According to preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), young turkey hunters harvested 4,145 birds during the 2016 spring youth season, April 9-10. Top harvest counties were Callaway and Franklin with 105 birds harvested in each, and Greene with 88 birds harvested. Gasconade, Osage, and Saint Clair each came in next with 84 birds harvested. Young hunters checked 4,441 turkeys during last year’s youth weekend. For more information by county on the turkey harvest for spring youth season, visit MDC online at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.

Conservation makes Missouri a great place to turkey hunt. For more information on the upcoming regular spring turkey hunting season, April 18 – May 8, get a copy of the Department’s 2016 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet available where permits are sold or go online to the MDC Hunting section at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey.

Youth and adult hunters who harvest their first turkeys can have the accomplishment recognized through a special certificate from MDC, complete with photo. Learn more at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/trophies-certificates/certificates.

Hunters can brag a bit about their harvests by posting pics on the MDC Bragging Board at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/trophies-certificates/hunting-bragging-board.