More than 36,000 turkeys were bagged throughout Missouri in the spring of 2022, a slight increase from the previous year.
Hunters around the Ozarks hope the upswing continues when the state's turkey season opens on Monday, April 17 and concludes on May 7.
Wild turkey populations in Missouri and neighboring states have dwindled in recent years due to low-quality nesting, increased predators, and several other factors. The Missouri Department of Conservation believes this spring season could be potentially fruitful because of an increased sightings of large flocks this past winter.
The two-day youth turkey season on April 1-2 saw young hunters harvest 2,550 Missouri turkeys, a drop from 2022 ( 2,881).