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NewsFebruary 18, 1996

JEFFERSON CITY -- Turkey hunters, beware; you could get wrong information about 1996 turkey hunting regulations if you aren't careful. Some of the sources might surprise you. For instance, the pocket-sized book, "Wildlife Code of Missouri," published by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) contains inaccurate information about spring turkey season dates and regulations. ...

JEFFERSON CITY -- Turkey hunters, beware; you could get wrong information about 1996 turkey hunting regulations if you aren't careful. Some of the sources might surprise you.

For instance, the pocket-sized book, "Wildlife Code of Missouri," published by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) contains inaccurate information about spring turkey season dates and regulations. So does MDC's hunting and trapping summary booklet. Supplements to those two publications provide the correct information, but hunters must make sure they pick up the replacement pages where permits are sold and pay attention to the new information, not the original publications.

The wrong information concerns the length of the spring turkey season and the turkey bag limit. Last May, the Conservation Commission voted to extend the length of the season, but the commission reversed that decision in December, after regulations booklets were printed. The commission also voted in December to return the bag limit to one bearded bird during each week of the spring turkey season and one turkey of either sex during each week of the fall firearms turkey season.

The 1996 spring turkey season will run 14 days, from April 22 through May 5. Permit holders may harvest one bearded bird per week. This limit also applies during the fall firearms turkey hunting season.

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MDC publications aren't the only place where you might get outdated information. Some outdoors magazines now hitting the news stands also show outdated information that could mislead hunters. The information was correct when the magazines sent their spring issues to press, but their deadlines require printing magazines far in advance of distribution, and the Conservation Commission's reversal came too late to permit corrections in winter and early spring issues.

"We have printed posters announcing the changes," says MDC Editor/Designer Joan McKee. "They will be posted at permit vendors and conservation areas, and should reach most permit holders. But we want to announce the change as widely as possible to cut the chance of misinformation to a minimum."

Hunting hours during the spring season are from one-half hour before sunrise until 1 p.m. During the fall season, hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise until sunset. Turkeys may be taken by shotgun with shot no larger than No. 4, or longbow. The use of dogs, bait, recorded calls or live decoys is prohibited.

For more information on the 1996 spring turkey season regulations write to: Wildlife Division, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180.

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