Young hunters took a few more turkeys this spring season compared to the previous year.
According to preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation, youth turkey hunters harvested 2,881 April 9 and 10. Young hunters killed 2,795 turkeys during the 2021 spring youth weekend.
Top harvest counties were Miller with 87 birds, Osage with 71 and Franklin with 71.
“Despite a cooler than normal morning on Saturday, the weather during the youth weekend provided mostly favorable hunting conditions,” said Reina Tyl, MDC Turkey Biologist. “It was great to see almost three thousand youth were able to capitalize on those good conditions and make lasting memories of a successful turkey hunt.