Today (Monday) is the first day of Spring turkey hunting season in Missouri

Today (Monday) is the first day of the Spring turkey hunting season in Missouri. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, hunters can take two turkeys, either male or with visible beards, during the season. However, hunters are limited to killing just one turkey this first week of the season. If they fail to kill one this week, they can take two during the rest of the hunting season, just as long as they don’t kill two turkeys on the same day. Hunters can use shotguns with shots not larger than No. 4, longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, hand-held string-releasing devices, illuminated sights, scopes, quick-point sights, and crossbows. Hunters are not allowed to use shotguns that can hold more than three shells, shot larger than No. 4, a sighting device that casts a beam of light, thermal imagery or night vision, recorded turkey calls, dogs or live decoys. Hunters also cannot use bait, either grain or other feed. Hunters could be held responsible even if they didn’t know about the bait. Hunting during this spring season is allowed from a half-hour before sunrise to 1 pm. And, of course, hunters must have a hunting permit from the Conservation Department.