Turkey Seasons
2023 Missouri Turkey Seasons
Turkey: Spring: Youth (ages 6-15)
- April 1, 2023 - April 2, 2023
Hours
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Notes
Youth hunters who are age 6-15 on opening day may hunt.
Youth may also hunt during the regular Spring Turkey season.
Limits
One male turkey or turkey with visible beard
Youths who take a turkey during the youth season may not harvest a second bird until April 24. This is because the bird taken during the youth season counts as the first bird for the first week of the regular season.
Valid Permits
Spring Turkey Hunting Permit
Allowed & Prohibited Methods
Turkey: Spring: Allowed Methods
- Shotguns with shot not larger than No. 4
- Longbows, recurve bows, or compound bows. Hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quick point sights are allowed.
- Crossbows
- Atlatls
Turkey: Spring: Prohibited Methods
- Shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined
- Shot larger than No. 4 (in use or in possession)
- Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
- Thermal imagery equipment or night vision equipment (in use or in possession)
- Recorded calls (in use or in possession)
- Use of dogs or live decoys
- Use of bait, which includes grain or other feed placed or scattered so as to attract turkeys. An area is considered baited for 10 days even after complete removal of the bait. A hunter can be in violation even if he or she did not know an area was or is baited. It is illegal to place bait in a way that causes others to be in violation of the baiting rule.
Turkey: Spring
- April 17, 2023 - May 7, 2023
Hours
One-half hour before sunrise to 1 p.m.
Limits
Two male turkeys or turkeys with visible beard may be taken during the season, with the following restrictions:
- You may take only one turkey during the first week
- If you do not take one during the first week, then you may take two turkeys during the second and third week.
- You may not take two turkeys on the same day.
Valid Permits
Spring Turkey Hunting Permit
Allowed & Prohibited Methods
Turkey: Spring: Allowed Methods
- Shotguns with shot not larger than No. 4
- Longbows, recurve bows, or compound bows. Hand-held string releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, and quick point sights are allowed.
- Crossbows
- Atlatls
Turkey: Spring: Prohibited Methods
- Shotguns capable of holding more than 3 shells in magazine and chamber combined
- Shot larger than No. 4 (in use or in possession)
- Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
- Thermal imagery equipment or night vision equipment (in use or in possession)
- Recorded calls (in use or in possession)
- Use of dogs or live decoys
- Use of bait, which includes grain or other feed placed or scattered so as to attract turkeys. An area is considered baited for 10 days even after complete removal of the bait. A hunter can be in violation even if he or she did not know an area was or is baited. It is illegal to place bait in a way that causes others to be in violation of the baiting rule.
Turkey: Archery
- September 15, 2023 - November 10, 2023
- November 22, 2023 - January 15, 2024
Hours
One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
Limits
Two turkeys of either sex, both may be taken on the same day
Valid Permits
Archer's Hunting Permit
Allowed & Prohibited Methods
Turkey: Archery: Allowed Methods
- Longbows, compound bows, and recurve bows of any draw weight
- Crossbows
- Hand-held string-releasing devices
- Illuminated sights, scopes, and quickpoint sights
- Atlatls
- Crossbows
Turkey: Archery: Prohibited Methods
- Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
- Use of electronic calls, electronically activated calls, bait, dogs, or night vision equipment
- Live decoys may not be used to take turkeys.
- Archers hunting deer or turkeys during the archery season may not be in possession of a firearm. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.432 and 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.
Turkey: Fall Firearms
- October 1, 2023 - October 31, 2023
Hours
One-half hour before sunrise to sunset
Notes
Fall firearms turkey hunting is not permitted in Dunklin, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid, Newton, Pemiscot, and Scott counties.
Limits
Two turkeys of either sex, both may be taken on the same day
Valid Permits
Fall Firearms Turkey Hunting Permit
Allowed & Prohibited Methods
Turkey: Fall Firearms: Allowed Methods
- Shotguns (including .410) with shot not larger than No. 4
- Longbows, compound bows, or recurve bows of any draw weight
- Crossbows
- Atlatls
- Hand-held string-release devices
- Illuminated sights, scopes and quickpoint sights
Turkey: Fall Firearms: Prohibited Methods
- Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells in magazine and chamber combined
- Shot larger than No. 4 (in use or possession)
- Rifles, pistols, and other firearms that propel a single projectile at one discharge
- Any sighting device that casts a beam of light on the game
- Night vision / thermal imagery equipment
- Use of electronic calls, electronically activated calls, live decoys, bait, or dogs
- Anyone hunting turkeys during the fall firearms turkey season may not be in possession of both a firearm and a bow. Some exceptions apply. See 3 CSR 10-7.455 of the Wildlife Code of Missouri.
