JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri hunters had a good start to the spring turkey season.
The state Department of Conservation says hunters bagged 21,765 turkeys in the first week of the season, which opened April 16. That's up nearly 16 percent from last year's opening week and marks the first increase since 2004. The increase was noted in all regions of the state.
Department scientists say the increase is due largely to a good hatch of baby turkeys last year. One-year-old males made up more than one-fourth of this year's opening week kill, up substantially from last year.
Missouri's spring hunting season runs 21 days.