Missouri Code of State Regulations › Title 3 - DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION › Division 10 - Conservation Commission › Chapter 7 - Wildlife Code: Hunting: Seasons, Methods, Limits › Section 3 CSR 10-7.455 - Turkeys: Seasons, Methods, Limits

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 14, July 15, 2024
PURPOSE: This amendment reorganizes the fall turkey
				  hunting season verbiage for clarity given proposed consolidation of the fall
				  turkey hunting permits.
(1)
				Turkeys may be pursued, taken, killed, possessed, or transported only as
				permitted in this rule.
(A) Spring Season. A
				person possessing the prescribed turkey hunting permit may take two (2) male
				turkeys or turkeys with visible beards from April 15 through May 5, 2024;
				provided only one (1) turkey may be taken before April 22, 2024 and only one
				(1) turkey may be taken per day. A turkey taken during a managed hunt will
				count towards an individual's spring season bag limit. Turkeys may be taken
				only by shotgun, with shot no larger than No. 4, atlatl, crossbow, or bow;
				without the use of dogs (except for the recovery of wounded turkey as
				specifically authorized by 3 CSR 10-7.410), bait, electronic calls, or live
				decoys; from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight
				Time (CDT) on public lands and from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to
				sunset on private lands. Possession of electronic calls or shotshells loaded
				with shot larger than No. 4 is prohibited while hunting turkeys.
(B) Fall Season. The fall season is comprised
				of two (2) portions. A person possessing the prescribed turkey hunting permit
				may take only two (2) turkeys of either sex during the fall season.
1. Archery Portion: September 15 through
				January 15, excluding the dates of the November portion of the firearms deer
				season. Turkeys may be taken only by atlatls, bows, and crossbows; without the
				use of dogs (except for the recovery of wounded turkey as specifically
				authorized by 3 CSR 10-7.410), bait, electronic calls, or live decoys; from
				one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.
				Possession of electronic calls is prohibited while hunting turkeys.
2. Firearms Portion: October 1 through
				October 31 in all counties except Dunklin, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid,
				Newton, Pemiscot, and Scott. Turkeys may be taken only by shotgun, with shot no
				larger than No. 4; without the use of dogs (except for the recovery of wounded
				turkey as specifically authorized by 3 CSR 107.410), bait, electronic calls, or
				live decoys; from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset. Possession of
				electronic calls or shotshells loaded with shot larger than No. 4 is prohibited
				while hunting turkeys.
3. A person,
				while in the act of pursuing or hunting turkey during the fall season, shall
				not have both a firearm and an atlatl, bow, or crossbow on his/her person
				except any person may carry concealable firearms, as defined in Chapter 571,
				RSMo, on or about his/her person while hunting. Firearms possessed under this
				exception may not be used to take wildlife.
(C) Youth Spring Season. The two- (2-) day
				youth spring season will be from April 6 through 7, 2024. Any person possessing
				the prescribed turkey hunting permit and who is at least six (6) but not older
				than fifteen (15) years of age on the opening day of the youth spring season
				may take only one (1) male turkey or turkey with visible beard during the youth
				spring season. A turkey harvested during the youth spring season will count
				towards an individual's spring season bag limit; individuals hunting under the
				prescribed turkey hunting permit may not harvest a second bird before April 22,
				2024. Turkeys may be taken only by shotgun with shot no larger than No. 4,
				atlatl, crossbow, or bow; without the use of dogs (except for the recovery of
				wounded turkey as specifically authorized by 3 CSR 10-7.410), bait, electronic
				calls, or live decoys; from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset.
				Possession of electronic calls or shotshells loaded with shot larger than No. 4
				is prohibited while hunting turkeys.