We’ve made it to the middle of the Midwestern Turkey Season 2025. Seasons are open region wide. Reports from across the Midwest confirm Gobblers are coming off the roost and following flocks of hens first thing in the morning, but the flocks are breaking up in the mid-morning with more and more females taking to nest each day. If you can’t intercept a big old Tom off the roost, you may find your best chances of success a little later in the morning.
Once the hens head for their nests, a gobbler will set of on a quest for a receptive female. This is where your calling comes into play. A good lone hen decoy, or a hen with a jake can also help lure them in. Give the gobblers time to arrive. Move slow. Patience is your friend. When most guys are heading for the truck, you might just strike a gobble. If you do, work it. Many longbeards bite the dust at midday this time of year.
Youth hunters paved the way across the Midwest while putting on a show. Harvests were up in many states. Youth season hunts are special when kids learn about more than just pulling the trigger. Lots of special memories were made and lots of lessons were taught about wildlife, habitat, and traditions.
Missouri
The Show Me State saw substantial rain in the days leading up to the season opener on April 21. Some hunters had to go to their back up plan since where the area they originally intended to hunt was underwater. Not good news for the hens who were already on nests in the river bottoms, but hopefully there is enough time left for them to nest again.
With the sun out on day two, the gobblers were much more vocal. Opening day might have been a bit slow, but for those waiting on the first weekend, things look promising. Especially, the number of birds out there on the landscape.
Youth hunters showed exceptional success when they checked 4,449 birds. The two-day harvest total was just 21 birds shy of the state Youth Season record set in 2015.
“Excellent turkey hunting weather and a large number of two-year-old gobblers on the landscape likely led to the 18% increase in youth harvest this year,” MDC’s wild turkey biologist Nick Oakley said in a released statement. “This bodes well for another strong regular season.”
South Dakota
South Dakota is a tale of two regions within the same state. The eastern two thirds of the state is prairie and agriculture. The western third in badlands and the Black Hills. They hunt as different as they look, but both sides of the state produce turkeys. It’s really a matter of what sort of hunt you are looking to experience.
Brian Bashore of Sioux Falls lives and hunts about as far east as one can get in South Dakota. A professional walleye tournament angler ang guide Brian has the advantage of spending a lot of time on the water fishing, which also lends itself to a lot of wildlife watching on the shore.
“The public land around the reservoirs in South Dakota are overlooked for turkey hunting. I see a lot of turkeys from my boat. It’s not always the easiest way to get to your turkey hunting spot, but if you have access to a boat, you can slip into a lot of great unpressured turkey honey holes from the water. Right now, I can hear turkeys gobbling while I’m fishing. It’s pretty easy to locate a bird this way, then beach the boat and make a play,” Bashore said.
The Black Hills are a different monster all together. Steep, rugged, tangled with fallen trees in the thickest reaches, the Hills aren’t easy to hunt. But tag Merriam’s out there and you’re doing something. Most of the Hills are public land, so find a place to hunt is easy. Finding a place with no other hunters and fresh birds is much harder.
Now in the middle of the season, going further in off the road can often make all the difference. Get up high and listen at sunrise. Chances are you’re going to hear more than one gobble. Go after the harder one to reach, because the other guys probably went after the easier one.
Minnesota
The Land of 10,000 Lakes also has plenty of turkeys. They also have a lot of turkey seasons. With Youth Season and Season A now in the past, hunters still have seasons B, C, D, E, and F ahead of them. We’re in Season B now.
David Ray, who 20 years ago was known as “Little Dave,” was often my youth hunting partner back home in Indiana. Not so little anymore, Dave is now taking his own sons to the turkey woods.
“Oh, man, it’s the absolute best. With them, I have to hunt out of blinds, but it’s perfect, because they can move around and play on the ground. Thankfully, they’re not tall enough yet for their heads to show above the windows, so we’re safe for a few more years,” he said. “The turkeys have been gobbling really good lately. The boys love listening to them. I try to find a pinch point to set up in where a gobbler might pass through while on the move. They’re traveling later in the day. I hope to get out soon and put my tag on one.”
Minnesota has tons of public land, so finding a place to hunt is pretty easy. Finding a really good place is a little tougher. David lives just outside of the Twin Cities, and he focuses on hunting to the south.
See you down the trail…
Brandon Butler
driftwoodoutdoors@gmail.com
Pic: Brandon Butler and Connor Root with his Missouri Youth Season Gobbler.
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