Hunting & Trapping Seasons

Turkey: Spring: Youth (ages 6-15)

Season Not Open
Dates
April 1, 2023 to April 2, 2023
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Notes

Youth hunters who are age 6-15 on opening day may hunt.

Youth may also hunt during the regular Spring Turkey season.

Limits

One male turkey or turkey with visible beard
Youths who take a turkey during the youth season may not harvest a second bird until April 24. This is because the bird taken during the youth season counts as the first bird for the first week of the regular season.
 

Methods

Turkey: Spring: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotguns with shot not larger than No. 4

Longbows, recurve bows, or compound bows. Hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quick point sights are allowed.

Crossbows

Atlatls

Turkey: Spring: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined

Shot larger than No. 4 (in use or in possession)

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.

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Turkey: Spring

Season Not Open
Dates
April 17, 2023 to May 7, 2023
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.

Limits

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

  • You may take only one turkey during the first week
  • If you do not take one during the first week, then you may take two turkeys during the second and third week.
  • You may not take two turkeys on the same day.
Methods

Turkey: Spring: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotguns with shot not larger than No. 4

Longbows, recurve bows, or compound bows. Hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quick point sights are allowed.

Crossbows

Atlatls

Turkey: Spring: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined

Shot larger than No. 4 (in use or in possession)

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.

Learn more about the species

Turkey: Archery

Season Not Open
Dates
September 15, 2023 to November 10, 2023
November 22, 2023 to January 15, 2024
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Limits

Two turkeys of either sex, both may be taken on the same day

Methods

Turkey: Archery: Allowed Methods

Methods

Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight

Crossbows

Hand-held string-releasing devices

Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights

Atlatls

Crossbows

Turkey: Archery: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Use of electronic calls, electronically activated calls, bait, dogs, or night vision equipment

Live decoys may not be used to take turkeys.

Archers hunting deer or turkeys during the archery season may not be in possession of a firearm. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.432 and 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

Learn more about the species

Turkey: Fall Firearms

Season Not Open
Dates
October 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to sunset

Notes

Fall firearms turkey hunting is not permitted in Dunklin, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid, Newton, Pemiscot, and Scott counties.

Limits

Two turkeys of either sex, both may be taken on the same day

Methods

Turkey: Fall Firearms: Allowed Methods

Methods

Shotguns (including .410) with shot not larger than No. 4

Longbows, compound bows, or recurve bows of any draw weight

Crossbows

Atlatls

Hand-held string-release devices

Illuminated sights, scopes and quickpoint sights

Turkey: Fall Firearms: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells in magazine and chamber combined

Shot larger than No. 4 (in use or possession)

Rifles, pistols, and other firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Night vision / thermal imagery equipment

Use of electronic calls, electronically activated calls, live decoys, bait, or dogs

Anyone hunting turkeys during the fall firearms turkey season may not be in possession of both a firearm and a bow. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

Learn more about the species

Turkey: Archery

Season Not Open
Dates
September 15, 2023 to November 10, 2023
November 22, 2023 to January 15, 2024
Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset

Limits

Two turkeys of either sex, both may be taken on the same day

Methods

Turkey: Archery: Allowed Methods

Methods

Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight

Crossbows

Hand-held string-releasing devices

Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights

Atlatls

Crossbows

Turkey: Archery: Prohibited Methods

Methods

Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game

Use of electronic calls, electronically activated calls, bait, dogs, or night vision equipment

Live decoys may not be used to take turkeys.

Archers hunting deer or turkeys during the archery season may not be in possession of a firearm. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.432 and 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.

Learn more about the species