Turkey hunting is a popular sport in Missouri that allows hunters to get outside and enjoy nature while pursuing a challenging game bird. But to have success during turkey season, hunters need to understand the different regulations, season dates, permitted methods, and more. This article provides a complete guide to turkey hunting seasons in Missouri so you can plan your hunt.
Overview of Turkey Seasons
There are three main turkey seasons in Missouri:
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Spring Turkey Season – This is the most popular turkey hunting season. It runs from mid-April to early May.
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Fall Archery Turkey Season – Runs from mid-September to mid-November, and again from late November through mid-January.
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Fall Firearms Turkey Season – Runs during the month of October
Within these seasons there are also special youth turkey hunting days in the Spring. Let’s look at the specifics of each season.
Spring Turkey Season
The Spring turkey season is highly anticipated by hunters in Missouri. Here are the key details:
Season Dates:
- Youth Season: April 6-7, 2024
- Regular Season: April 15 – May 5, 2024
Hours:
- Youth Season: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset
- Regular Season: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1 PM
Bag Limits:
- Youth Season: 1 male turkey with visible beard
- Regular Season: 2 male turkeys with visible beards. Only 1 can be harvested during the first week.
Permits
- Spring Turkey Hunting Permit required
Methods:
- Shotguns, archery, atlatls allowed. Recorded calls prohibited.
The Spring season offers great opportunity to hunt turkeys during the peak of their breeding season. The weather is warming up, vegetation is greening, and big toms are actively gobbling and looking to attract hens.
Fall Turkey Seasons
While the Spring season gets more attention, serious turkey hunters also look forward to the Fall season in Missouri. Here are the details:
Archery Season Dates:
- September 15 – November 15, 2024
- November 27, 2024 – January 15, 2025
Firearms Season Dates:
- October 1-31, 2024
Hours:
- 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset
Bag Limits:
- 2 turkeys either sex, both can be taken on the same day
Permits:
- Fall Firearms Turkey Permit or Archer’s Permit
Methods:
- Shotguns, archery, crossbows allowed.
The Fall season is a great time to fill your freezer with turkey meat before the winter. Turkeys form large flocks and can be patterned and hunted successfully. The weather is cool and insect pests are gone.
Youth Turkey Hunting Season
Missouri also provides special turkey hunting opportunity for youth hunters. Here are the key details on the youth season:
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For hunters age 6-15 on opening day
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Held on April 6-7, 2024
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Can harvest 1 male turkey with visible beard
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All Spring season methods and permits allowed
This season allows youth to hunt with less pressure from adult hunters. It helps introduce and recruit the next generation into this great outdoor tradition.
Where to Hunt Turkeys in Missouri
Missouri has excellent habitat for wild turkeys across most of the state. The highest turkey densities are found in the Ozark region where forests provide ideal mix of woods and open areas. But good numbers of birds can be found in prairie regions too if you hunt creek bottoms, woodlots, and field edges.
Public hunting areas that are well-known for turkeys include:
- Mark Twain National Forest
- Fort Leonard Wood
- Ozark National Scenic Riverways
- Mingo National Wildlife Refuge
But don’t overlook small tracts of public lands in your county. Scouting before the season will help locate where the birds are.
Tips for Hunting Turkeys in Missouri
Here are some tips to increase your success while turkey hunting in Missouri:
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Scout and pattern birds – Locate where they roost, travel, and feed to set up properly.
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Use decoys and calls – Attract birds into range but don’t overcall.
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Be patient – Plan for all day hunts. Movement peaks in early morning and late afternoon.
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Choose gear appropriately – Use camo, facemasks, and gloves to stay hidden.
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Play the wind – Turkeys have excellent eyesight and sense of smell.
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Be safe – Positively identify your target and what’s beyond it. Avoid wearing red, white and blue.
Missouri Turkey Hunting Regulations
When hunting turkeys, be sure to follow all regulations and laws:
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Must have appropriate hunting permits.
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Only hunt during legal seasons and hours.
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Follow methods rules – shot size, bow specs, etc.
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Obey bag limits for each season.
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Tag and Telecheck all harvested turkeys.
Violating turkey hunting laws can lead to fines, loss of hunting privileges, and even jail time. So be sure to review the regulations put out by the Missouri Department of Conservation each year.
Enjoying the Turkey Hunting Experience
Hunting wild turkeys in Missouri is about so much more than just harvesting birds. It’s a chance to spend time in nature, practice skills and woodsmanship, make memories with friends and family, and carry on an age-old outdoor tradition.
Following the tips and information in this guide will help you have success in the field. But remember to soak in the whole experience and enjoy your time as a Missouri turkey hunter.
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.