One bird season limit coupled with $305 non-resident tag appears to have moved the needle. Plenty of residents are still pushing for a draw system for NR hunters, much like MS.
Missouri - Mission Accomplished
- Thread starter Andy S.
- Start date
The non resident was $50 when I first hunted Mark Twain in the early eighties. It was a bargain since Tenn. had very few hunting opportunities at that time. I think the last permit I bought in 1999 was $150. I did not hear a turkey that week. The quality of Mark Twain hunting steadily declined during those years and the non resident permit has gone up.to a point that it priced me out. If the hunting was as good as it was during the early eighties I would bite the bullet and buy the permit even with out of state hunters being short changed on when they can hunt. Mark Twain is a federal property that should have the same opportunities for out of state hunters as well residents.
The 4-5 local old school turkey masters who I admired growing up had some GREAT hunting experiences/memories in Missouri from the late 80s to the early 2000s. They hunted up near Salem on public and private and never ever mentioned anything but great turkey hunting with plenty of opportunity. They did mention the bargain price of the 80s versus the cost increase they had experienced over the years when they finally were priced out and had aged to the point those big hills were not as desirable as they once were. Most had retired and were on a fixed income by the early 2000s, thus rising cost of living was more of a concern than it ever was. The ones that are alive are around 80 y/o today. Back in the day, they were stealthy, patient, turkey killing machines in the hardwoods with 12G 2.75" shells.
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TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Until, I believe around 2010, my dedicated turkey gun was a lightweight side-by-side with 2.75" chambers. No choke tubes, but it had been bored extra full & full. My range limit was 40 yds; most turkeys were killed under 20. My most common load was 2 3/4" Winchester copper-plated 1 1/2 oz #5s.
My main reason for getting a more "modern" dedicated turkey gun was I didn't want to put an optic on that double barrel.
It is a hefty price for 1 turkey.
Don't worry the nonresidents will focus even more now on Kentucky and Tennessee.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Its amazing there are any turkeys left. ANOTHER 3% increase in resident licenses year over year?
I guess everyone is a turkey hunter now.
I guess everyone is a turkey hunter now.
Upcoming changes for Missouri NR deer hunters too.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Roughly double the price for half the numer of deer if hunting public. Id say that will do the trick.
Seems like that's the trend everywhere... stick it to the nonresidents to prop up the state game and fish budgets to keep resident licenses cheap. Residents LOVE it, G&F LOVES the extra revenue. Majority happy.
Unless a resident ever wants to leave their state to hunt elsewhere.
Seems like that's the trend everywhere... stick it to the nonresidents to prop up the state game and fish budgets to keep resident licenses cheap. Residents LOVE it, G&F LOVES the extra revenue. Majority happy.
Unless a resident ever wants to leave their state to hunt elsewhere.
