The spring turkey season is upon us and a great way to enjoy the outdoors this spring. I have had a few calls this year about the season and there are a few changes to this year’s season compared to previous seasons. The season kicks off with the youth season April 11-12, and the regular spring turkey season starts on April 20 and lasts until May 10.

A spring turkey hunting permit is needed to hunt turkeys, or to assist another hunting turkeys. A resident spring turkey permit, a resident landowner spring turkey permit, a youth spring turkey permit, and a non-resident landowner spring turkey permit are offered to fill this requirement. To be eligible for landowner permits, you must submit your property using the landowner permit application before attempting to obtain your landowner permits. Please go to huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/permits/qualifications-landowner-permits for further information on landowner permits and to sign up for landowner permits.

Shooting hours for the regular season have not changed and are from one half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. Central Daylight Time on public lands and one half hour before sunrise to sunset on private ground. During youth season, shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to sunset on all lands. Two male turkeys or turkeys with a visible beard may be taken during the season. You may only take one turkey during the first week from April 20-26 and only one bird may be harvested per day to a total of two birds for the season. The youth season previously was considered to be part of the first week of the season. This year, a youth may take a bird during the youth season and harvest a bird during the first week of the regular season. Also new this year, hunters using a Non-Resident Spring Turkey Hunting permit may harvest only one bird. This regulation also includes non-resident youth hunters

Wild turkeys may only be pursued and taken with shotguns with shot not larger than No. 4. longbows, recurve bows, or compound bows may be used. Hand-held string-releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights are allowed on archery equipment. Crossbows and atlatls can also be used to take turkeys.

The following are prohibited from use and possession while turkey hunting: Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined; shot larger than No. 4; rifles and pistols; firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge; any sighting device that case a beam of light on game; thermal imagery equipment or night vision; recorded calls; the use of dogs or live decoys; the use of bait.

When you kill a turkey or injure a turkey, you must make a reasonable effort to retrieve an include in your season limit, but retrieval does not authorize trespassing. When you harvest a turkey, you must immediately notch your permit on either a physical copy of the permit or on the MOHunt smartphone application. Do not notch the permit until you have harvested your turkey. The animal must be checked prior to 10 p.m. A turkey needs to be checked before 10 p.m. if a person is: removing the head or plumage, removing the turkey from Missouri or giving the turkey to another person.

After checking, turkeys may be possessed and transported by anyone, but must be labeled with the taker’s full name and address, or conservation number, date taken, and telecheck confirmation number.

Please have a good and safe turkey season. Hunt defensively and keep in mind others may trespass or be on the property you are hunting. Please identify your quarry and only shoot at a positively identified bird. If a hunting incident does occur, please notify your local conservation agent or the sheriff’s department. Render aid to the individual injured. Leaving the scene of a hunting incident is a crime.

If you have any wildlife related questions or information, please call me, Conservation Agent Norman Steelman at 573-473-8000. Local agent contacts statewide may be found at mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/local-mdc-contacts.