Fall firearm turkey season in full swing

Photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation/ Duck hunters should see more Mallards this fall as their numbers are up slightly from last seasons good flight.

Hunting seasons are popping up like spring mushrooms.

The prospects of a good fall hunting season in Missouri has optimism running high. The firearm fall turkey season opened Oct. 1. Hunters reported seeing lots of young birds.

The latest totals show most of the top counties are in the Ozarks. After a good breeding season, turkey numbers are very good. Results of the annual brood survey show that for the third time in the last four years, the ratio of polts-to-hen was 1.7 percent Statewide.

The ratio was up 31 percent over last year, which should result in more turkeys in the woods this fall. and also makes the spring season look very good. Jason Isabelle, resource scientist for the Missouri Conservation Department turkey program, said this years numbers are encouraging.

Turkey hunting in the fall isn't as popular as in the spring when gobblers are talking, but it is a good time to be in the woods as fall colors start to show. Fall turkey hunting is much different than the spring hunt. Many hunters pass up the fall season to concentrate on other hunting or to go fishing, which is good in many streams and big lakes.

Still, fall turkey hunting has it's followers. Hunters have a much longer season (the entire month of October), and they may hunt all day as opposed to the spring season when shooting time each day ends at 1 p.m.

Fall firearm hunters may take the season limit of two turkeys of either sex on the same day. Spring turkey hunters can always tell very soon that there is a gobbler in the area, but fall hunters don't have that kind of help to locate birds.

The gobbles that spring hunters hear aren't there in the fall. You might hear a gobble or two, but since the toms aren't love struck in October like they are in April, you don't hear that gobble after gobble.

One advantage fall turkey hunters have over their spring counterparts is that there are fewer ticks in the woods to deal with.

George Miller, Warsaw said, "I have just about given up turkey hunting in the spring because of ticks. They seem to really like me and every time I go into the woods I come out loaded with those blood thirsty critters. I still find a few on me when hunting in early October, but nothing like it in April and May."

Other wild game numbers have fall hunters optimistic as the season outlook is promising. Here is a rundown on what hunters might expect.

QUAIL

For a change from the past several years, quail numbers show an increase this fall. Statewide, quail numbers are higher than they have been in four years. Habitat is the main reason quail numbers have been down, but hunters are encouraged by any gain for this popular game bird. Bob Duncan of Columbia, has hunted quail in Missouri for more than 40 years. He said, "There will never be the bird population like we had when I first started hunting quail, but hopefully they will make a comeback."

RABBIT

Along with the quail, rabbit numbers are on the increase. The number of rabbit hunters is down while the rabbit numbers are higher than the past several seasons. The fall season opened on October 1 and will run through Feb, 15, 2015 with a daily limit of six cottontails.

DEER

Missouri whitetail deer hunters may find fewer targets this fall for several reasons. The hemorrhagic disease that first hit Missouri in 2012 took a toll on deer. That combined with several years of liberal hunting seasons has lowered the numbers of whitetails in the state. However, the Ozarks is one of the bright spots where deer numbers have shown a slight increase. Last year, hunters took 50,000 more deer than the year before. Missouri will still see some good deer hunting this fall.

WATERFOWL

The prospects of a good fall waterfowl season has optimism running high. After a record number of ducks( 49.2 million) on the breeding grounds hunters should see more ducks heading our way this fall. Only weather and water conditions when the season opens will keep duck hunters from having one of the best seasons in years. In most sections of the state, food and water conditions are good so if the weather cooperates, the birds should stay awhile once they get here. Populations of nearly every species of ducks have shown a big increase in numbers ahead of their southern migration. The most popular duck, the mallard, had a slight increase, which has duck hunters looking forward to the duck season.

SQUIRREL

Fall squirrel hunters should have another good season. The number of bushytails is down a little in some areas, but the overall outlook looks good for squirrel hunters this fall. The squirrel season opened back in May, but most squirrel hunters wail until October to get serious.

SNIPE/RAIL/ WOODCOCK

The hunters who go after these small migratory birds, should have plenty of action this fall. The numbers of all three birds should be similar to the past several seasons. Tim Baker, Springfield, is an avid woodcock hunter said, " I am anticipating another great woodcock season this fall. Birds will be moving to Louisiana. The weather in Canada and northern U.S. will determine if we will have a trickle migration or a mass migration movement."

Key hunting dates:

DEER

* Archery, opened Sept. 15 to Nov. 14, and Nov. 26 to Jan. 15.

* Youth Season: Nov. 1-2 and Jan. 3-4.

* November Portion: Nov. 15-25.

* Anterless Season: Nov. 26- Dec. 7.

* Alternative Methods: Dec. 20-30.

QUAIL

* Youth Season: Oct. 25-26.

* Regular Season: Nov. 1- Jan. 15.

TURKEY

* Firearm: entire month of October.

* Archery: Now through Nov. 14. Reopens Nov. 26 thru Jan. 15.

DUCKS

* North Zone Regular season: Oct. 25- Dec. 23.

* Middle Zone: Nov. 1- Dec. 30 Youth, Oct. 25-26

Nov. 27- Jan. 25.

CANADA GEESE

* Nov. 27- Jan. 31.

SQUIRREL

* Open now through Feb. 15.

WOODCOCK

* Oct. 15- Nov. 28.

SNIPE

* Now open thru Dec. 16.

RAIL

* Open now through Nov. 9.

RABBIT

* Open now through Feb. 15.