Knob Noster - Missouri -----Spring Trip 2013

[Byhalia]

  I am thinking about heading to Missouri this spring. (visiting friends)

Can all you all give me some direction on some areas to check out for spring gobbler hunting in this area ?


Thanks !!     
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[Gamblinman]

Be aware although some areas still hold good populations, Missouri's turkey population overall is down significantly over past years. Couple that with the price of non-resident licenses in that state, I've dropped them from my list of annual hunts.

Gman

[budtripp]

Yeah our population isn't what it used to be, be we've had good hatches the last two years in a row. With the number of jakes I saw last spring, there should be a good number of 2 yr old gobblers this spring. Plus, even in our down years, we still have better turkey hunting than most of the country. Maybe I'm biased.

[coyotetrpr]

There is a conservation area a little north and west of Knob that I used to hunt years ago. Hazel Hill is the name. However, you will not be that far from Truman lake. The core ground around the lake holds a pile of turkeys. Good luck.

[Turkeyman11]

My brother and I traveled to Missouri from Utah last year and were both successful in finishing our grand slams.  We hunted the Wayne Helton WMA just outside of Bethany.  I don't know how hunting in Missouri is on "good" years but I thought it was ok.  I would hear four or five birds each morning on the roost which isn't what I'm used to out West chasing Merriams.  You Eastern hunters must be good hunters though cuz my only experience with them is they are tough to bring in. 

[budtripp]

My brother and I traveled to Missouri from Utah last year and were both successful in finishing our grand slams.  We hunted the Wayne Helton WMA just outside of Bethany.  I don't know how hunting in Missouri is on "good" years but I thought it was ok.  I would hear four or five birds each morning on the roost which isn't what I'm used to out West chasing Merriams.  You Eastern hunters must be good hunters though cuz my only experience with them is they are tough to bring in.

Back in our "glory days" instead of hearing four or five birds at first light like you guys did, it could be eight, ten, maybe even a dozen within earshot. Those kinds of numbers got a lot of us spoiled thats for sure. People around here are complaining that they can't find any turkeys and several haven't even hunted the last few years. I just nod and grin and continue to tag out  the birds are still here, people just got spoiled and lazy in the past. This peak in our population happened to be about the time I first started turkey hunting, around 13 years old. I think the only reason I killed any birds back then was simply because there were so many I was bound to get lucky sooner or later lol

[Fullfan]

Like I said before, I have hunted in the Twain for the past 23 years. The bird numbers are way down and the hunters are way up. We still go and we have a good time. The locals are always in camp drinking a few beers and getting their butts whipped at horseshoes.

The rain has pounded us in SE/M0 for the past 8 springs. Several years ago it rained for 9 days while we were there.

[Neill_Prater]

My brother and I traveled to Missouri from Utah last year and were both successful in finishing our grand slams.  We hunted the Wayne Helton WMA just outside of Bethany.  I don't know how hunting in Missouri is on "good" years but I thought it was ok.  I would hear four or five birds each morning on the roost which isn't what I'm used to out West chasing Merriams.  You Eastern hunters must be good hunters though cuz my only experience with them is they are tough to bring in.

Back in our "glory days" instead of hearing four or five birds at first light like you guys did, it could be eight, ten, maybe even a dozen within earshot. Those kinds of numbers got a lot of us spoiled thats for sure. People around here are complaining that they can't find any turkeys and several haven't even hunted the last few years. I just nod and grin and continue to tag out  the birds are still here, people just got spoiled and lazy in the past. This peak in our population happened to be about the time I first started turkey hunting, around 13 years old. I think the only reason I killed any birds back then was simply because there were so many I was bound to get lucky sooner or later lol

What he said. 

[o2stk1]

you might want to contact the mo. consv dept. they have a book for 20bucks I think that will show all the public grounds and maps to get to them there are a lot of small tracts of land that a lot of people don't know about its a must have if your looking for public ground

[stinkpickle]

I don't know much about the Knob Noster area, but I think the last two hatches in the northern half of the state have been decent, and we're expecting a good number of two-year-olds this year.  I hope that's true...