North Missouri Turkey Hunting
Kevin with a north Missouri spring turkey.
Food First Missouri Turkey Hunting , Cover Second
Many Missouri turkey hunters are attracted to the big woods of south Missouri. While others prefer the more open crop terrain of north Missouri.
Northern Missouri with its rolling hills and cropland has more food than cover. The beauty of turkey hunting north Missouri is you can see turkeys you are working. But the downfall is they can see the hunter as well.
Spring Season And Crop Land
The turkeys in the spring seem to roam the pastures and crop fields. Along with surrounding creeks, rivers and small timber lots of north Missouri. These areas can easily be glassed from a distance. This allows the hunter to follow the flocks for a long period of time. An easy approach to observe their patterns.
At least 45% of north Missouri is in agriculture. Fields that have not been cultivated generally grow short green weeds. These really attract the turkeys to feed and strut. Especially fields not visible from the roads.
Spring turkey season is the time of year the farmers work their fields and plant their crops. Food sources for the turkey can change overnight if a field is worked or planted. So this is an obstacle the turkey hunter must be aware of while hunting cropland. Just like the green sprouts in the stubble fields, the turkeys are attracted to the short green pastures that were grazed in the winter by cattle or burned.
"...one from my pocket camera..."
Track and Relocate
Once a flock is located, they are easy to follow. But the hunter has to keep his distance. The turkey can spot movement from a long distance across the fields. And do so faster than the human eye is able to spot the turkey.
Unlike the timbered regions of south Missouri where the location of a gobble is often a mystery, a north Missouri turkey gobble is often in eyesight. This gives the hunter the advantage of watching a tom that responds to a call. If a hunter sees a tom, makes a call and the turkey doesn't respond, the hunter is able to change calls until the tom responds. He then is able to continue until the turkeys work in the hunter's direction. If the old boy moves on, the hunter is able to keep his eye on the tom and either cut him off or relocate. This is an advantage lost in timber hunting.
Sneaking beneath creek and river banks is a very effective way for the hunter to move or relocate in north Missouri. If a hunter likes to wait it out all day there are many narrow funnels that come together for the hunter to set up a blind and wait.
CRP land is limited in north Missouri. It typically lays on hill ground that was once in cropland. The hens readily lay their nests in CRP grass. The toms follow the hens to the grass where they sit on their eggs. The grass is much thicker than it appears from the road. This is very good all around habitat for the eastern turkey.
The majority of turkey hunters are attracted to large acreage because they like to move and have a variety of options. MAHA has hundreds of small farms in the 80 - 160 acre range that are overlooked year after year. Dozens of these small tracts of land in north Missouri don't ever see a spring turkey hunter.
If you are looking for a quality hunt in one of the nation's top producing states, try hunting spring turkey in north Missouri with MAHA.
Mariah
Email or call 913 773 8110
Mid-America Hunting Association
Spend your time Missouri turkey hunting rather than hunting for a place to hunt!