Missouri turkey hunters brought home a banner season this spring, harvesting a total of 51,011 birds—the state’s highest spring turkey harvest since 2006. According to preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), 46,562 birds were harvested during the regular spring season (April 21 – May 11), with an additional 4,449 taken during the youth turkey hunting weekend held April 12–13.
The top harvest counties this season were Franklin (956 birds), Callaway (873), and Texas (860), continuing their trend as productive regions for turkey hunters.
MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Nick Oakley credited the boost in harvest numbers to strong wild turkey production in 2023. “Great production in 2023 resulted in a large population of adult gobblers this year,” said Oakley. “This led to an 8% increase in the overall harvest compared to last year.”
By comparison, the 2024 spring season saw 47,119 turkeys harvested statewide. The youth season alone improved significantly, with over 700 more birds harvested this year than last.
MDC encourages continued efforts to enhance nesting and brooding habitats to support future success in turkey hunting across the state. For detailed county-by-county harvest data and more information on turkey hunting in Missouri, visit mdc.mo.gov.
