3 CSR 10-7.455 - Turkeys: Seasons, Methods, Limits

PURPOSE: This rule establishes the seasons, methods, and limits for hunting wild turkeys.

(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 21 through May 11, 2025; provided only one (1) turkey may be taken before April 28, 2025, 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 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.

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 12 through April 13, 2025. 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 28, 2025. 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.

Notes

3 CSR 10-7.455

AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const., and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Dec. 15, 1975, effective Dec. 31, 1975. Amended: Filed July 13, 1976, effective Aug. 12, 1976. Amended: Filed Dec. 20, 1976, effective Feb. 15, 1977. Amended: Filed July 29, 1977, effective Sept. 11, 1977. Amended: Filed Dec. 19, 1977, effective Feb. 15, 1978. Amended: Filed Feb. 23, 1978, effective May 15, 1978. Amended: Filed Jan. 2, 1979, effective Feb. 15, 1979. Amended: Filed July 30, 1979, effective Sept. 15, 1979. Amended: Filed Dec. 27, 1979, effective Feb. 15, 1980. Amended: Filed Aug. 1, 1980, effective Sept. 15, 1980. Amended: Filed Dec. 22, 1980, effective Feb. 11, 1981. Amended: Filed July 31, 1981, effective Sept. 11, 1981. Amended: Filed Dec. 14, 1981, effective Feb. 11, 1982. Amended: Filed July 27, 1982, effective Sept. 11, 1982. Amended: Filed Dec. 17, 1982, effective Feb. 11, 1983. Amended: Filed June 24, 1983, effective Aug. 11, 1983. Amended: Filed Jan. 30, 1984, effective March 11, 1984. Amended: Filed July 5, 1984, effective Aug. 11, 1984. Amended: Filed Jan. 4, 1985, effective Feb. 11, 1985. Amended: Filed July 8, 1985, effective Aug. 11, 1985. Amended: Filed Jan. 10, 1986, effective Feb. 14, 1986. Amended: Filed Jan. 31, 1986, effective March 1, 1986. Amended: Filed March 12, 1986, effective May 30, 1986. Amended: Filed June 25, 1986, effective Aug. 1, 1986. Amended: Filed Jan. 6, 1987, effective March 1, 1987. Amended: Filed June 10, 1987, effective July 11, 1987. Amended: Filed July 30, 1987, effective Sept. 1, 1987. Amended: Filed Dec. 22, 1987, effective Feb. 1, 1988. Amended: Filed June 7, 1988, effective July 11, 1988. Amended: Filed Jan. 10, 1989, effective Feb. 11, 1989. Amended: Filed June 1, 1989, effective July 1, 1989. Amended: Filed Aug. 8, 1989, effective Sept. 11, 1989. Amended: Filed May 10, 1990, effective Jan. 1, 1991. Amended: Filed May 10, 1991, effective Jan. 1, 1992. Amended: