2023 Spring Missouri Wild Missouri 3 Week Season
Ranks 17 - Total – Preliminary 41,970
1988 - The major objective in Missouri’s Turkey Season has been to provide maximum hunting opportunity COMMENSURATE with the population’s ABILITY to SUSTAIN harvest. Leopold, Lewis, Kurzejeski, and Vangilder the fathers of wild turkey management in Missouri. Too bad you threw science out.
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2021 – Goal is Maximum hunting opportunity and hunter retention. – “Anything that threatens that will never be consider from the regulations committee”
Now the truth Missouri Wild Turkey Season so fragile, that the 2023 BEST MISSOURI HUNTING WEATHER which was mentioned press release, still could get the numbers even close to where they were in 2015 – Just 3 days of bad weather over 1 weekend would have destroyed the harvest numbers.
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Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – Ranks 17 - Total – Preliminary 41,970
Preliminary @ 11:00 p.m. May 7th
Week 1 – 21,973
Week 2 – 12,507
Week 3 – 7,490
Adult Gobblers: 34,818
Juvenille Gobblers: 6764
Bearded Hens: 388
Week one historical comes in at 45% - 2023 came in around 53%
Week two historical comes in at 35% - 2023 came in around 30%
Week three historical comes in at 20% - 2023 came in around 17%
Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Mississippi, etc. etc. etc. etc. have lower limits, shortening season and other regulations changes based off Wild Turkey Declines.
The next meeting of the Conservation Commission May 18-19, 2023, If you think regulation changes are needed because of population decline of the Missouri Wild Turkey send you comments to https://mdc.mo.gov/form/commissioner-contact-form?commissioner=mm
If you happy with way the population is and the regulation you can still tell them.
Missouri Wild Turkey Polls
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The most dangerous poll in Missouri is the one the MDC won’t put out!!!
Missouri Department of Conservation just sent in the month of April an email poll. Just to a few Missouri trappers.
Can you imagine how frightened they must be for all 120,000 plus wild turkey permit holders.
Two Social media Missouri Wild Turkey group polls taken in 24-hour period.
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MISSOURI FALL TURKEY HUNTING POLLS
What needed to be asked 7 years ago for all 120,000 plus wild turkey permit holders.
Two Social media Missouri Wild Turkey group polls taken in 24-hour period about fall season.
Missouri Department of Conservation just sent in the month of April an email poll. Just to a few Missouri trappers. But WON'T do it for Wild Turkeys!
Keep Missouri turkey fall and archery season as is.
Keep Missouri turkey fall and archery season, eliminate hens.
Keep Missouri turkey fall season and archery, eliminate hens and jakes.
Close Missouri turkey fall season and archery statewide.
Close Missouri turkey fall season and archery in only certain counties.
Missouri
Missouri bearded hens allowed in spring.
Missouri 2 turkeys either sex fall firearms.
Fall Firearms Turkey is closed in Dunklin, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid, Newton, Pemiscot, and Scott
Missouri 2 turkeys either sex archery season.
Other states have various options from non-resident to only in certain counties.
No Fall season = Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, and South Carolina
No Fall Season = Kansas 2023
No Fall Season pending = Mississippi 2023
No hens allowed = Florida
Hens and Juvenile Turkeys are the majority of turkeys killed in fall.
Hunters can’t tell the difference between hen and jakes in fall.
Small percentage of hens that are doing the nesting.
80% of the Turkey Nest have failed in Missouri Turkey Research in the last 2 years. Nest failure was high in the previous 5-year research in Missouri.
Research in Iowa in 1990’s show that fall harvest influences population.
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Missouri Spring Season – History of totals
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
Missouri 3 Week Firearms Turkey Season Timing - Research dictated that if we are to guard against overharvest of mature gobblers, the spring season must begin after the peak in breeding activity in early April in the State of Missouri.
Missouri Youth Season Timing - MDC Biologist suggest that timing be set to coincide with the first peak of turkey gobbling and prior to initiation of continuous incubation. Setting seasons around these time periods may boost success and opportunities for youths to harvest a bird.
To maintain a balance approximately 2.5 poults per hen must be produce. When this ratio drops below 2.5 a population is decline indicated and when it goes above 2.5 an increase occurs.
Wild Turkeys 2-year cycle!
If you have a poor reproductive year next year, then you’re not going to have many jennies or jakes.
Then the year after that you’re not going to have many adult males or 2-year-olds the primary bird hunters take across the country.
It takes 2 years after a poor reproductive year to have fewer adult birds.
It takes 2 years after a good reproductive year to have more adult birds.
