2010 Seasons

Find more hunting and fishing seasons

What’s New for 2010

Spring Turkey Outlook

Blame it on the weather if turkeys, especially younger ones, are harder to find this spring. For a third year in a row, the number of poults is low with 1.2 poults per hen counted. The good news is that the poult count was up in much of southern Missouri, but too much rain in the north diminished the rebound there. Several years of difficult weather account for much of the decline. Learn more >>

Next Generation of Conservation

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Whether your idea of outdoor fun is birding, hunting or fishing, you'll find timely tips and talk about it here. Send your comments and follow related links.

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Mentor Apprentice Hunters

Would you like to share those beautiful spring mornings in the turkey woods with a good friend or a spouse who has never hunted before? You know they would love it, but you can’t get them to invest the time to take the hunter education course.

To help introduce adults to hunting, the Conservation Department now allows hunters age 16 and older who are not hunter-ed certified to hunt with firearms, as long as they:

Note: The Apprentice Hunter Authorization allows the holder to purchase firearms permits throughout the permit year, and it can be purchased for two permit years. After the second year, the apprentice hunter will be required to become hunter-education certified if he or she wants to continue hunting on a firearms permit.

Missouri is a leader in hunter recruitment, and the Apprentice Hunter Authorization is just one more tool to help you share your hunting knowledge and tradition with your friends and family. Encourage your apprentices to attend a hunter education class or take the new online course available this summer before next year’s spring turkey season.

Youth Spring Turkey Hunting Season

Who May Participate:

The youth hunter must be:

Season Dates:

April 10 – April 11, 2010

Shooting Hours: 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset Central Daylight-Saving Time

Valid Permits:

Youth hunters must possess one of the three following permits:

Note: Landowner permits are valid only on the land for which they are issued.

Youth Season Limit:

One male turkey or turkey with visible beard. See restrictions below:

Regular Spring Turkey Hunting Season

Season Dates:

April 19 –May 9, 2010

Shooting Hours:

1/2 hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. Central Daylight-Saving Time

Valid Permits:

Permit Requirements:

Hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, must be hunter education certified to purchase a Resident or Nonresident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit. See "Hunter Education Certificate Requirement".

Season Limit:

Two male turkeys or turkeys with visible beard may be taken during the season, with the following restrictions:

NOTE: If you hunt during a managed hunt, season limits still apply.

Valid Permits
Permit Cost
Resident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit (age 16 and older)
New! age 6-15
$17
$8.50
Resident Landowner Spring Turkey Hunting Permit no cost
Nonresident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit (age 16 and older)
New! age 6-15
$190
$8.50

More information on permits for youth age 6-15.

Operation Game Thief - Remain Anonymous – Reward Possible

Help catch wildlife violators

Each year conservation agents spend time tracking down poachers who disregard regulations protecting wildlife. Here are some of the illegal activities that agents dealt with last year:

  • hunting from the road
  • disposing of carcasses and other body parts in streams, rivers, ponds and lakes
  • harvesting a deer or turkey and putting someone else’s transportation tag on it
  • using a spotlight to harvest deer or turkey

Dial toll-free 1-800-392-1111

Rewards are available for information leading to the arrest of game-law violators. Information can be provided anonymously by dialing the toll-free hotline number. All information is kept in strict confidence.

If you see a possible poaching violation in progress, immediately call your conservation agent, sheriff or the toll-free hotline number. Help put game thieves out of business.

Sponsored by the Conservation Federation of Missouri and the Missouri Department of Conservation.