Those participating in the Missouri Youth Spring Turkey Hunt enjoy new longer hours

Special to the Herald-Tribune

Missouri's Youth Spring Turkey Hunt is one weekend out of the year worth "gobbling" about.

On the first day of spring, I heard my first turkey gobble of the year and reminded me that the annual youth hunt is fast approaching. This year the youngsters will have the entire day to hunt instead of quiting at 1 p.m.

The new shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset Central Daylight Saving Time.

"I'm glad to see the change," said Joe Clarkson, a veteran turkey hunter from Virginia who now lives in the Missouri Ozarks. I have taken my grandkids hunting in the spring turkey hunt and having a full day to share those beautiful spring days in the turkey woods with the kids is something they will never forget even if they don't get a turkey."

The "pre-opener" occures the weekend before the regular spring gobbler season starts and is a great opportunity for an adult to introduce a youngster to spring gobbler hunting. The turkeys have obviously not been pressured, few people will be in the woods the week before the regular season opening day, the gobbling is usually very good then and an adult can totally concentrate on helping a youngster.

The youth opener is also an opportunity for an adult to talk to a youngster about the special reasons why we hunt and can take the time to show the young hunter other things like how to identify trees, how to read turkey signs and all the little things that make hunting so satisfying.

Clarkson took his 12 year-ols grandson last year and they discussed strategy the evening before the hunt. "We discussed calling options and I illistrated how he could yelp, cluck and gobble with jusy my voice. I know thats something few hunters of any age can do. I had spent three days scouting before the youth opener and the news wasn't good. Both the hens and gobblers were still in large flocks as winter had been late in loosening its grip on Southwest Missouri. What's more, the weather forecast for the next day was for high winds, thunderstorms and heavy rain." Unfortunately, on Saturday morning the weather forecast proved true and the hunters sat in the truck as dawn neared and the rain pelted against the windshield.

Clarkson told his grandson he knew of an old dairy farm nearby where the turkeys often come into an open field to forage. Things started looking up as the pair of hunters spotted several hens and a gobbler heading across the field just minutes after leacing their vehicle. "I positioned myself next to a tree and pointed out to my grandson the likely travel path the birds would make toward us. The turkeys, however, showed no interest in coming toward us. We then changed our plan and decided to move into the woods that bordered a long linear field that was about 50 yards wide. This time we didn't see any gobblers, but two hens answered our calls for about 90 minutes before wandering off. Time ran out on us before we had another chance to find a gobbler. With addition of hunting in the afternoons, this year, the youngsters will have more opportunity to not only to get a gobbler, but also more time to enjoy the woods in the spring when nature is coming alive with activity."

Afternoon spring gobbler hunting is obviously quite new to Missouri hunters so Clarkson, who has experience in Mississippi and other states that have long allowed all-day hunting, offered some do's and don't's including:

Do go to areas where you have heard toms, They will more than likely still be there.

Don't expect to hear as much gobbling, but do expect toms to come in silently more often than in the mornings.

Do stay until sunset. By doing so, you will have a good chance to roost birds for the next morning hunt.

Don't do a great amount of walking and calling. Odds are that you will spook more birds than you can call in.

Do set up between feeding and roosting areas. Call sparingly -- give a few soft yelps and clucks every 20 to 30 minutes.

Clarkson said he was able to go on several afternoon hunts with budding hunters and found those great opportunities to teach young people about the spring woods.

Youth Weekend Spring Turkey Hunt and afternoon hunting are both good innovations from the Missouri Conservation Department. This spring, don't miss the opportunity to share these times afield with members of your family or neighborhood youngsters, you both will enjoy it.

Clarkson said, "I like the opportunity to go hunting with any of my kids. There aren't any distractions when we are in the turkey woods. Its a great time to share what's on our minds."