Outdoor activities pick up in Missouri

Now is a great time of the year for the outdoor- minded people of Missouri. With turkeys gobbling, mushrooms popping and fish spawning, it doesn't get much better than this.

Young turkey hunters across the state just finished their special Youth Weekend Turkey Hunt by taking 4,328 turkeys, which was the largest number of bearded birds ever harvested in the 14-year history of the youth hunt. Top counties were Franklin with 107 birds checked, followed by Cedar with 96 and Webster with 92.

Vernon County had 51 birds checked over the course of the weekend.

George Dawson, Joplin, said, "I had been doing some scouting in Vernon County a couple of weeks ago and I saw lots of turkey signs, so I wasn't surprised to see it was one of the better counties in the state during the youth weekend hunt."

The regular spring turkey season opens Monday, with the forecast of a good season. There should be plenty of toms talking in the woods.

The big birds have been sounding off early in the mornings in the turkey woods.

The Missouri turkey population is in great shape, so it should be another good season for the growing number of turkey hunters. Most areas of the state report a healthy population of birds.

Jim Anderson, Sedalia, said, "Turkey hunting in Missouri has come a long way since that first season, back in 1960. The popularity of turkey hunting in the state has grown from less than a thousand hunters to around 100,000, today.

"Of course, the number of turkeys has increased dramatically, as well. Today, the entire state has an open season in the spring. It's a tribute to the restoration program by the Missouri Department of Conservation."

With the warming water in lakes, streams and ponds, the fishing has picked up in the past week. Bass, bluegill and catfish in area ponds have made fishing good, without going too far.

Harry Thompson, Lebanon, said, ""I went over to Pomme de Terre last week, but didn't catch many fish. The next day, I fished a local farm pond and caught more fish in 30 minutes than I did all day at the big lake. That farm pond fishing is about as good as it gets."

Jill Gunzenhauser, Ozark, hit Stockton Lake and caught a 20-inch walleye and some big crappie last weekend.

Feeder streams are still producing some good catches of white bass and crappie. The spawning run for white bass started a week or so earlier and the crappie are about ready to give bank anglers a chance to catch some spawning fish.

As for the mushrooms, the morels are just starting to appear and with the recent moisture in the ground, it should be a good season for the growing number of mushroom hunters. Some area hunters have been finding the red or beefsteak mushrooms for a week or so, as well as a few small black morels, but the best is yet to come.

A person can get addicted to morel mushroom hunting and eating, just like they can to turkey hunting and spring fishing. We are entering the time when all three will be hitting their peak.