October marks the beginning of fall action for many Missouri hunters.
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Favorable weather and a second year of strong reproduction spell good news for Missouri hunters who pursue turkeys and rabbits starting in October.
October marks the beginning of fall action for many Missouri hunters. Rabbit season and archery turkey hunting begin Oct. 1, and Missouri’s fall firearms turkey season opens Oct. 9. Biologists with the Missouri Department of Conservation say hunters who pursue these popular game species can look forward to a good season.
Wildlife Research Biologist Tom Dailey says rabbit population surveys conducted in July showed a statewide population index 26 percent higher than last year and just 12 percent below the average over the past 17 years. Counts were highest in northwestern, north-central and northeastern Missouri.
Wildlife Research Biologist Mike Hubbard says the state’s turkey flock enjoyed good nest success this year, posting average to good reproduction throughout most of the state. Coming on the heels of excellent nest success in 1998 and 1999, this spells ample fall hunting opportunities.
“The fall season should provide ample opportunity for Missouri hunters to harvest a turkey,” says Hubbard. “In addition to tremendous turkey numbers, hunting pressure is much lower in the fall than during the spring season.” The Conservation Department sold 32,606 fall firearms turkey hunting tags in 1999, compared to 113,495 for the 2000 spring turkey season. Dailey noted that although rabbit populations still are below the long-term average, bunnies are locally abundant in areas with good habitat and favorable spring weather. Rabbits and other ground-nesting animals enjoy the best nest success in years when spring weather is warm and moderately dry. Cold weather and heavy rains can reduce the number of young that survive.
Dailey says he expects rabbit hunting opportunities to be similar to 1999. Northern Missouri will provide the most action. Population indices were above last year’s in the northwestern, north-central and northeastern parts of the state. The Mississippi lowland region in southeastern Missouri had about the same number of rabbits as last year, but only half as many as the long-term average. Rabbit numbers in the Ozarks and Ozark border regions were about the same as last year, off slightly from the long-term average. The western prairie region’s rabbit population index this year is off significantly from 1999 and stands at only one-third of the long-term average.
Rabbit season opens Oct. 1 and runs through Feb. 15. The daily limit is six, and only two of these can be swamp rabbits. Possession limits are twice the daily limits.
Archery turkey hunting runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 10 and from Nov. 22 through Jan. 15. Fall firearms turkey hunting begins Oct. 9 and runs through Oct. 22. The season limit is two birds of either sex. Only one bird may be taken during the first week of the season. After that, the limit is one bird daily, up to the season limit of two.
Further details of rabbit and turkey hunting regulations are available in the 2000 Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations,” which is available wherever hunting permits are sold.