Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 2,771 birds over the youth weekend, April 10 and 11.

Top harvest counties were Miller with 73 birds checked, Texas with 71 and Callaway with 68.

In the KMMO listening area, Cooper and Howard tied for the top spot among counties with 25 birds checked. They were followed by Chariton with 23, Lafayette with 21, Saline with 19, Carroll with 14 and Pettis with 13.

Young hunters checked 2,712 turkeys during the 2020 spring youth weekend.

Photo: Young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 2,771 birds over the past youth weekend, April 10 and 11. They included Colten Scheulen, age 13, who harvested this bird on private land in Miller County. (Photo provided by the Missouri Department of Conservation)