Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024
PURPOSE: This amendment reorganizes the fall turkey
hunting season verbiage for clarity given proposed consolidation of the fall
turkey hunting permits.
(1)
Turkeys may be pursued, taken, killed, possessed, or transported only as
permitted in this rule.
(A) Spring Season. A
person possessing the prescribed turkey hunting permit may take two (2) male
turkeys or turkeys with visible beards from April 15 through May 5, 2024;
provided only one (1) turkey may be taken before April 22, 2024 and only one
(1) turkey may be taken per day. A turkey taken during a managed hunt will
count towards an individual's spring season bag limit. Turkeys may be taken
only by shotgun, with shot no larger than No. 4, atlatl, crossbow, or bow;
without the use of dogs (except for the recovery of wounded turkey as
specifically authorized by 3 CSR 10-7.410), bait, electronic calls, or live
decoys; from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight
Time (CDT) on public lands and from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to
sunset on private lands. Possession of electronic calls or shotshells loaded
with shot larger than No. 4 is prohibited while hunting turkeys.
(B) Fall Season. The fall season is comprised
of two (2) portions. A person possessing the prescribed turkey hunting permit
may take only two (2) turkeys of either sex during the fall season.
1. Archery Portion: September 15 through
January 15, excluding the dates of the November portion of the firearms deer
season. Turkeys may be taken only by atlatls, bows, and crossbows; without the
use of dogs (except for the recovery of wounded turkey as specifically
authorized by 3 CSR 10-7.410), bait, electronic calls, or live decoys; from
one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.
Possession of electronic calls is prohibited while hunting turkeys.
2. Firearms Portion: October 1 through
October 31 in all counties except Dunklin, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid,
Newton, Pemiscot, and Scott. Turkeys may be taken only by shotgun, with shot no
larger than No. 4; without the use of dogs (except for the recovery of wounded
turkey as specifically authorized by 3 CSR 107.410), bait, electronic calls, or
live decoys; from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset. Possession of
electronic calls or shotshells loaded with shot larger than No. 4 is prohibited
while hunting turkeys.
3. A person,
while in the act of pursuing or hunting turkey during the fall season, shall
not have both a firearm and an atlatl, bow, or crossbow on his/her person
except any person may carry concealable firearms, as defined in Chapter 571,
RSMo, on or about his/her person while hunting. Firearms possessed under this
exception may not be used to take wildlife.
(C) Youth Spring Season. The two- (2-) day
youth spring season will be from April 6 through 7, 2024. Any person possessing
the prescribed turkey hunting permit and who is at least six (6) but not older
than fifteen (15) years of age on the opening day of the youth spring season
may take only one (1) male turkey or turkey with visible beard during the youth
spring season. A turkey harvested during the youth spring season will count
towards an individual's spring season bag limit; individuals hunting under the
prescribed turkey hunting permit may not harvest a second bird before April 22,
2024. Turkeys may be taken only by shotgun with shot no larger than No. 4,
atlatl, crossbow, or bow; without the use of dogs (except for the recovery of
wounded turkey as specifically authorized by 3 CSR 10-7.410), bait, electronic
calls, or live decoys; from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset.
Possession of electronic calls or shotshells loaded with shot larger than No. 4
is prohibited while hunting turkeys.
(2) Hunters who take a turkey shall void
their permit immediately by notching the month and date of harvest and shall
keep the turkey separate or distinctly identifiable from turkeys taken or
possessed by another. When the turkey is not personally attended and prior to
reporting through the Telecheck Harvest Reporting System, the voided permit or
proper label shall be attached to the turkey. Turkeys may be possessed and
transported only by the taker until reported through the Telecheck Harvest
Reporting System. All turkeys taken shall be accurately reported by the taker
or in the taker's immediate presence through the Telecheck Harvest Reporting
System by 10:00 p.m. on the day taken. The Telecheck confirmation number shall
be recorded immediately on the turkey hunting permit. The head and plumage of
the turkey shall remain intact until the turkey is reported through the
Telecheck Harvest Reporting System. All turkeys shall be reported through the
Telecheck Harvest Reporting System prior to processing or being removed from
the state. After reporting through the Telecheck Harvest Reporting System,
turkeys may be possessed, transported, and stored by anyone when labeled with
the permit or any label that includes the full name and address of the taker,
date taken, and Telecheck confirmation number.
(3) Bait shall mean grain or other feed
placed or scattered so as to constitute an attraction or enticement to turkeys.
An area shall be considered baited for ten (10) days following complete removal
of the bait.
(4) Resident and
nonresident landowners as defined in
3 CSR
10-20.805 may obtain landowner turkey hunting permits
from any permit vendor, but only after application to and approval by the
department in accordance with
3 CSR
10-7.412.
(A)
Approved resident landowners may obtain the following permits at no-cost: one
(1) Resident Spring Turkey Hunting Permit, one (1) Resident Landowner Archer's
Hunting Permit, and one (1) Resident Fall Turkey Hunting Permit.
(B) Approved nonresident landowners may
obtain the following permits at a reduced-cost: one (1) Nonresident Landowner
Spring Turkey Hunting Permit, one (1) Nonresident Landowner Archer's Hunting
Permit, and one (1) Nonresident Landowner Fall Turkey Hunting Permit.
(C) All landowner turkey hunting permits are
valid only on qualifying property. Regardless of department approval to obtain
or purchase landowner permits, all landowner turkey hunting permits are valid
only if the holder is a resident or nonresident landowner as defined in
3 CSR
10-20.805 at the time the permit is used.
(D) All landowners who take turkey on
landowner permits may also purchase and fill other turkey hunting permits but
must abide by seasons, limits, and restrictions.
(E) All landowners taking turkeys on a
landowner turkey hunting permit shall report the turkeys through the Telecheck
Harvest Reporting System as required in this rule.
(5) Any person who kills or injures any wild
turkey shall make a reasonable effort to retrieve the turkey and include it in
his/her season limit.
(6) Turkeys
(or parts thereof) reported in accordance with established procedures, when
labeled with the full name and address of the taker, the date taken, and the
Telecheck confirmation number of the turkey, may be possessed, transported, and
stored by anyone.
(7) Feral hogs
may be taken in any number during the spring firearms turkey season and youth
spring season only by the holder of a valid unused turkey hunting permit and
only by methods and times prescribed for taking turkeys. During the fall
firearms turkey season, feral hogs may be taken only by the holder of a valid,
unused turkey hunting permit or a small game hunting permit and only by methods
prescribed in Chapter 7 for taking wildlife and without the use of bait. Other
restrictions may apply on public lands. Resident landowners as defined in this
Code may take feral hogs on their own property at any time, by any method, and
without permit.
*Original authority: 252.240, RSMo 1972, amended
1984.
