General Information for 2012 Spring Turkey Hunters
Wild turkeys may be pursued, taken, killed, possessed or transported only as outlined in this booklet. For complete hunting regulations, refer to the Wildlife Code of Missouri.
Shooting Hours:
1/2 hour before sunrise to 1 p.m. Central Daylight-Saving Time
Methods:
The following are allowed during the spring firearms turkey hunting season:
- a shotgun with shot not larger than No. 4
- a longbow or compound bow. Hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes and quick point sights are allowed.
The following are prohibited:
- shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined
- shot larger than No. 4 (in use or in possession)
- a bow fastened to a stock or other device that maintains the bow in a drawn position
- any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
- thermal imagery equipment or night vision equipment (in use or in possession)
- recorded calls (in use or in possession)
- use of dogs or live decoys
- use of bait, which includes grain or other feed placed or scattered so as to attract turkeys. An area is considered baited for 10 days even after complete removal of the bait. A hunter can be in violation even if he or she did not know an area was or is baited. It is illegal to place bait in a way that causes others to be in violation of the baiting rule.
Voiding the Permit:
Hunters who harvest a turkey must void their permit immediately by notching the month and day of harvest.
Tagging and Checking:
All turkeys must be tagged immediately after harvest and checked by 10 p.m. on the day taken using the Telecheck system.
Safety Sticker Requirement:
All hunters using a shotgun must affix the “Be Safe” sticker to the receiver of their gun so it will be in their line of sight when shooting. The sticker must be maintained on the gun while hunting. Stickers are available at permit vendors and Conservation Department offices.
Note:
- Any hunter who kills or injures a turkey must make a reasonable effort to retrieve and include it in their season limit, but this does not authorize trespass.
- It is a violation to wantonly leave, abandon or waste commonly edible portions of game.
- Anyone using a turkey call to assist another hunter must be properly licensed with either a filled or unfilled spring turkey hunting permit.
Hunter Education Requirement
All hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, and hunting with a Resident or Nonresident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit must complete an approved hunter-education program and display their card before they can purchase a firearms turkey hunting permit unless:
- they first purchase an Apprentice Hunter Authorization.
- they are ages 6–15 and will be hunting with a qualified mentor.
- They failed to pass the hunter-education certification tests due to a developmental disability.
Hunters do not need to show their hunter-education card if certification can be verified electronically. Most hunters who use the e-Permits System will have their certification verified online. If this is not possible, some hunters will need to contact the Department to provide proof of hunter-education certification. Once in the database, hunters won’t have to submit this information again.
A person must be at least 11 years old to receive hunter-education certification. Hunters using a Resident Landowner Spring Turkey Hunting Permit are exempt from the hunter-education requirement unless they were born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, and are mentoring a firearms hunter who is not hunter-education certified.
How Turkey Season is Set
The formula for setting spring turkey season strikes a balance between the biology of turkey reproduction and hunters’ desires for an earlier season, especially in southern Missouri. As a result, the season begins on the third Monday in April, which moves the average opening date up three days from what it was six years ago.
The youth season opens nine days before the regular season, except when that would make it fall over the Easter weekend. In those cases, the season begins the weekend before Easter.
Cloud Cover, Rain Affect Gobbling
Turkeys are more likely to gobble on days with clear skies, according to a statewide study conducted in 2010. The average number of gobbles observed diminished with the amount of cloud cover. This means that you probably will hear fewer birds if you are hunting on overcast days than if the sun was shining.
Also, gobbling frequency decreased the day after a rain by almost 75 percent. Therefore, your best bet for preseason scouting is to listen for gobbling on a sunny morning following a dry night.
Coyotes
Coyotes may not be chased, pursued or taken during daylight hours from April 1 through April 15. They may not be hunted at all from April 16 through May 6.
Help Stop Feral Hogs
Feral hogs destroy wildlife habitat, compete with native wildlife for food, and spread diseases to people, pets and livestock. They are a menace that must be eradicated.
A feral hog is defined as any hog, including Russian and European wild boar, that is not conspicuously identified by ear tags or other identification and is roaming freely on public or private land without the landowner’s permission.
It is illegal to release feral hogs on public land or on private land that is not fenced to contain them. If you see someone releasing hogs, report them immediately to your local conservation agent or call Operation Game Thief toll free at 1-800-392-1111.
The Conservation Department discourages anyone from hunting specifically for feral hogs because hunters’ activities interfere with the Department’s efforts to eradicate these pests. However, if you are afield for other game and encounter a feral hog, shoot it on sight! If you kill a feral hog on public land or on private land where you have permission to hunt, you are not liable if someone later claims to own the animal.
During the youth and spring turkey hunting seasons, to kill feral hogs you must:
- possess a valid, unfilled turkey hunting permit
- only use methods allowed for taking turkeys.
Note: Resident landowners on land they own and lessees on land they reside on may use any method to take feral hogs at any time without any permit.
If you see a feral hog, notify any of the following:
- Nearest Conservation Department regional office
- State veterinarian’s office at 573-751-3377
- USDA Wildlife Services at 573-449-3033.
With your help, we can eliminate these dangerous, destructive pests from Missouri.
Revocation of Hunting Privileges
Note: According to rule 3 CSR 10-5.216 of the Wildlife Code, if you have been convicted of multiple or major violations of the Wildlife Code in the past five years, the Conservation Commission may consider suspending or revoking your hunting, trapping and/or fishing privileges regardless of any previous court action. The point system the Commission uses to assess Wildlife Code violations is explained at mdc.mo.gov.
