| For those of us who have been biding our time | | | | more hours spent hunting on these days, |
| waiting for the next "big hunting event", Spring | | | | obviously the greater your chances to bag a |
| turkey season is right around the corner. We | | | | gobbler. In summary, even though the numbers |
| have been filling our time with some small game | | | | are a bit down, if we have a nice season of |
| hunting and many excursions to Ozark trout | | | | weather, harvest numbers may be solid. This will |
| streams to fill the time, but now we are really | | | | also lead to better future prospects for turkey |
| getting geared up (literally and figuratively) for | | | | hunting. |
| Spring turkey season. It seems like it is a time | | | | For residents in Missouri, the permit cost for |
| where we feel the nice Spring weather is upon | | | | licenses this year is $17 for adults and $8.50 for |
| us, and almost as an unjust bonus, we also get to | | | | youths (ages 6-15). For non-residents, the permit |
| embark on one of our favorite seasons of the | | | | costs are $190 and $8.50 respectively. The |
| year. | | | | resident landowner permit is no charge. For |
| Here in Missouri, the Spring turkey season for | | | | further information on permits and hunter safety |
| youth is April 10th and 11th, followed by the | | | | courses, visit the Missouri Department of |
| regular Spring turkey season which runs from | | | | Conservation (MDC) website. |
| April 19th to May 9th. For the regular Spring | | | | There are excellent prospects in Missouri for |
| turkey season, it is not an accident that the | | | | hunting turkeys on public land. Missouri is blessed |
| season does not start on a weekend. The idea is | | | | with two major public hunting venues. The MDC |
| to start the season on a day where hunting | | | | manages many conservation areas statewide. |
| pressure will be more spread out. The primary | | | | Mark Twain National Forest has vast tracts of |
| number one focus for all hunters should be safety. | | | | land where with a bit of research and scouting, |
| Since turkey hunters are clad in camo, there is | | | | hunters can often find good areas to hunt almost |
| already an extra embedded danger. Spreading out | | | | alone. A good place to begin a research endeavor |
| the pressure helps just a bit with this factor. We | | | | into these areas is through the Hunting Section at |
| encourage all hunters, even those where they are | | | | Family-Outdoors. There are articles for scouting |
| not required to do so, to attend a hunter safety | | | | on public lands, databases of information on |
| course. These courses will make the woods safer | | | | conservation areas, and a thorough rundown of |
| for all of us, and as a bonus, you often attend a | | | | many of the tracts of Mark Twain National |
| class where there are experienced turkey (and | | | | Forest. There are also tips for hunting Spring |
| deer) hunters who are more than willing to share | | | | turkeys. |
| there knowledge. It can actually be fun if | | | | One of our favorite aspects of the Spring turkey |
| approached with the right mind set. Often, folks | | | | season in Missouri is one that some hunters don't |
| form hunting friendships at these courses that last | | | | like. We like the morning hunt only aspect of the |
| long thereafter. | | | | Spring turkey season in Missouri. We hunt as a |
| The outlook for turkeys in Missouri, as well as | | | | family, and the morning hunt is followed by an |
| many other Midwestern areas is not strong | | | | afternoon of relaxation and time to just sit |
| relative to more recent frames of reference. Cold | | | | around camp and visit. Often, the weather is nice |
| and wet conditions have somewhat, but not | | | | and there's little to rival in our book, a warm |
| dramatically, lowered some turkey populations. | | | | afternoon nap in one of Missouri's beautiful |
| This should not be too discouraging. Often, an | | | | wilderness areas. If one or more of us has |
| even bigger factor than how the weather has | | | | tagged a tom, all the better. We sincerely hope |
| affected turkey numbers, is how the weather | | | | your Spring turkey season hunt is a great one for |
| impacts our ability (or desire) to get out in the | | | | you! |
| woods. The more mornings you are out and the | | | | |