The 2015 spring turkey season is open from April 20-May 10. Season limits consist of two male turkeys or turkeys with a visible beard, with restrictions of one turkey in the week of April 20-26. If you did not take a turkey during the first week, you may take two in the remainder of the season, but they may not be taken on the same day. Likewise, youth hunters who harvested a bird during the Youth Spring Turkey Season (April 11-12) may not take a turkey during the first week. Legal shooting hours during the regular season are limited to a half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.
A proper Spring Turkey Hunting Permit is required before going afield to hunt. Permits must be immediately notched with the correct day and month after harvesting a turkey. All turkeys must be telechecked by 10 p.m. on day taken and the telecheck conformation number written on the permit.
Methods are limited to shotguns, with shot not larger than no. 4 and not capable of holding more than three shot shells in the magazine and chamber combined, archery equipment, crossbows, and atlatls.
Coyotes may not be chased, pursued, or taken during daylight hours from April 1-19. However, a new regulation change regarding coyotes in turkey season is now in effect. During the regular spring turkey season, coyotes may be taken using legal spring turkey hunting methods by hunters holding an unfilled spring turkey hunting permit and a Resident Small Game Hunting Permit or a Nonresident Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Permit.
Lastly, turkeys may not be taken with the aid of bait, electronic calls, artificial light, dogs, or single-projectile firearms.
Turkey season offers a great opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy Missouri's natural beauty. Whether it's morel mushrooms, or just the freshly budded woodlands you encounter while hunting, be sure to take a moment to appreciate it. Far too much time is spent on computers, cell phones and indoors by humans these days. Getting outside is the reset that is needed, especially after the long cold winter months.
Finally, hunters and non-hunters alike should take the utmost care and responsibility during turkey season. Camouflaged hunters who are turkey calling mixed with increased outdoor recreation and trespassing activity can cause conflicts and have unintended consequences. Do not assume you are the only one in the woods, even on private land. While hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities, there were two fatal and six nonfatal firearms-related hunting incidents during the 2014 spring turkey season. Simple carelessness and failure to positively identify game can result in tragedy. Don't make the same mistakes those hunters made.
If you have questions about spring turkey hunting or any other related issue, please feel free to call me.
Nathaniel Hodges is the Conservation Agent for Moniteau County he can be reached at 573-864-9814.