Fifty-one years after it began, Missouri’s wild turkey restoration program finally seems to be on the verge of ultimate success.

Missouri has had record harvests 14 of the past 20 years, including last year’s high-water mark of 60,744. The state’s turkey flock remains robust, with an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 birds.

The regular season remains three weeks long, running from April 18 through May 8. As in recent years, the bag limit is two. Only one turkey may be taken the first week of the season.