Turkey hunters asked to weigh in on proposed changes to MO turkey hunting season

JEFFERSON, Mo. (KBSI) – Turkey hunters are asked to provide input for potential changes for spring and fall wild turkey hunting seasons.

This includes all day spring hunting and reduced harvest limits for fall seasons.

Missouri’s spring turkey hunting season was planned to start after the peak of turkey breeding. Research has shown that the current season structure and reproductive ecology of turkeys has lead to low harvest rates on juvenile and adult gobblers, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

MDC is considering changes that will increase in the total number of the males harvested each spring.

“Extending shooting hours during the spring season may expand the opportunity for individuals to take up turkey hunting or offer more time for others to return to the field while maintaining a healthy turkey population,” said MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Nick Oakley.

Additionally, MDC is considering changes to the fall turkey hunting regulations to balance the well being of turkeys and maximize hunting opportunities.

Turkey hunters can go online to mdc.mo.gov/turkey-regs for more information on potential regulation changes and to provide comment.

The comment period closes Oct. 6.

The webpage also has information on the history and structure of Missouri turkey hunting and possible effects of regulation changes on turkey numbers and hunter opportunities.