According to preliminary data from Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), young turkey hunters harvested 1,723 turkeys during the 2018 spring youth season during April 7 and 8. The total was much lower than more than 4,000 birds killed in 2017.
According to MDC, top harvest counties were Franklin with 51 turkeys harvested, Miller with 43 and Maries with 43.
In the KMMO listening area, Cooper County led the way with 13 birds harvested, followed by 12 in Pettis, 10 in Chariton, nine in Carroll and Howard, and seven in Lafayette and Saline counties.
MDC’s Turkey Biologist, Jason Isabelle, says the drop in harvest can be attributed mostly to unseasonably cold temperatures this weekend and for much of spring thus far.
For more information on the upcoming regular spring turkey hunting season during April 16-May 6, get a copy of MDC’s 2018 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold, or visit the website, huntfish.mdc.mo.gov.