Bagging a bird: Ozark County youth harvest 34 turkeys during spring youth weekend

<p class="p1">Ozark County youth hunters took advantage of the nice weather last weekend, taking to the woods in pursuit of turkeys. The young hunters, ranging from 6 to 15 years old, took home 34 birds during the youth-only spring turkey hunt. Twenty-seven adult gobblers and seven juvenile gobblers were harvested in Ozark County. No bearded hens were killed this year. </p><p class="p1">Statewide, youth killed a total of 4,072 turkeys, including 3,294 adult gobblers, 712 juvenile gobblers and 66 bearded hens. Top harvest counties were Franklin County with 118 birds killed, Callaway County with 91 turkeys harvested and Gasconade County with 87. </p><p class="p1">Those youth who were unsuccessful, along with adult hunters, will have another shot at bagging a bird during the regular spring turkey hunt, which opens April 17 and runs through May 7. <span class="s1">For more information on the upcoming season or to download a copy of the 2017 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, visit</span> huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/turkey. <span class="s1">Booklets are also available where hunting permits are sold. </span></p>

<p class="p1">Tyler Ellison, 11, in true Ozark County fashion, crosses a creek barefooted, carrying his gobbler on his back after a successful hunt Saturday morning. Tyler is the son of Mike and Emmy Ellison.</p>