Missouri Hunts
Turkey Hunting
| ChoicesThe turkey hunter should look at Missouri through colored lenses separating Missouri's Ozark region from that of its agricultural region. Each Missouri region offers two different types of turkey hunting based on the topography local to each. The more common Eastern Turkey habitat of the large woods allowing run and gun or ridge runner techniques can be easily found in the southern Missouri Ozark Mountains where the woodlands are as thick as any and the country rolling to cliff steep. This region has good turkey counts and many hunters will be pleased (exception being public land hunters and the hunt mentality that follows) with the large tracks of public land available most notably the Mark Twain National Forest, easy and free access. Less well known through the USA and very well known by Missouri residents are the large turkey flocks of bigger birds to be found in the food rich agricultural regions. The added bonus of this northern Missouri area is the ability to scout via binoculars, the ability to work a roost in addition to a single gobbler. And, the best part is the thrill of being able to watch far more easier and for a longer period of time the tom being worked.
Hunt QualityThat thrill alone of having eyes on a tom slowly working his way to the hunter's setup having been as long as 40 to 60 minutes makes for both thrill and anxiety. It is one thing to hear a gobble through the trees of an unseen tom and estimate its location. It is quite another to be able to watch that tom and see what he is doing when the gobble is heard. A great learning experience to see how the tom ignores the hunter for a hen or hangs up just out of range. All these behaviors occur in both the mountain and agricultural regions, however in the mountain region it is often unseen. What distinguishes these two Missouri turkey regions beyond their topography is the quality of hunt experience the wild turkey hunter wants to achieve. Mature toms may be effectively harvested in both north and south Missouri. The difference is the quality or thrill of the hunt and as stated earlier avoidance of public land hunter mentality.
Land To HuntWhile all who want to turkey hunt for free on public land will find thousands of acres to do so in Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest that is like public land is everywhere inherent in the competitive beat the other guy hunting mentality and unregulated. Most of us have had the experiences of public lands where in spite of every precaution taken every hunt is impacted upon by other hunters. To go to any Missouri public lands during the three week spring turkey season is to accept that other hunters will be seen every day and right up to the 1PM cut off. To expect otherwise is to be foolish. The converse is true for the mostly private land northern Missouri agricultural region. Within the northern farming region heavily composed of large grain corn and soybean row crop the vast majority of land is privately owned and public land greatly limited with the largest public lands dedicated to waterfowl habitat. Duck hunting is big business in Missouri and a far greater state income generator that spring turkey season. The northern Missouri frustration is to the hunter that seeks more open ground turkey hunting and the larger bodied turkeys found feeding on crop fields to find a place to hunt. Just as places to hunt are limited so are the number of hunters. Less hunters also means less educated birds. Many of the advantages sought by all and more difficult to achieve. This is where the hunter seeks private land permission by knocking on doors to find acreage, hopes that acreage has a flock and that when he hunts all the others the landowner gave permission to hunt also don't show up. We agree with the majority this is a fools errand. The next option is to pay for a private lease, put out feeders (legal and fair chase issues) and wait and see if the turkeys come. The third option is a guide service that does all the work for the hunter and simply sets him in place for a fee. That of course fails to meet the do it yourself turkey hunt test requirement most turkey hunters seek above all else. The fourth option is our approach to turkey hunts specifically for the hunter that seeks the quality of the hunt above all else. The Missouri land we lease has the right habitat in the right region of Missouri that has a history of good turkey hunts and production. In addition we have a customer service interest at getting every self guided hunter the hunt he wants so as that hunter will return. And, we have local lodging. Once we get a hunter to the farm or farms where he parks his truck he takes the rest from there and hunts alone.
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