Missouri Turkey Hunting

The Hunt

Fall and spring season Missouri turkey hunting on private land for self guided hunts only.

The Short Answer Of How It Works

Association hunters have access to an online map library of all Association private hunting land. Each spot is numbered. Turkey hunters may scout and hunt as many flocks as they have time to develop. Land access is after a telephone reservation to insure hunter separation. Lodging is by local motel.

Where Missouri Turkey Hunting Is Best

This Association does not run a hunting lodge. That means we do not need to have hunting land within close driving distance of any lodge. We make the entire state available to us for where to acquire hunting lease land. When it comes time to spend that lease money we do so where we get the most return.

For Missouri look through colored lenses separating Missouri's Ozark region (forested) from that of its agricultural region. Each of these Missouri regions offers two different types of hunting based on the topography local to each.

The more common Eastern Turkey habitat of the large woods allowing run and gun or ridge runner techniques can be easily found in the southern Missouri Ozark Mountains where the woodlands are as thick as any and the country rolling to cliff steep. This region has good turkey counts. Many hunters will be pleased (exception being public land hunters and the hunt mentality that follows) with the large tracks of public land available most notably the Mark Twain National Forest, of easy and free access.

Association Hunting Land

Less well known through the USA and very well known by Missouri residents are the large turkey flocks of bigger birds to be found in the food rich agricultural regions. The added bonus of this northern Missouri area is the ability to scout via binoculars, the ability to work a roost/flock in addition to a single gobbler. The best part is the thrill of being able to watch far more easier and for a longer period of time the tom being worked.

That thrill alone of having eyes on a tom slowly working his way to the hunter's setup across open land often being as long as 40 to 60 minutes makes for both thrill and anxiety. It is one thing to hear a gobble through the trees of an unseen tom and estimate its location. It is quite another to be able to watch that tom and see what he is doing when the gobble is heard. A great learning experience to see how the tom ignores the hunter for a hen or hangs up just out of range. All these behaviors occur in both the mountain and agricultural regions. However, in the mountain region it is often unseen.

What distinguishes these two Missouri regions beyond their topography is the quality of hunt experience the wild turkey hunter wants to achieve. Mature toms may be effectively harvested in both north and south Missouri. The difference is the quality or thrill of the hunt and as stated earlier avoidance of public land hunter mentality.

All who want to turkey hunt for free on public land will find thousands of acres to do so in Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest. That is like public land is everywhere inherent in the competitive, beat the other guy, hunting mentality.

Most of us have had the experiences of public lands where in spite of every precaution taken every hunt is impacted upon by other hunters. To go to any Missouri public lands during the three week spring turkey season is to accept that other hunters will be seen every day. To expect otherwise is to be foolish. The converse is true for the mostly private land northern Missouri agricultural region.

Within the northern farming region heavily composed of large grain corn and soybean row crop the vast majority of land is privately owned. Public land greatly limited with the largest public lands dedicated to waterfowl habitat. Duck hunting is big business in Missouri and a far greater state income generator than spring turkey season. The northern Missouri frustration is to find a place to hunt. Just as places to hunt are limited so are the number of hunters. Less hunters also means less educated birds.

This is where the hunter seeks private land permission by knocking on doors to find acreage, hopes that acreage has a flock and that when he hunts all the others the landowner gave permission to hunt also don't show up. The next option is to pay for a private lease and wait and see if the turkeys come. The third option is a guide service that does all the work for the hunter and simply sets him in place for a fee. That of course fails to meet the do it yourself turkey hunt test requirement most turkey hunters seek above all else. The fourth option is our approach to turkey hunts. Specifically for the self guided hunter that seeks the quality of the hunt above all else.

Average hunters seeking a quality hunt.

Missouri Turkey Hunting Highlights

A three week spring season

Spring season is mornings only, ending at 1 PM leaving plenty of time for afternoon scouting for either more turkey or deer and some fishing.

A hunter's education certification is required for all those born on or after January 1, 1967.

The largest turkey population and harvest rate in the nation. Regulations require all toms to be checked-in at a state certified check-in station or the newer online system. These check-in stations are readily identifiable and numerous throughout the state frequently co-located at a gas stations, sporting goods store, bait shop, etc.

The highest scoring toms.

Two OTC spring tags, also online purchase. Missouri spring season limit is two birds. Only one tom may be harvested in the first week of the season and only one tom per day up to the limit of two for the season after the first week of the season.

Limited public land in the better flock turkey region of northern Missouri.