Mild weather helps set first-day turkey record

Despite a threatening sky, the weather stayed mild and dry for Monday's opening day of turkey season.

And boy, did the clear skies pay dividends.

While numbers in Missouri's Southeast region did not show a significant jump, Monday's haul was a state record for the opening day. Missouri hunters bagged more than 10,000 turkeys, about 600 more than last year's opening day total of 9,500.

Among many factors that played a part in the record, Monday's dry and pleasant weather was likely a key. A.J. Hendershott, outreach and education regional supervisor with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said nice weather leads to hunters staying out in the field, which in turn leads to more kills.

"No matter how much of a diehard you are, cold and rainy weather is just miserable," he said.

The Southeast region, which includes all of the Cape Girardeau-area counties, had the second-lowest opening day total in the state. Ste. Genevieve led all Southeast region counties with 155 turkeys, followed by Perry County with 143.

With a record first day, the 50,000-mark for the season could be reached for the third straight year.

"It's good to see that," Hendershott said. "I like to see a good registered harvest."

Although a record-setting opening day does not guarantee a record-setting season, it creates a possibility. If the record is broken, Hendershott said it likely would be in part to Missouri's big turkey population.

"I'd like to think that it's because the population is doing so well," he said.