Submitted by Justin Ralph, Atchison County Conservation Agent

Spring turkey season will begin with a youth season April 6-7. This will be open to ages 6-15. Shooting hours will be half an hour before sunrise until sunset (Central time). Youth may harvest one turkey during this season but may not harvest a second turkey until April 22, as a turkey taken during youth season counts as a turkey for the first week of the regular season.

Spring regular season turkey hunting begins on April 15 and concludes on May 5, 2024. This season has some new rules that hunters need to be aware of, including all-day hunting on private land. Shooting hours begin on the 15th half an hour before sunrise. Private land turkey hunting will conclude at sunset each day. Shooting hours conclude on public land at 1:00 p.m.

Hunters may harvest two adult male turkeys or turkeys with a visible beard during the season with the following stipulations:

• Hunters may only take one turkey during the first week from April 15-21 and must wait until the 2nd or 3rd (April 22 – May 5) week to harvest a second turkey.

• Hunters that do not harvest a turkey during the first week may harvest two turkeys during the second and third weeks. Hunters are not allowed to harvest two turkeys on the same day.

I ask that hunters be careful during this season and throughout the year. Always remember proper hunting safety rules: (1) Always point your shotgun in a safe direction, (2) always keep your shotgun on safe until you are ready to fire, (3) keep your finger outside of the trigger guard until you intend to fire, and (4) know your target and what lays beyond.

If you have any questions, call Atchison County Conservation Agent Justin Ralph at 816-383-0404.