PROS vs CONS... Early May Turkey Hunting

[Gumby]

Past several years the turkey population has really suffered. The Game an Fish Commission moved the season back several years ago. We don't even have a fall season as they try to get the population back. Really tough hunting here lately.

[calebb]

At least you don't live in Arkansas....we open April 20 and close May 4. That is LATE for down here.

Agreed it's really late for us. That said the last weekend of the 2012 season was the best two days we had all season. Worked 4 birds into gun range the last two days and they gobbled their butts off. So it could be worse I suppose. Hopefully we can get a few more good hatches and get back to what we had  in the mid 00's

[turkey_slayer]

Late season here in VA is when we harvest our biggest birds typically. I would probably trade my first 3 weeks during April for our last 2 weeks in the beginning of May if I could only chose one.

. Give me the last 2 weeks over the first 3 weeks any year. Some of the birds that were henned up earlier are now lonely and they usually have the best jewerly 

[jblackburn]

I grew up in MO, early May can be great. My last MO bird in 2009 was killed at the end of the 3rd week. It was a 24 3/4 pound stud with a paintbrush from public land in northern MO.  They will be gobbling into June up there most years.

[Kylongspur88]

Late season is great here. I've always killed big birds late season. Some food for thought..
1 hens are nesting and gobblers are lonely.
2 more leaves and cover so birds can be called in closer.
3 less hunters, most folks have killed or just gave up.
4 better weather
5 did I say the hens are nesting leaving gobblers alone....

Light calling and a single hen decoy have worked very well for me in may.

[chatterbox]

Early May is when I start!

[870FaceLift]

I have no experience with MO.  However, I have hunted KY, TN, and OH for quite a few years now.  When I first started traveling to those states, I was eager to get there for the openers - especially KY and TN, as I reside in OH.  It was very evident after the first few years that the birds were extremely hard to peel away from hens.  With experience and knowledge given from the locals, we have learned to go down around the third week of the seasons.  Our success has increased dramatically, especially on public land.  As mentioned by quite a few others here, it seems to better hunting once the latter weeks roll in.

[Full_Fan]

Well I'll be in northern MO the last week of the season and with the weather being the way it is this spring thus far, it should be much different than last year.  Hoping for some good luck.  Thanks for all the encouragement!

[Gooserbat]

I lived in MO for 5 years and the last week of season was usualy the best.  Like already said hens are nesting, and less hunting preasure.