Stay in Touch with MDC news, newsletters, events, and manage your subscription
Xplor reconnects kids to nature and helps them find adventure in their own backyard. Free to residents of Missouri.
A monthly publication about conservation in Missouri. Started in 1938, the printed magazine is free to residents of Missouri.
DEFIANCE, Mo.—Spring turkey hunting season is nearly here. Opening day is April 15. Are you still asking yourself what your maximum effective shotgun range to harvest a turkey is? What shot size should you be using for turkey hunting? The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants to help hunters find the answers to these questions and more.
The August A. Busch Shooting Range and Education Center will host a Shotgun Pattering for Turkey class Tuesday, April 9, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The class will discuss the principles of how to use different ammunition and chokes to achieve the most effective pattern for your shotgun. MDC staff will help you find the most effective choke/shot shell combination for your shotgun.
To get the most out of the class, participants are encouraged to bring their own shotgun and ammunition. However, MDC can provide firearms and ammunition if needed. The classes are open to ages 10 and up; however, participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Shotgun Pattering for Turkey class is free, but advance online registration is required. To register go to https://bit.ly/2UqpGu5.
Patterning your shotgun is a very important part of hunting that is overlooked by many hunters. Knowing characteristics of ammunition and shot spread is crucial to a shotgun hunter’s success. Before heading out into the field, it is important to pattern a shotgun to get an appropriate pattern for the game being hunted.
Spring turkey season runs April 15- May 5 this year.
The August A. Busch Shooting Range is located at 3550 Route D in Defiance, approximately five miles west of Highway 94.
