Missouri’s youth turkey season is this weekend

Missouri’s youth turkey season, for young hunters age 6-15, will go on as planned this weekend, despite what the myriad of bogus posts on Facebook and elsewhere may tell you.

“The recent rumor on Facebook that Missouri’s spring turkey season has been canceled is just that ... a rumor,” said Department of Conservation News Services Coordinator Joe Jerek. “Don’t believe everything you see on social media.”

Instead, Jerek urges people “go to trusted sources for accurate information. Visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov” or visit the department’s own social media pages “for accurate information on hunting and fishing from a trusted source.”

Also, both U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Mark Twain National Forest lands remain open to hunting, despite some fake claims on Facebook.

The only thing closed on Corps land, said Wappapello Lake Project Manager Bart Dearborn, is the campgrounds and playgrounds.

Staff at Clearwater Lake reported Tuesday that playgrounds there remain open, but could close soon.

“Nothing has changed” as far as the Forest Service is concerned, I was told by a representative at the Poplar Bluff Ranger District office. “We’re still open to recreational activity anywhere on the forest.”

Just as other agencies have done, the U.S. Forest Service has closed its campgrounds.

Youth Season

The youth turkey season will run from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset local time on both Saturday and Sunday. That’s different from the regular spring season, where hunters must quit for the day at 1 p.m.

The limit, as in the past, is one male or bearded turkey during the youth season, and if successful, the youngster cannot take another bird until the second week of the regular season.

Hunters age 11-15 can hunt alone if they have been hunter-education certified, otherwise, they must hunt in the immediate presence of a mentor who is certified.

It’s important to remember the youth must be able to hold, aim and fire the shotgun themselves while hunting.

Permit requirements are listed in the free “2020 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information” booklet, available at permit vendors or online at MDC’s website.

The weekend weather forecast doesn’t look especially promising for youth hunters, but you’ve got to go when given the chance.

Both Saturday and Sunday look to be potentially rainy, but at least not windy. If you can stay dry and comfortable, rainy days can be pretty darn good times to kill a gobbler. Just remember, for youngsters, it’s all about comfort.

Birds have been gobbling for a while, though not particularly long in the mornings.

With poor production the last few years, it’s important hunters and their mentors go into the field with realistic expectations.

This season, probably more than any others lately, promises to be a tough one. There are pockets with decent populations, but overall, turkey numbers are down, and, unless you’re very lucky, you’re going to have to work to have success.