Spring turkey season doesn't sneak up on you. It builds. The days get longer, the timber starts to green up, and somewhere in the back of your head you start doing the math on how many weeks until opening morning. If you're hunting the Midwest this spring — or trying to find the right piece of ground to hunt — here's what you need to know about when seasons open and what actually matters when you get there.
Missouri is legitimate turkey country. Strong populations, diverse habitat, and a long history of serious spring gobbler hunting make it a destination state for hunters who know what they're looking for. The 2026 season opens with youth weekend on April 11–12, followed by the regular season running April 20 through May 10.
Public ground exists, and some of it hunts well. But private land is where the real opportunity lives....