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Another good turkey season in the offing
MDC
4/11/03
With good weather, Missouri's spring turkey harvest could top 50,000 again
JEFFERSON CITY-A plentiful hatch of wild turkeys two years ago means good times for Missouri turkey hunters. That's the word from Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer, who tracks turkey population trends for the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Spring turkey hunting season opens April 21 and runs through May 11. Missouri also has a youth hunting season April 12 and 13 for hunters 15 and younger. Details about eligibility for the youth hunt and other spring turkey hunting regulations are contained in the 2003 Spring Turkey Hunting Information booklet, which is available wherever hunting permits are sold.
Beringer said mature gobblers should be abundant this year, giving hunters lots of opportunities to hear--and bag--hefty gobblers.
"We had a good hatch in 2001," said Beringer. "Last year's hatch was a little below average, so hunters may not see as many young birds this year."
One-year-old male turkeys, commonly called "jakes," are less desirable to hunters, because they are smaller. They also are less likely to utter the wild turkey's gobbling mating call, which makes them harder and less exciting to hunt.
Turkeys are abundant throughout most of the state. Exceptions are the southeast and southwest corners of Missouri, where hunters will find the going a little tougher. Turkey numbers sometimes grow sparse in the eastern Ozarks, where soils are thin, and turkeys' nutrition depends on acorn production. Last year, however, the acorn crop in this region was good, so turkeys should be in good shape.
Beringer said hunters may have better luck finding turkeys in open areas, with minimal weeds and other ground cover left over from last year. Exposure to sunlight causes these areas to green up earlier and exposes acorns and other food items, making them preferred foraging spots for turkeys.
Turkey hunters' success always depends heavily on weather. Unseasonably cold conditions can delay the start of turkey mating, making gobblers less responsive to hunters' calls. On the other hand, warm weather accelerates the greening of spring vegetation, causing hen turkeys to nest earlier. When hens are incubating eggs, gobblers go on the prowl looking for hens, and are more susceptible to hunters' calls.
Wind is another factor in determining turkey hunting success. The sound and motion that accompanies windy days makes turkeys skittish and hard to call. Rain plays a role, too, keeping hunters indoors and reducing the turkey harvest.
"Turkeys are still active and huntable on rainy days, but fewer hunters are willing to be out there pursuing them," said Beringer. "Assuming average weather, without too much rain or cold, we should see a harvest similar to those of recent years."
Turkey hunters who have hunted at the Reform Conservation Area in Callaway County in the past should note that the area currently is closed to all recreational activity. The area surrounds AmerenUE's nuclear power generation plant. Its closure is related to national security concerns.
- Jim Low -
MDC
4/11/03
With good weather, Missouri's spring turkey harvest could top 50,000 again
JEFFERSON CITY-A plentiful hatch of wild turkeys two years ago means good times for Missouri turkey hunters. That's the word from Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer, who tracks turkey population trends for the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Spring turkey hunting season opens April 21 and runs through May 11. Missouri also has a youth hunting season April 12 and 13 for hunters 15 and younger. Details about eligibility for the youth hunt and other spring turkey hunting regulations are contained in the 2003 Spring Turkey Hunting Information booklet, which is available wherever hunting permits are sold.
Beringer said mature gobblers should be abundant this year, giving hunters lots of opportunities to hear--and bag--hefty gobblers.
"We had a good hatch in 2001," said Beringer. "Last year's hatch was a little below average, so hunters may not see as many young birds this year."
One-year-old male turkeys, commonly called "jakes," are less desirable to hunters, because they are smaller. They also are less likely to utter the wild turkey's gobbling mating call, which makes them harder and less exciting to hunt.
Turkeys are abundant throughout most of the state. Exceptions are the southeast and southwest corners of Missouri, where hunters will find the going a little tougher. Turkey numbers sometimes grow sparse in the eastern Ozarks, where soils are thin, and turkeys' nutrition depends on acorn production. Last year, however, the acorn crop in this region was good, so turkeys should be in good shape.
Beringer said hunters may have better luck finding turkeys in open areas, with minimal weeds and other ground cover left over from last year. Exposure to sunlight causes these areas to green up earlier and exposes acorns and other food items, making them preferred foraging spots for turkeys.
Turkey hunters' success always depends heavily on weather. Unseasonably cold conditions can delay the start of turkey mating, making gobblers less responsive to hunters' calls. On the other hand, warm weather accelerates the greening of spring vegetation, causing hen turkeys to nest earlier. When hens are incubating eggs, gobblers go on the prowl looking for hens, and are more susceptible to hunters' calls.
Wind is another factor in determining turkey hunting success. The sound and motion that accompanies windy days makes turkeys skittish and hard to call. Rain plays a role, too, keeping hunters indoors and reducing the turkey harvest.
"Turkeys are still active and huntable on rainy days, but fewer hunters are willing to be out there pursuing them," said Beringer. "Assuming average weather, without too much rain or cold, we should see a harvest similar to those of recent years."
Turkey hunters who have hunted at the Reform Conservation Area in Callaway County in the past should note that the area currently is closed to all recreational activity. The area surrounds AmerenUE's nuclear power generation plant. Its closure is related to national security concerns.
- Jim Low -
