Missouri Department of Conservation announces 2024 hunting dates, with a few changes

With Missouri’s current hunting season winding down, hunters may already be making preparations for next year. Prepare those vacation requests, because the dates for the 2024-2025 hunting season have been determined, along with a few adjustments to state hunting regulations.

The Missouri Conservation Commission set hunting dates, approved changes to spring turkey hunting season with extended hours and granted initial approval of proposed additional changes to the fall turkey hunting season at its Dec. 8 open meeting in Jefferson City.

Changes coming in the spring
For the spring 2024 turkey shooting season, those hunting on private land will now be able to do so all day — from a half hour before sunrise until sunset. The shooting hours will remain the same on public land running from a half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m.

With hunter participation on the decline and 88 percent of Missouri’s annual spring turkey harvest done on private land, the Missouri Department of Conservation hopes this change will help hunters who may be at work or school in the morning hours to participate.

The 1 p.m. closure was added decades ago to help the turkey population rebound, according to an MDC news release. Almost every other state in the Midwest and Southeast has moved to an all-day season since seeing their turkey populations restored.

Proposed changes to fall turkey season
While not yet finalized, the MDC has proposed that both fall firearm turkey hunters and fall archery turkey hunters be required to purchase a fall turkey-hunting permit. Turkeys would no longer be included in the archery-deer permit.

In addition, the bag limit would be reduced from four to two birds. Currently, hunters can harvest up to four birds of either sex without a beard requirement. While the hen harvest level does not have a negative impact on the statewide turkey count, at the property level, hen harvest may have an impact on the future population, according to the release.

These proposed changes will be open for public comment Feb. 2-March 2 on the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/public-commenting-opportunities.