JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has announced regulation changes to spring turkey hunting that will reduce the nonresident harvest limit from two bearded turkeys to one beginning with the 2026 season.
Nonresident landowners will continue to have a harvest limit of two bearded birds, with only one allowed to be harvested during the first seven days of the season.
The approved changes also affect youth hunters. Under the new regulations, youth hunters who are successful during the spring youth season will be allowed to harvest a second bird during the first week of the regular spring turkey season. Currently, youth hunters who take a turkey during the youth portion must wait until the second week of the regular season to harvest a second bird.
The regulation changes were approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission during its Dec. 12 open meeting in Jefferson City and will take effect for the 2026 spring turkey season.
According to MDC, public comments and feedback indicated that many resident turkey hunters value uncrowded hunting opportunities and have expressed concerns about increased nonresident participation and overcrowding on some public hunting areas.
MDC said reducing the nonresident spring harvest limit is expected to decrease the number of days nonresident hunters spend afield, helping to ease crowding and hunting pressure experienced by resident hunters. The department also noted it will continue assessing nonresident participation in deer hunting seasons.
The 2026 Spring Youth Turkey Season will be held April 11–12, followed by the regular spring turkey season from April 20 through May 10.
Additional information will be available in the MDC 2026 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, which will be released closer to the season and posted online.
