(KMOX) - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is preparing hunters for what they expect will be a tough spring turkey hunting season.
According to MDC, turkey production was generally poor statewide in 2019. Therefore, hunters can expect fewer two-year-old gobblers available for harvest this year.
It'll be tough, but not impossible to bag a bird this year, MDC says.
"When gobbler numbers are down, it becomes even more important to spend time scouting for flocks before the start of the season," Tyl said. "Hunters should get out to their hunting areas as much as possible to listen for birds gobbling at daybreak."
Although the prospects for this year's spring season aren't encouraging, this isn't the first-time poor turkey production has reduced turkey numbers in Missouri. After reaching a population peak in the early-to-mid 2000s, Missouri's turkey population experienced four years of poor production from 2007–2010, causing the population to decline. However, Tyl noted that turkey numbers rebounded following several years of improved production.
© 2020 KMOX (Entercom). All rights reserved