Missouri Youth Turkey Season – Missouri 3 Week Season – Ranking – Permits – Poult / Hen Ratio
April 1 – 2 – 2023 = Youth Turkey Season Total - Total: 2,566 – Ranks 20
Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – Preliminary 41,970- Ranks 17
Permits - Unknown
2023 – Poult / Hen Ratio Unknown
April 9 - 10 – 2022 = Youth Turkey Season Total - 2,896 – Ranks 17
2022 - Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 33,355 – Ranks 25
Permits - 121,143
2022 - Poult / Hen Ratio 1.0
April 10 - 11 - 2021 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 2,795 – Rank 18
2021 - Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 31,800 – Ranks 26 - Lowest 3 Week Season Harvest in History
Permits - 124,804
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.0
April 4 - 5 - 2020 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 2,724 – Rank 19
2020 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 38,737 – Rank - 21 - Covid – Other States Closed hunting to Non-Residents – Missouri change landowner permits to 20 Acres.
Permits - 135,263
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.0
April 6 - 7 - 2019 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 2,546 – Rank 21
2019 – Missouri 3 Week Season Total- 36,265 – Rank 23
Permits - 129,346
Poult / Hen Ratio 0.9
April 7 - 8 - 2018 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 1,729 – Rank 23 - Lowest Youth Season Harvest in History
2018 – Missouri 3 Week Season Total – 34,082 – Rank 24
Permits - 135,218
Poult / Hen Ratio 0.9
April 8 - 9 - 2017 – Youth Turkey Season Total – 4,012 – Rank 5
2017 – Missouri 3 Week Season Total – 39,283 – Rank 20
Permits - 142,596
Poult / Hen Ratio 0.8
April 9 - 10 - 2016 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 4,167 – Rank 4
2016 – Missouri 3 Week Season Total – 44207 – Rank 11
Permits - 150,102
Poult / Hen Ratio 0.8
April 11 – 12 - 2015 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 4,441 – Rank 1 - Highest Youth Season Harvest
2016 – Missouri 3 Week Season Total – 43,991 – Rank 12
Permits - 154,251
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.5
April 12 - 13 - 2014 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 4,332 – Rank 2
2014 – Missouri 3 Week Season Total – 43,273 – Rank 14
Permits - 153,665
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.7
April 6 - 7 - 2013 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 3,915 – Rank 7
2013 – Missouri 3 Week Season Total – 42,220 – Rank 16
Permits - 160,705 – Most Recorded Permits Issued
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.3
March 31 - April 1- 2012 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 4,319 – Rank 3
2012 – Missouri 3 Week Season Total – 40,447 – Rank 19
Permits - 142,591
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.7
April 9 – 10 - 2011 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 3,898 – Rank 9
2011 – Missouri 3 Week Season Total – 38,327 – Rank 22
Permits - 143,193
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.7
April 10 - 11 - 2010 – Youth Turkey Season Total - 3,945 – Rank 6
2010 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 42,254 – Rank 15
Permits - 147,861
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.1
April 3 - 5 - 2009 = Youth Turkey Season Total - 2,884 – Rank 16
2009 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total 41,830 – Rank 18
Permits - 142,596
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.2
April 12 – 13 - 2008 – Youth Turkey Season Total - 2,898 – Rank 15
2008 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total 43,416 - Rank 13
Permits - 148,374
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.1
March 31 - April 1 - 2007 = Youth Turkey Season Total – 3,545 – Rank 12
2007 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total 44,927 – Rank 10
Permits - 149,301
Poult / Hen Ratio 1
April 8 – 9 - 2006 = Youth Turkey Season Total - 3,694 – Rank 10
2006 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total 51,018 – Rank 7
Permits - 145,508
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.6
April 9 - 10 - 2005 = Youth Turkey Season Total - 3,894 – Rank 8
2005 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 53,849 – Rank 7 – Most Wild Turkeys killed in Missouri History
Permits - 148,487 - Resident landowner permits first required in 2005 - before that, resident landowners hunted without permit.
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.2
April 10 – 11 - 2004 – Youth Turkey Season Total - 3,258 – Rank 13
2004 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 57,486 – Rank 1 – Most Wild Turkeys killed in Missouri History
Permits - 113,957
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.6
April 12 - 13 - 2003 = Youth Turkey Season Total - 3,660 – Rank 11
2003 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 54,761 – Rank 4
Permits - 119,529
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.6
April 13 – 14 - 2002 = Youth Turkey Season Total - 3,102 – Rank 14
2002 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 53,932– Rank 5
Permits - 119,765
Poult / Hen Ratio 1.7
April 14 - 15 - 2001 = Youth Turkey Season Total - 2,530 – Rank 22 - First Youth Season in Missouri
2001 – Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 55,302 – Rank 3
Permits - 117,888
Poult / Hen Ratio 2.1
2000- Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 56,841– Ranks 2
Poult / Hen Ratio 2.3
1999 - Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 50,299– Ranks 8
Poult / Hen Ratio 2.3
1998 - Missouri 3 Week Season – Total – 48,462– Ranks 9
Poult / Hen Ratio 2.6
Congratulations to the Missouri Conservation Commission for staying the status quo!
