Save Missouri's Wild Turkeys! Reverse All Day Hunting Back to 1:00 P.M. Close!

Turkey populations and harvest numbers have been on the decline for several years in Missouri. Whilst neighboring states made changes in 2024 to help fight the population issues for the better, the MDC has made it their prerogative to draw more revenue at the cost of wild turkey. All day hunting will result in even steeper populations declines. Research conducted in other states has also demonstrated a direct correlation between hunting pressure and wild turkey habits, including gobbling and roost selection.

By extending shooting hours to all day hunting, the MDC will see a boost in permit sales, creating more revenue. Since the peak of turkey numbers in the early 2000s, permits bought have decreased 28.1%. (2003 compared to 2019). Instead of trying to build back the turkeys to draw more permit sales, they merely (in essence) made the season longer.

Stand up to the MDC and be the voice for wild turkeys. Not only for the present, but for the future generations of hunters in Missouri. 

Below are the harvest numbers from 2003-2023 for the spring turkey season in Missouri.

2023-44,543

2022-33,359

2021-34,595

2020-41,454

2019-38,776

2018-35,787

2017-43,356

2016-48,374

2015-48,432

2014-47,601

2013-46,766

2012-44,766

2011-42,220

2010-46,194

2009-44,713

2008-46,134

2007-48,472

2006-54,712

2005-57,743

2004-60,744

2003-58,421

I expect to see an increase in harvest numbers in 2024-2025, and possibly 2026, followed by a decline in harvest totals in the years to follow.

Below I have attached links to three different articles. The third article being the most intriguing. 

https://seafwa.org/sites/default/files/journal-articles/MILLER-352-361.pdf

https://wildturkeylab.com/gobbling-chronology-of-eastern-wild-turkeys-in-south-carolina/ 

https://www.northamericanwildlifeandhabitat.com/missouri-wild-turkey.html