Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows turkey hunters checked 46,562 birds during Missouri’s 2025 regular spring turkey season, April 21 through May 11, according to a MDC press release.
The top harvest counties for the regular season were Franklin with 956 birds harvested, Callaway with 873, and Texas with 860.
Clay County hunters bagged 102 adult gobblers, 20 juvenile gobblers and 1 bearded hen for 123 total birds.
Young turkey hunters also harvested a near-record 4,449 turkeys over the spring youth weekend, April 12 and 13, bringing the overall 2025 spring turkey harvest to 51,011.
“Great production in 2023 resulted in a large population of adult gobblers this year,” said Nick Oakley, MDC wild turkey biologist. “This led to an 8% increase in the overall harvest compared to last year — and the largest harvest in Missouri since 2006. Continuing to prioritize turkey nesting and brooding habitat is the best way to ensure good hatches in the future, and ongoing success in the field.”
Last year, young turkey hunters harvested 3,739 turkeys over the spring youth season and hunters harvested 43,380 during the regular spring season for a 2024 spring season total harvest of 47,119.
