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Franklin Today
By the People, for the People
Missouri Youth Hunters Bag Over 5,200 Turkeys
Top harvest counties were Osage, Franklin, and Gasconade during the annual spring youth turkey weekend.
Apr. 13, 2026 at 6:37pm
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A cubist interpretation of the annual youth turkey hunt captures the thrill and skill of the sport.Franklin TodayPreliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows young turkey hunters in Missouri harvested 5,255 birds over the past youth hunting weekend, April 11-12. The top harvest counties were Osage with 121 birds, Franklin with 119, and Gasconade with 107 turkeys taken.
Why it matters
The annual youth turkey hunting weekend is an important tradition in Missouri, introducing the next generation to the sport and helping maintain healthy wild turkey populations across the state. The strong turnout and harvest numbers demonstrate the continued popularity of this program among young hunters.
The details
This year marks the 25th anniversary of MDC offering a special youth weekend for spring turkey hunting. In April 2001, young Missouri turkey hunters got their first dedicated spring hunting weekend, and over the decades, youth spring turkey hunting has grown in popularity. In 2001, MDC sold just over 4,000 youth permits, while this spring they sold nearly 16,700.
- The youth turkey hunting weekend took place on April 11-12, 2026.
- The regular spring turkey season runs from April 20 through May 10, 2026.
The players
Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
The state agency responsible for managing and protecting Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources.
What’s next
The regular spring turkey season in Missouri will run from April 20 through May 10, 2026, following the successful youth hunting weekend.
The takeaway
Missouri's annual youth turkey hunting weekend continues to be a popular and impactful program, introducing the next generation to the sport and helping sustain the state's thriving wild turkey populations.