This year spring turkey season will invoke the ringing of a shotgun signaling those waiting hunters to begin their game season again on April 19. The previous week is the opening of the youth portion of the spring turkey hunt on April 10 through the 11th for residents ages six through fifteen. Youth may participate with a properly permitted adult hunter holding a hunter education card. The youth must hold and fire his/her own firearm in the harvesting of one male (bearded) turkey. A new regulation applies to resident landowners that take youth hunting on property that they own. Those without a hunter certification are exempt from having to have it when accompanying youth to hunt on land that they own.

Furbearers are sought by hunters and trappers alike. This year there are a couple of new regulations and some longer seasons which affect Missouri’s hunters and trappers. Bobcats can now be hunted and trapped state wide with a longer open season. The seasons for hunting/trapping badger, red and gray fox, opossum, raccoon and striped skunk are longer as well. In addition to taking squirrels, ground hogs and rabbits with a hunting permit they may also be taken with cage type traps at any hour during that species’ open hunting season. Mink otter beaver muskrats may be trapped in a longer season this year also. A new Resident Cable Restraint Permit is available for $25 for those who hold a trapping permit and have successfully completed the training required to use the new cable restraint devices which can be used from December 15th until February 15th. This new device holds animals alive and allows trappers to release non-target animals unharmed.

The longer seasons have been put into effect by Missouri’s Conservation Department in order to help reduce the fur bearer population that has steadily increased in the last decade due to a decline in fur trade and fewer hunters and trappers pursuing them. They establish these numbers by polling the archers who stand quietly in the woods and asking what numbers of animals they see when hunting and by using scent sticks strategically placed in the center of a fine powdered dirt circle to draw curious fur bearers and then counting the tracks within the circle. Check out the new 2004 season wildlife code for yourself to see when your favorite hunting season opens or take a course and learn to use the new trapping devices that allow you to catch and release small fur bearers, classes are available after May 15th.