What a Weekend: Missouri’s Best Youth Turkey Season on Record

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, young hunters harvested 5,255 birds during the spring youth weekend, a big jump from last year and the best youth season on record. That number represents a 22% increase from 2025 and the highest youth harvest since comprehensive record-keeping began in 2004. 

But those numbers only tell part of the story. Across the state, National Wild Turkey Federation chapters, partners and volunteers stepped up to create opportunities that go far beyond a single hunt. 

In southeast Missouri, the Bootheel Boss Gobblers Chapter hosted their Spring Hunter Apprentice School Youth Turkey Hunt at Lake Wappapello. With support from the Army Corps of Engineers and multiple NWTF chapters, nine youth hunters took part in a weekend focused on learning, mentorship and time outdoors.

The group kicked things off Friday night with a meal, a calling demonstration and a safety course led by MDC hunter education instructors. Each hunter was provided with gear to use during the hunt, setting them up for success before heading into the woods.

Hunting conditions proved challenging, with birds going quiet compared to the weeks leading up to the season, but one hunter, Mason Lunsford, was able to connect on a gobbler Sunday morning. Even for those who didn’t tag a bird, the weekend was filled with scouting, fishing and hands-on learning that builds confidence in the field.

Up in Clark County, the Kirchman Foundation Youth Turkey Hunt focused on first-time hunters. Seven youth participants were paired with mentors and given the opportunity to learn everything from turkey biology to calling and hunting strategy before opening morning.

By the end of the weekend, five of the seven hunters had harvested their first bird. For many, it marked the beginning of a lifelong connection to the outdoors and hunting tradition.

At the NWTF Clay Howlett Youth Hunt, now in its eighth year, youth hunters had the opportunity to learn the basics before heading into the field. The event includes a JAKES-style “Turkey 101,” giving participants hands-on experience with calling, safety and hunting skills ahead of opening morning.

Hunts took place on private properties, including the Booth and Calvert farms, where nine youth hunters had opportunities. By the end of the weekend, four birds were harvested. Several others had close encounters, missed shots or chose to pass, including one hunter who held out for a mature bird.

In northeast Missouri, the NEMO chapter hosted one of the largest youth events in the state and a well-known community tradition in the northeast Missouri region. This year, 187 kids signed up to participate in the hunt.

The event kicked off Friday evening with a meal, giveaways and strong community support, including the distribution of 18 firearms to youth participants. By the end of the weekend, 51 birds were harvested, with 37 taken on opening morning alone. The turnout and success highlight the scale of the event and the impact it continues to have on introducing young hunters to the outdoors.

The weekend also included the annual Missouri Governor’s Youth Turkey Hunt, which brings together youth hunters from across the state for a mentored experience supported by conservation partners. Despite challenging weather conditions in some areas of the state both days, seven of the 16 youth hunters harvested birds during the weekend.

When looking at these five hunts together, they account for 69 birds harvested by youth hunters. While just a small snapshot of the birds harvested throughout the state, these birds represent something bigger than a number. They represent first harvests, second chances, journeys begun, lessons learned and memories made in the woods with mentors, family and volunteers.

“This event would not be possible without the continued support of dedicated partners, volunteer guides and private landowners across Missouri,” said John Burk, NWTF district biologist. “Their commitment provides youth with safe, mentored opportunities and plays a critical role in keeping hunting traditions alive.”

That same level of support showed across Missouri throughout the weekend.

From small, mentor-led camps to large community events, youth season continues to play a critical role in passing on hunting traditions and building the next generation. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about the harvest. It’s about the experience and the future of turkey hunting in Missouri.