According to preliminary data from Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), young turkey hunters harvested 2,540 turkeys during the 2019 spring youth season, Saturday and Sunday.
Top harvest counties were Franklin with 61 turkeys harvested, Laclede with 56 and Texas with 52. The breakdown in the county was 48 adults, three juvenile gobblers and one bearded hen.
Warm weather and sunny skies helped increase this year’s youth-weekend harvest over last year’s where young hunters checked 1,729 turkeys.
Spring turkey hunting continues with the upcoming regular spring turkey hunting season April 15 through May 5. For more information on spring turkey hunting, get a copy of MDC’s 2019 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold, or online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/spring-turkey-hunting-regulations-and-information.
Hunters who harvest their first turkey can have the accomplishment recognized through a special certificate from MDC, complete with a photo. Learn more at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/trophies-certificates/certificates.