Missouri

Going to Missouri last week of April. How is the hunting there?

Not as good as it was in the 80's and early 90's. But the regulations make it more convenient now.

Like Semo said the 90's were awesome up there. The late 90's were poor hatch years and hunting pressure got outrageous around 2000. I haven't been back since then. I believe every slob in Arkansas quit work and moved to Missouri for turkey season the last couple of years I hunted there. No ethics, no courtesy and zero morals!

The year before they closed down the Peck Ranch hunting area the game warden told us he'd busted a guy from Arkansas camping there that had killed 12 turkeys in a week and according to him half of them were hens.

Check on the flooding from last Spring in area you are going. Was going through there last June and it was all still under water.

It’s not even close to what it used to be.

I've only hunted public land in the state a handful of times, but I have a good understanding of what is out there. You can PM me if you want. I can tell you on my private land we are looking forward to a good 2020 season. Lots of birds and fingers crossed...no long lasting ice.

As far as the fooding, I don't think that'll mess with you. The big muddy refuge and some conservation areas along the Missouri River (where you probably don't want to hunt anyway) would be hit but there isn't great hunting in those floodplain forests anyway.

Lot of bad hatches recently. I expect more hunting pressure this spring with eastern Kansas going to a 1-bird limit.

We've had above ave. hatches the last 2 years in the 3 counties I hunt. But I haven't checked the statewide data.

Yeah, after I posted I looked that up.too. I can just say on my places we have seen a lot more birds in the last 2 years. Including poults. We are heavily dependent on acorn crops though and the last couple of years have been decent to good. Some of that is simply an influx of birds while survival and poult production enhance it. I have had several groups of 15-25 Jake's this winter. We simply did not have that 3-7 years ago.

Can't speak for the rest of the state. Though driving (south of i70) seems to be about the same #s as the last 10 years.

im from north east mo it is not the turkey factory anymore last year first year didnt kill a gobbler in 35 years in missouri low low numbers