As we gear up for the Missouri Turkey Season 2024, outdoor enthusiasts can look forward to ample opportunities to pursue their game during both the spring and fall. The youth section of the spring begins on April 6, while the regular period begins on April 15. Additionally, October 1 marks the start of the fall firearms.
This page contains all the pertinent details about schedule, including times, registration requirements, legal hunting areas, and rules.
Missouri Turkey Season
Turkey game is legal in Missouri from April until the end of October. During the half-hour before sunrise to 1:00 PM, hunting is allowed. Any bird, regardless of gender, may be taken in October during the fall.
Youth
| Spring Youth Portion | April 6-7 |
Regular Spring
| April 15 – May 5 |
Fall
| Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Fall Firearms | Oct. 1 – Oct. 31 |
| Archery | Sept. 15 – Nov. 15 |
| Nov. 27 – Jan. 15, 2025 |
Bag Limits
| Type | Bag Limit | Male or Visible Beard | Note |
| Youth Spring | 1 | Yes | First bird of the regular season is from youth season |
| Regular Spring | 2 | Yes | • During 1st week: 1 turkey • During 2nd and 3rd weeks: 2 turkeys if none taken in the 1st week • 2 turkeys on the same day prohibited |
| Fall | 2 | Either | Can take both turkeys on the same day |
License Fees
| License Type | Spring Permit | Permit |
| Resident | $17 | $10 |
| Non-Resident | $190 | $100 |
| Youth | $8 | $8 |
Note:
- Landowner Fee: For those who own at least 75 acres, it’s free or significantly discounted.
- Second Bird (Shotgun): Archery second birds are free, while shotgun second birds cost $200.
Best Game Locations
| Location | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Missouri River Breaks | A mixture of steep hills, dense forests, and wide meadows; home to a healthy community of wild turkeys |
| Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge | Vast sanctuary offering a genuine forest adventure |
| Pershing State Park | Marshes, grasslands, and woodlands combined |
| Ozark National Scenic Riverways | Contains varied habitats on over 80,000 acres of public property, making it an ideal home for turkeys. |
| Peck Ranch Conservation Area | A mixture of savannas, glades, and forests |
| Rocky Creek Conservation Area | Oak farms, woods, and glades covering more than 7,000 acres |
| Mark Twain National Forest | Huge tracts of oak and hickory woods; good excellent turkey habitat |
| Cedar Creek District | There are many glades, woods, and savannas. |
| Houston/Rolla District | Large oak-hickory woodlands; Prime turkey habitat |
Tagging & Transportation
The hunter does not need to affix their cut permit to the captured game if they choose to remain with it, but they should always retain the license on them. If they abandon the bird, the hunter must fasten the permit to the turkey’s limb. The Telecheck page contains more details on correctly identifying and examining the bird.
It is unlawful to purposefully discard any part of the game frequently consumed as sustenance after a successful search. The wildlife that hunters acquire and carry must be kept apart from other hunters’ nature and packed in their personal luggage. Wildlife should be correctly documented with the hunter’s complete name, location, date of capture, and telecheck confirmation number for turkeys or permit number and type for other wildlife. It may be kept at their residence, camp, place of accommodation, or in a business institution. The hunter must include the date the animal was captured when moving animals.
Regulations
- Ages of 6 and 15 are eligible to participate in the spring game.
- Mentors helping young hunters during spring and weapons deer seasons do not need a pass. Mentors must have a legal hunting pass or be exempt otherwise. Deer and fowl guide passes are optional.
- 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. Hunting over a cleared food area is legal, but adding oats or fruit is not. Finally, mowing or destroying farms does not lure birds.
- Hunter must instantly void their permit by writing the month and day of capture.
- Hunters cannot use automated guns. Only.22-caliber rimfire rifles or shotguns with No. 4 ammo can be used for bird hunting. Take poultry without poisons, tranquillizers, toxins, or explosives.
- Hunters cannot drive, take, or molest poultry with motorized vehicles. If the power is off and the boat stops moving, a speedboat can be used to hunt birds. Except for landlords, lessees, and farm workers, ATVs are banned. Except for limited instances, all-terrain vehicles are forbidden in conservation areas, and other vehicles are confined to dirt and paved roads and designated parking areas unless otherwise marked.
- Using artificial lights is prohibited. Night vision or thermal imagery equipment cannot be used except for taking coyotes from February 1 to March 31 in conjunction with other legal methods, killing feral swine by landowners or their authorized representatives on the landowner’s property, or with written authorization from a department agent.
- Mouth and hand calls are allowed. Can also be pursued with artificial cries. Except when chasing coyotes from February 1 to March 31 with other legal methods, electronic interjections cannot be used with artificial light or night-vision devices. Dogs cannot hunt poultry.
- If federal rules allow, turkey bones, necks, and feet can be bought, sold, or bartered. Bear gallbladders cannot be sold, moved, or given away. When buying or selling turkey, a bill of sale must include the seller’s name, address, amount and type of parts, and the buyer’s name and address. Gifts must be stamped with the giver’s name, address, permit number, breed, and date.
- To protect hunters and animals, hunters must obey certain laws. Hunters must not damage furbearer dens or eggs. Hunter orange is suggested and sometimes needed for safety, except for birds, floodwaters, and fires, ban hunting. Firearms, bows, and crossbows cannot be used to shoot animals from public roadways. A Conibear-type trap can be used near public roads if submerged in stable seas.
- Cannot use dogs; types, hours, and places are restricted. During closed seasons, only a gun with inert ammo can teach dogs during daytime hours. Dogs must wear ID tags and stalk but not kill animals during training.
- Ethical hunters regard the earth and others. This includes getting landlord approval, knowing property limits, washing and caring for the game, and reporting law breaches. Hunters should also learn and teach others while following animal laws and gun safety. They should also recover and use all games, honor the land and animals, and show captured games sensitively. Hunting is not a competition.
FAQ
When does the Missouri Spring Turkey Hunting season begin and end?
The youth days will occur on April 6 and 7, and the Missouri Spring regular season will run from April 15 to May 5.
What is the bag limit for turkeys during the Missouri Spring season?
One bearded or male turkey may be taken in one sack during the Missouri Spring season.
Can I hunt turkey during flooding in southeast Missouri?
In certain flood-prone regions of southeast Missouri, you are prohibited from taking any animals during the spring and fall seasons, except birds. For the most up-to-date information on which regions are available or restricted to shooting, consult the river gauge map.
