Turkey Season Approaches for Douglas County Outdoorsmen

Missouri’s spring turkey season is set to open for adult hunters later this month, with area residents preparing to head into the woods across Douglas County and surrounding Ozarks counties.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, the regular spring turkey season will run from April 20 through May 10, following the youth portion held earlier in the month.

For local hunters, that means the opening weekend for adults will fall on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, marking a traditional start to the spring hunting season across southern Missouri.

Hunters are reminded that only male turkeys, or turkeys with a visible beard, may be harvested during the spring season. Most permits allow hunters to take up to two bearded turkeys during the season, with the restriction that only one bird may be taken per day and only one may be harvested during the first week of the season.

Shooting hours for spring turkey season begin one-half hour before sunrise. On public land, hunting must end at 1 p.m., while private land hunters may continue through sunset.

Hunters must also have a valid hunting permit, and all regulations regarding tagging and reporting harvests must be followed, according to MDC guidelines.

In Douglas County and surrounding areas, spring turkey season remains a popular outdoor tradition, drawing hunters to the region’s timbered ridges, pasture edges and creek bottoms. Conservation officials encourage hunters to review regulations in advance and to practice safe, ethical hunting while enjoying the season.

Additional information, including permit requirements and full regulations, is available through the Missouri Department of Conservation.