Missouri to eliminate non residents?

[arkrem870]

I don't know how to post a picture. Its from Caleb O'Brien

Social Science Program Supervisor
Missouri Department of Conservation

[deerhunt1988]

Here is a link to the MDC announcement:

https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-wants-public-comments-resident-nonresident-hunting?fbclid=IwY2xjawI74hRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSqR1-qgr1lNuIhDDUR7QVu8DybCuBOxWAgObv69la05KP0zs6WcebMeAA_aem_bcQMnmQkSZveA94fvmEkcQ


I submitted my public comment. Very concerning proposals mentioned including:

-Only allowing residents to hunt on state owned or leased lands
-Limiting non-residents to only certain portions of the season (not allowing them opening week)
-Only allowing non-residents access to public land during certain portions of the season (I assume allow them on private land opening week but not public. Can't disappoint the turkey outfitters!)


Given Florida's recent changes, I imagine something will pass. One step close to the European model of hunting.

Ya'll be sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! That hot new content is destroying your hunting opportunities.

[Zach.Hannigan]

Thanks for posting the link deerhunt1988. As someone who has never been to missouri I strongly opposed their proposals. I think about the neighboring states like iowa with a one bird limit. I'm sure alot of iowa residents get their one bird then head to missouri to have an extended season and feel a bit more fulfilled. If I was in that situation these regs would be a major bummer. Including scenarios like above where the fella owns property on the Stateline. Losing access and oppurtunity by the minute it seems.

[Marc]

Once again...  No skin in this game.

But were I a Missouri resident hunter, I would probably support regulations with restricted access to residents only on opening weekend (maybe all week) for public areas, as well as increased license fees for non-residents...

I would not restrict on private property...

The residents paying the majority of state taxes on the lands being hunted should have first crack at the public lands..

Looking at it from a Missouri resident hunter, what advantage would there be to not having such restrictions, and why would they vote against it?  Hotel owners, restaurant owners, shop owners and any other tourist business might have a differing opinion though.

I suppose the bottom line is how much revenue does out-of-state hunting create on opening weekend, and how much does the increased pressure from out-of-staters negatively impact hunting and hunting opportunities for resident hunters?

[Hook hanger]

Here is the thing fellas mdc has already made up its mind what its plan of action is and this little survey is just so they can justify it to the public. I knew about the changes coming to Missouri for a year now. 2026 will have changes in nonresident hunting along with costs. I will give you a hint 1 bird limit 2 week season higher tag price.

[deerhunt1988]

So non-residents only accounted for 10% of turkey hunters in Missouri last year and took 12% of the harvest. Such drastic measures don't appear to be warranted going by the data. A lot of other states are much higher than this. Between 2016 and 2024 only 8% of permits went to non-residents. Further restricting non-residents and jacking prices up is turning turkey into what elk and mule deer hunting are out west now.

My vote: go to a draw, drop non-resident hunter numbers back to the long term average. That'd actually be LESS than 10% of total turkey hunter numbers in MO.

If MO takes some of the drastic measures listed, a lot of their residents aren't going to lack it when other states respond accordingly. My prediction is Kentucky will be the next domino to fall. Their commission first discussed limiting non-residents in 2021. If MO eliminates opening week hunting, some of those hunters that normally go there then will migrate elsewhere and that is going to cause more NR hunters to hunt KY.

[Andy S.]

Here is a link to the MDC announcement:

https://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/mdc-wants-public-comments-resident-nonresident-hunting?fbclid=IwY2xjawI74hRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSqR1-qgr1lNuIhDDUR7QVu8DybCuBOxWAgObv69la05KP0zs6WcebMeAA_aem_bcQMnmQkSZveA94fvmEkcQ

Thank you. I commented and shared with others.

[Hook hanger]

So non-residents only accounted for 10% of turkey hunters in Missouri last year and took 12% of the harvest. Such drastic measures don't appear to be warranted going by the data. A lot of other states are much higher than this. Between 2016 and 2024 only 8% of permits went to non-residents. Further restricting non-residents and jacking prices up is turning turkey into what elk and mule deer hunting are out west now.

