Missouri Spring Turkey Hunts continued

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Missouri Turkey

Of Interest

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Turkey Habitat

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DIY Hunts

Luck and Skill

Over the years we have observed many wild turkey hunters during the Missouri spring season tell a similar story theme about their hunts. A lot of birds, a lot of action and success well earned. Some are over in two day hunts while others, many others some springs, have gone into double digit day hunts getting close without closing the deal.

This is the time when there are far fewer lucky hunts and a greater degree of separation between those in learning and the dedicated and skilled hunter. Those that do believe they have the skill necessary to successfully harvest a Missouri tom will be well tested during the peak of the breeding cycle as that is when Missouri's season is scheduled. Many others will use the rationale that there was too much hunter pressure, or the birds were spooked coming off of the roost or any other excuse for their hunt failure. In all regard of a spring hunts success or failure in each case it is well earned by the hunter.

These wild turkey hunters need not despair as the sport of wild turkey hunting is the pursuit, setup and decoy of a highly and singularly motivated animal attracted by only the sexiest and most receptive of mates. For any human to believe he can match that of a sexy hen is simply arrogance. For even the most skilled Missouri spring season turkey hunter revels in the day when a lone tom is spotted and competition for his attention is unevenly split between no hen and that which may be a second choice under other conditions of a decoy and a poor excuse for a lonely hen call. On these days the dedicated hunter will recognize his luck and remain humble. However, it is the hunter that during the spring season that does truly call a tom off a hen to his call that has exceptional skill and the bragging rights we all desire to have. One way by which to define a trophy tom hunter.

A lot of parts to this picture. The first is habitat. Crop field, beans from last fall, along a currently dry intermittent wooded creek bed that looks thicker in the picture than it is up close. This is typical habitat found in that region where agriculture land use accounts for 55% of all land cover. This picture is also classic for watersheds within the agriculture area where many small valleys are farmed with the fields flanked by timbered ridges. Where are the flocks found? On the crop fields more often than in the woods. They go where the food is. In our case waste grain and not last fall's acorns.

Why the agriculture regions does us well is not just the large number of flocks it is also their size. Farm field fed toms typically weigh 22 to 27 pounds.

Another aspect of this picture shows how scouting with binoculars is very effective in this terrain.

An enlargement of the same turkeys showing a bachelor flock. These pictures were taken in late February, prime deer scouting time. This brings up the question of when is the best time to deer and turkey scout. It is unlikely these toms will be present at this spot or farm come breeding season. They will go where the hen flocks have anchored themselves.

Adventure

Missouri spring turkey hunts are a great time to be in the field and a great test of any turkey hunter. DIY success is rightly earned and failure is plenty. Have a read of the turkey hunts in the testimonial section and below. Or, by continuing with the links at the page bottom for increasingly greater detail on our Missouri turkey hunts.

via email.

Good Afternoon,

I wanted to email in a couple pictures of my wife Stephanie and I on opening day of our turkey hunt. My wife and I have put in hours of scouting the farm we had reserved and it all paid off in a hurry. We were set up well before sunrise and as the woods woke up we had 3 gobblers roosted about 100 yards from our location. After about 20 minutes of gobbling from the tree and us talking back to them the trio decided to fly down and get a closer look. The three toms covered over 200 yards (they flew away from our set up when they left the tree) in no time at all and my wife and I had three full strutting toms within 20 yards of us. On the count of 3 both of our guns came to life and when the smoke cleared we had our first double. Not only was this a great accomplishment for us but this was my wife's first turkey. Thanks for helping us create memories by providing quality land to hunt on. Keep up the good work!

Brad & Stephanie

 

Let us recapitulate:

Peak breeding season.

Lots of wild birds.

Thickest habitat of our three states.

Short season.

Half day hunts

100% wild hunts.

Missouri is the toughest turkey hunting we have to offer. Exactly what the DIY hunter wants. Otherwise, go to a guide service and hunt over a feeder.

 

Jump to our detailed Eastern and Rio Grande Turkey

Have another read of spring season turkey hunts

Hunter success gallery for Eastern Turkey or Rio Grande Turkey