Filed Sept. 10, 1991, effective Feb. 6, 1992. Amended: Filed April 28, 1992, effective Jan. 15, 1993. Amended: Filed May 30, 1995, effective July 1, 1995. Amended: Filed May 30, 1995, effective Jan. 1, 1996. Amended: Filed Dec. 20, 1995, effective Jan. 1, 1996. Amended: Filed Oct. 25, 1995, effective March 30, 1996. Amended: Filed Aug. 23, 1996, effective Jan. 30, 1997. Amended: Filed Nov. 5, 1996, effective April 30, 1997. Amended: Filed July 9, 1997, effective March 1, 1998. Amended: Filed May 6, 1998, effective March 1, 1999. Amended: Filed June 11, 1998, effective March 1, 1999. Amended: Filed Sept. 30, 1998, effective Feb. 28, 1999. Amended: Filed April 24, 2000, effective Sept. 30, 2000. Amended: Filed July 19, 2000, effective Dec. 30, 2000. Amended: Filed Nov. 29, 2000, effective Dec. 12, 2000. Amended: Filed April 30, 2001, effective May 15, 2001. Amended: Filed Dec. 19, 2001, effective Jan. 1, 2002. Amended: Filed May 9, 2002, effective March 1, 2003. Amended: Filed March 6, 2003, effective March 17, 2003. Amended: Filed May 9, 2003, effective Oct. 30, 2003. Amended: Filed Oct. 29, 2003, effective March 30, 2004. Amended: Filed April 29, 2004, effective Oct. 30, 2004. Amended: Filed Dec. 21, 2004, effective Jan. 15, 2005. Amended: Filed Sept. 29, 2004, effective Feb. 28, 2005. Amended: Filed June 8, 2005, effective July 15, 2005. Amended: Filed May 23, 2006, effective July 1, 2006. Amended: Filed Aug. 23, 2006, effective Sept. 11, 2006. Amended: Filed May 21, 2007, effective July 1, 2007. Amended: Filed Dec. 17, 2007, effective Jan. 1, 2008. Amended: Filed Oct. 10, 2008, effective July 1, 2009. Amended: Filed Sept. 30, 2010, effective March 1, 2011. Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 2011, effective March 1, 2012. Amended: Filed May 25, 2012, effective Oct. 30, 2012. Amended: Filed Dec. 19, 2012, effective May 30, 2013. Amended: Filed June 4, 2013, effective Oct. 30, 2013. Amended: Filed Feb. 26, 2015, effective July 30, 2015. Amended: Filed Aug. 28, 2015, effective March 1, 2016. Amended: Filed March 14, 2016, effective Sept. 30, 2016. Amended: Filed June 1, 2017, effective Nov. 30, 2017. Amended: Filed Aug. 28, 2018, effective March 1, 2019. Amended: Filed June 17, 2019, effective Jan. 15, 2020. Amended: Filed Sept. 4, 2020, effective Feb. 28, 2021. Amended: Filed Dec. 10, 2021, effective Jan. 1, 2022. Amended: Filed Dec. 7, 2022, effective Dec. 31, 2022. Amended: Filed Dec. 21, 2022, effective May 30, 2023. Amended: Filed Dec. 8, 2023, effective Dec. 18, 2023. Amended: Filed Jan. 2, 2024, effective June 30, 2024.

AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const. and section 252.240, RSMo 2000.* Original rule filed Dec. 15, 1975, effective Dec. 31, 1975. Amended: Filed July 13, 1976, effective Aug. 12, 1976. Amended: Filed Dec. 20, 1976, effective Feb. 15, 1977. Amended: Filed July 29, 1977, effective Sept. 11, 1977. Amended: Filed Dec. 19, 1977, effective Feb. 15, 1978. Amended: Filed Feb. 23, 1978, effective May 15, 1978. Amended: Filed Jan. 2, 1979, effective Feb. 15, 1979. Amended: Filed July 30, 1979, effective Sept. 15, 1979. Amended: Filed Dec. 27, 1979, effective Feb. 15, 1980. Amended: Filed Aug. 1, 1980, effective Sept. 15, 1980. Amended: Filed Dec. 22, 1980, effective Feb. 11, 1981. Amended: Filed July 31, 1981, effective Sept. 11, 1981. Amended: Filed Dec. 14, 1981, effective Feb. 11, 1982. Amended: Filed July 27, 1982, effective Sept. 11, 1982. Amended: Filed Dec. 17, 1982, effective Feb. 11, 1983. Amended: Filed June 24, 1983, effective Aug. 11, 1983. Amended: Filed Jan. 30, 1984, effective March 11, 1984. Amended: Filed July 5, 1984, effective Aug. 11, 1984. Amended: Filed Jan. 4, 1985, effective Feb. 11, 1985. Amended: Filed July 8, 1985, effective Aug. 11, 1985. Amended: Filed Jan. 10, 1986, effective Feb. 14, 1986. Amended: Filed Jan. 31, 1986, effective March 1, 1986. Amended: Filed March 12, 1986, effective May 30, 1986. Amended: Filed June 25, 1986, effective Aug. 1, 1986. Amended: Filed Jan. 6, 1987, effective March 1, 1987. Amended: Filed June 10, 1987, effective July 11, 1987. Amended: Filed July 30, 1987, effective Sept. 1, 1987. Amended: Filed Dec. 22, 1987, effective Feb. 1, 1988. Amended: Filed June 7, 1988, effective July 11, 1988. Amended: Filed Jan. 10, 1989, effective Feb. 11, 1989. Amended: Filed June 1, 1989, effective July 1, 1989. Amended: Filed Aug. 8, 1989, effective Sept. 11, 1989. Amended: Filed May 10, 1990, effective Jan. 1, 1991. Amended: Filed May 10, 1991, effective Jan. 1, 1992. Amended: Filed Sept. 10, 1991, effective Feb. 6, 1992. Amended: Filed April 28, 1992, effective Jan. 15, 1993. Amended: Filed May 30, 1995, effective July 1, 1995. Amended: Filed May 30, 1995, effective Jan. 1, 1996. Amended: Filed Dec. 20, 1995, effective Jan. 1, 1996. Amended: Filed Oct. 25, 1995, effective March 30, 1996. Amended: Filed Aug. 23, 1996, effective Jan. 30, 1997. Amended: Filed Nov. 5, 1996, effective April 30, 1997. Amended: Filed July 9, 1997, effective March 1, 1998. Amended: Filed May 6, 1998, effective March 1, 1999. Amended: Filed June 11, 1998, effective March 1, 1999. Amended: Filed Sept. 30, 1998, effective Feb. 28, 1999. Amended: Filed April 24, 2000, effective Sept. 30, 2000. Amended: Filed July 19, 2000, effective Dec. 30, 2000. Amended: Filed Nov. 29, 2000, effective Dec. 12, 2000. Amended: Filed April 30, 2001, effective May 15, 2001. Amended: Filed Dec. 19, 2001, effective Jan. 1, 2002. Amended: Filed May 9, 2002, effective March 1, 2003. Amended: Filed March 6, 2003, effective March 17, 2003. Amended: Filed May 9, 2003, effective Oct. 30, 2003. Amended: Filed Oct. 29, 2003, effective March 30, 2004. Amended: Filed April 29, 2004, effective Oct. 30, 2004. Amended: Filed Dec. 21, 2004, effective Jan. 15, 2005. Amended: Filed Sept. 29, 2004, effective Feb. 28, 2005. Amended: Filed June 8, 2005, effective July 15, 2005. Amended: Filed May 23, 2006, effective July 1, 2006. Amended: Filed Aug. 23, 2006, effective Sept. 11, 2006. Amended: Filed May 21, 2007, effective July 1, 2007. Amended: Filed Dec. 17, 2007, effective Jan. 1, 2008. Amended: Filed Oct. 10, 2008, effective July 1, 2009. Amended: Filed Sept. 30, 2010, effective March 1, 2011 . Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 2011, effective March 1, 2012. Amended: Filed May 25, 2012, effective Oct. 30, 2012. Amended: Filed Dec. 19, 2012, effective May 30, 2013. Amended: Filed June 4, 2013, effective Oct. 30, 2013. Amended by Missouri Register June 15, 2015/Volume 40, Number 12, effective 7/31/2015 Amended by Missouri Register January 15, 2016/Volume 41, Number 02, effective 3/1/2016 Amended by Missouri Register August 1, 2016/Volume 41, Number 15, effective 9/30/2016 Amended by Missouri Register October 2, 2017/Volume 42, Number 19, effective 11/30/2017 Amended by Missouri Register January 15, 2019/Volume 44, Number 2, effective 3/1/2019 Amended by Missouri Register November 1, 2019/Volume 44, Number 21, effective 1/15/2020 Amended by Missouri Register January 15, 2021/Volume 46, Number 2, effective 2/28/2021 Amended by Missouri Register January 18, 2021/Volume 47, Number 2, effective 1/1/2022 Amended by Missouri Register January 17, 2023/Volume 48, Number 2, effective 12/31/2022 Amended by Missouri Register April 17, 2023/Volume 48, Number 8, effective 5/31/2023 Amended by Missouri Register May 15, 2024/volume 49, Number 10, effective 6/30/2024. Amended by Missouri Register January 15, 2025/volume 50, Number 02, effective 12/31/2024.