My vote: go to a draw, drop non-resident hunter numbers back to the long term average. That'd actually be LESS than 10% of total turkey hunter numbers in MO.

If MO takes some of the drastic measures listed, a lot of their residents aren't going to lack it when other states respond accordingly. My prediction is Kentucky will be the next domino to fall. Their commission first discussed limiting non-residents in 2021. If MO eliminates opening week hunting, some of those hunters that normally go there then will migrate elsewhere and that is going to cause more NR hunters to hunt KY.

Mdc is just responding to what other states have done around it.

[deerhunt1988]

Here is the thing fellas mdc has already made up its mind what its plan of action is and this little survey is just so they can justify it to the public. I knew about the changes coming to Missouri for a year now. 2026 will have changes in nonresident hunting along with costs. I will give you a hint 1 bird limit 2 week season higher tag price.

One thing special about Missouri is that its one of the most well funded conservation agencies in the nation thanks to its "conservation" tax. One-eighth-of-one-percent sales tax goes to Missouri Dept of Conservation. This amounts to nearly $160 mill/yr. Every state conservation agency can use every dime they can get, but jacking up the NR turkey permit price to "outprice" non-residents is the wrong way to go about it since the "extra" money is insignificant for them. They won't even notice it.

[deerhunt1988]

So non-residents only accounted for 10% of turkey hunters in Missouri last year and took 12% of the harvest. Such drastic measures don't appear to be warranted going by the data. A lot of other states are much higher than this. Between 2016 and 2024 only 8% of permits went to non-residents. Further restricting non-residents and jacking prices up is turning turkey into what elk and mule deer hunting are out west now.

My vote: go to a draw, drop non-resident hunter numbers back to the long term average. That'd actually be LESS than 10% of total turkey hunter numbers in MO.

If MO takes some of the drastic measures listed, a lot of their residents aren't going to lack it when other states respond accordingly. My prediction is Kentucky will be the next domino to fall. Their commission first discussed limiting non-residents in 2021. If MO eliminates opening week hunting, some of those hunters that normally go there then will migrate elsewhere and that is going to cause more NR hunters to hunt KY.

Mdc is just responding to what other states have done around it.

Understandable, BUT:

Non-residents in Nebraska were killing over the half the turkey harvested in Nebraska.
Non-residents in Kansas were 39% of active turkey hunters last year even AFTER their new quota.

There is just no reasonable comparison when you look at the data. But a lot of states have been guilty of making changes without looking at the science the past several years.

[Andy S.]

One step close to the European model of hunting.

Ya'll be sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! That hot new content is destroying your hunting opportunities.

Truer words have never been typed. It's unfortunate how far we have fallen in the last decade. Loose lips and pimping out the resource continues to take away access and opportunity from the average joe turkey hunter. Many of us screamed this from the top of the mountain a decade ago, but were ignored and dismissed by so many.

[Dtrkyman]

I have hunted Missouri 9 out of the last 10 years and several other years long ago when tags were $75.

They have had a slight increase in the past few years cost wise.

The way the season is structured with only a single bird allowed the first week is already a limiting factor for many non residents.

No way they limit non residents on private, too many non res land owners and hunters using outfitters.

I haven't seen an increase in pressure recently, basically the same in the areas I hunt.


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[joey46]

IMO most of these changes everywhere are as much due to resident whining as anything scientific.  When they get the non-resident tags, licenses etc up in the $500 range things will settle down.  Another IMO - any state worrying about turkey numbers that still allows a three bird resident limit is almost funny.

[CALLM2U]

I'm still waiting on someone to explain how YouTube is responsible for the significant drop in poult survival since 1980. 

[arkrem870]

IMO most of these changes everywhere are as much due to resident whining as anything scientific.  When they get the non-resident tags, licenses etc up in the $500 range things will settle down.  Another IMO - any state worrying about turkey numbers that still allows a three bird resident limit is almost funny.

Gobbler limits are a very small factor in turkeys management and production. Much smaller than people think. It more about decreasing pressure for other hunters to have a better hunting experience vs the survival of the wild turkey.

I am pissed at Mississippi for shutting me out every year on the draw. And then not allowing my kids to youth hunt National Forest because there dad didn't draw than the 3 gobbler limit.