the rules and regulations are. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about turkey hunting season in Missouri.
Overview of Turkey Season Dates in Missouri
There are two main turkey hunting seasons in Missouri – spring and fall. Here are the dates for 2024:
- Spring Youth Season – April 6-7, 2024
- Regular Spring Season – April 15 – May 5, 2024
- Fall Firearms Season – October 1-31, 2024
- Fall Archery Season – September 15 – November 14, 2024 and November 26, 2024 – January 15, 2025
The spring season focuses on hunting male turkeys, also known as gobblers. The fall season has more relaxed regulations, allowing you to harvest birds of either sex.
Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations
To hunt during spring turkey season in Missouri you need a couple of things
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Permit – All turkey hunters need a spring turkey hunting permit, which costs $17 for residents. You can buy it online or from vendors around the state.
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Hunter education – If you were born after 1967, you’ll need to have completed a hunter education course to buy a turkey permit. The MDC offers classes around Missouri.
Here are some key regulations:
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Bag limit – You can harvest up to 2 bearded turkeys during spring season. You can only take 1 bird during the first week, then up to 2 in weeks 2 and 3 if you didn’t tag one in week 1.
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Shooting hours – You can hunt from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1 PM on public land. On private land, hours are extended to sunset in 2024.
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Methods – Shotguns, bows and muzzleloaders are allowed. No electronic calls or baiting.
Make sure to check the MDC regulations for full spring season rules.
Fall Turkey Hunting Regulations
Fall turkey season has fewer restrictions than spring. Here are the key details:
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You need a fall firearms or archery permit, $10 for residents.
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Shooting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.
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The bag limit is 2 turkeys of either sex for the full fall season.
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Counties are closed to fall firearms hunting, so make sure your area is open before hunting.
Verify the fall hunting regulations before you head out.
Where to Hunt Wild Turkey in Missouri
Missouri has excellent wild turkey habitat across the state. Some top public land areas to consider include:
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Mark Twain National Forest – Over 1.5 million acres of oak-hickory forest with a robust turkey population.
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Ozark National Scenic Riverways – 80,000 acres along the Current and Jacks Fork rivers. Mixed habitat with woods, glades, and fields.
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Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge – A 44,000 acre bottomland forest refuge perfect for turkeys.
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Pershing State Park – 5,400 acres of marsh and upland forest habitat with opportunities for spring hunting.
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Peck Ranch and Rocky Creek Conservation Areas – 7,000+ acres each with a variety of turkey habitat in the Ozarks.
Scout public areas near you to find promising turkey ground. Of course, hunting private land with permission can also offer fantastic turkey hunting opportunities.
Tagging, Checking and Transporting Your Turkey
When you harvest a bird, there are a few regulations around tagging and transportation:
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Affix your spring or fall permit to the turkey’s leg, or keep the permit on your person if you’re with the bird.
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Check or “telecheck” your turkey by 10pm on the same day, and attach the confirmation number to the bird.
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When transporting the turkey, keep it separate from other hunters’ birds and label it with your name, address, date taken and telecheck information.
Following these rules allow for proper harvest data collection. Review the full turkey tagging and transportation regulations for details.
Additional Turkey Hunting Regulations
Some other notable turkey hunting rules in Missouri include:
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No electronically-amplified calls.
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No baiting turkeys or hunting over bait.
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Legal shooting hours and hunter orange requirements.
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Limits on the firearms, ammo, and hunting methods that can be used.
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Guidance around using all-terrain vehicles.
Always check the turkey hunting overview and general hunting regulations to see the full rules.
Are You Ready for Turkey Season?
As you can see, Missouri offers ample opportunities to hunt wild turkeys – you just need to plan around the season dates and familiarize yourself with the regulations.
Be sure to get your permit and brush up on your turkey hunting skills before opening day. Scout areas, pattern local birds, and practice calling to increase your chances of success. If you put in the preparation, you’ll be ready when spring gobbler season arrives.
Good luck tagging your Missouri turkey when turkey season rolls around! Let us know how your hunt goes.
Changes coming in the spring
For the spring 2024 turkey shooting season, those hunting on private land will now be able to do so all day — from a half hour before sunrise until sunset. The shooting hours will remain the same on public land running from a half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.
With hunter participation on the decline and 88% of Missouri’s annual spring turkey harvest done on private land, the Missouri Department of Conservation hopes this change will help hunters who may be at work or school in the morning hours to participate.
The 1 p.m. closure was added decades ago to help the turkey population rebound, according to an MDC news release. Almost every other state in the Midwest and Southeast has moved to an all-day season since seeing their turkey populations restored.
Proposed changes to fall turkey hunting season
While not yet finalized, the MDC has proposed that both fall firearm turkey hunters and fall archery turkey hunters be required to purchase a fall turkey-hunting permit. Turkeys would no longer be included in the archery-deer permit.
In addition, the bag limit would be reduced from four to two birds. Currently, hunters can harvest up to four birds of either sex without a beard requirement. While the hen harvest level does not have a negative impact on the statewide turkey count, at the property level, hen harvest may have an impact on the future population, according to the release.
These proposed changes will be open for public comment Feb. 2-March 2 on the MDC website.
When Is Turkey Season In Missouri? – The Midwest Guru
FAQ
What hunting season is open in Missouri?
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Crow: Hunting | Nov 01, 2024 – Mar 03, 2025 |
| Deer: Archery | Sep 15, 2025 – Nov 14, 2025 Nov 26, 2025 – Jan 15, 2026 |
| Deer: Firearms: Alternative Methods | Dec 27, 2025 – Jan 06, 2026 |
| Deer: Firearms: Antlerless Portions | Oct 10, 2025 – Oct 12, 2025 Dec 06, 2025 – Dec 14, 2025 |
What time is turkey hunting season?
General: March 29 – May 4, 2025. Archery Only: May 5 – 18, 2025.
When can turkeys be hunted?
California’s general spring turkey season opened statewide on March 25 and runs through April 30. Archery season follows from May 1-14 and runs concurrently with the junior hunt period.
Is it illegal to hunt a Turkey in Missouri?
Hunting birds with corn or other feed is banned in Missouri. Primed areas remain primed for ten days after bait removal. If a hunter knows or should know the site is primed and takes or attempts to take a turkey, they are in breach. Baiting others is also illegal. Mineral cubes without grain or meal products are allowed.
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.
Are deer & turkey hunting dates set for 2024-2025?
Jefferson City, Mo. (KHQA) — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has set the deer and turkey hunting dates for the upcoming seasons. The MDC recently set turkey and deer hunting dates for the 2024-2025 seasons. The hunting dates were approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its December 8 open meeting in Jefferson City.
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.
When can you shoot a Turkey in 2024?
For the spring 2024 turkey shooting season, those hunting on private land will now be able to do so all day — from a half hour before sunrise until sunset. The shooting hours will remain the same on public land running from a half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.
Are deer carcasses threatening Missouri’s deer population?
“Improper disposal of deer carcasses can spread CWD, threatening Missouri’s deer population,” said Jason Isabelle, MDC Cervid Program supervisor. Isabelle said the current intrastate carcass transportation regulations required hunters who process their own deer to debone or quarter the animal prior to leaving a CWD Management Zone.