MDC just sent an email poll out to some Missouri trappers but your frightened to do it for the same for all 120,000 plus turkey permit holders.
The Missouri Conservation Commissioner said we need to show the public we are doing something? But yet THEY have done nothing in 7 years.
Congratulation to the Award winning Magazine and Social media staff that has been able to keep that past two years research out of magazine and social media - If it wasn’t for open records request you wouldn’t even know we have 8 years of turkey research!!
MDC had 5 years research in Northern Missouri, and MDC did nothing after showing major issue! But yet MDC did nothing but another research project.
MDC is in the 3rd year of the other research, and MDC did nothing after showing major issue that the population is not COMMENSURATE with the population’s ABILITY to SUSTAIN harvest and MDC already made up your what MDC going to do. Nothing like a solution shown in 2021 presented 4 years before research project is done.
Missouri Wild Turkey Habitat Initiative coming in 2024 that has been worked out by the MISSOURI WILD TURKEY TASK FORCE which will improve habitat across the state private and public lands. That does not mess with Maximum hunting opportunity and hunter retention, which is the only goal.
Missouri is not going to do anything with regulations, permits, or harvest, that's a pipe dream. Maximum hunting opportunity and hunter retention is the only goal.
The Missouri Conservation Commissioner said during the July of 2021 meeting he has lost 80% of the population of Wild Turkeys on his property. Guess your population wasn’t COMMENSURATE with the population’s ABILITY to SUSTAIN harvest.
Missouri Biologist have said in articles in 2020, that population has decline 65% or more in some areas of Missouri.
Missouri Biologist presentation 100,000 decline of Wild Turkey population over the next five years with no regulatory changes in Missouri. Guess that means the population wasn’t COMMENSURATE with the population’s ABILITY to SUSTAIN harvest.
Missouri Conservation Commissioner said that Missourians have sent more comments about the decline than any other subject since he has been on board.
Last 3 Missouri Biologist in 5 years recommended ZERO changes and even the first one wanted to go to all day season! Even though Missouri Wild Turkey population wasn’t COMMENSURATE with the population’s ABILITY to SUSTAIN harvest for past 7 years.
Missouri NWTF Biologist recommended ZERO changes. Even though Missouri Wild Turkey population wasn’t COMMENSURATE with the population’s ABILITY to SUSTAIN harvest for past 7 years.
Missouri Department of Conservation regulations Committee in 2021 recommended ZERO changes. Even though Missouri Wild Turkey population wasn’t COMMENSURATE with the population’s ABILITY to SUSTAIN harvest for past 7 years.
Missouri Conservation Commission ZERO changes. Even though Missouri Wild Turkey population wasn’t COMMENSURATE with the population’s ABILITY to SUSTAIN harvest for past 7 years.
Meanwhile 11 other states are addressing the decline of Wild Turkeys in their state.
Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Mississippi, etc. etc. etc. etc. have lower limits, shortening season and other regulations changes based off Wild Turkey Declines.
Congratulations to the Missouri Conservation Commission for staying the status quo! Even though Missouri Wild Turkey population wasn’t COMMENSURATE with the population’s ABILITY to SUSTAIN harvest for past 7 years.
Kansas - Mississippi - eliminate fall season 2023.
Missouri Turkey born THIS year might as well never existed!!!! It takes 1 year of survival of poult hens and jakes for the hens effort to even count.
Missouri Turkey Breeding – Nesting in past 7 years a the wild turkeys hens – have not replaced themselves in short term or long term.
Missouri Fall Turkey Hunting – Archery and Shotgun – Hens and Juvenile Turkeys are the majority of turkeys killed.
Small percentage of hens that are doing the nesting.
The Missouri Wild Turkey Hen risked her life for 28 days for an on average in the last 7 year to raise 0.9 poults per hen in Missouri in during highest predator population in decades.
80% of the Turkey Nest have failed in Missouri Turkey Research in the last 2 years. Was the same in the previous 5-year research in Missouri.
Iowa
Research in Iowa in 1990’s show that fall harvest influences population.
6th Annual Wild Turkey Symposium
MississippI
Mississippi’s fall season allows hens to be legally harvested. MSU’s data illustrated a 2 percent increase in hen survival by eliminating the fall season thus increasing populations by 2.5 times.
Eliminating the fall season would also protect gobblers for the upcoming spring season and protect jakes who by then could have grown eight-inch beards and fit the bill of a Tom. Harvest of male birds in the fall is counter-intuitive to the management goals.
Kansas
Kansas canceled its fall turkey season after its population hit a 15-year low.
April 27, the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission voted unanimously to suspend the fall turkey season for the foreseeable future.
“We believe that the primary cause of turkey decline is low production across the state,” Fricke says. “[Due to] the importance of hens in that production, we felt it was important to recommend the closure of the fall season.”
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