The preliminary numbers for the fall firearm season for turkey hunters in Missouri are in.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports that 2,899 turkeys were checked during the fall firearm season that ran from October 1st through the 31st.

That compares to 3,698 turkeys harvested a year ago.

Conservation officials attribute the lower harvest to a poor turkey hatch, a decline in hunter participation and above average acorn production.

The top county for turkey hunters this fall was Greene in southwest Missouri, where 100 were taken, followed by Texas County with 95 and Dent County with 94.

In northeast Missouri, there were 42 turkeys taken in Macon County, with 39 harvested in Callaway County and 35 bagged in Monroe County.

Fall archery turkey season continues through November 10th, then picks up again November 22nd through January 15th.

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