Shotguns for Missouri ducks, geese and turkey
Missouri sits in the middle of the Mississippi Flyway, with managed wetlands along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and the Bootheel. It also has one of the country's strongest wild turkey populations. One good shotgun can cover both. This guide explains what to look for. Check the MDC Waterfowl Hunting Digest and spring turkey booklet each year for dates, zones and limits.
12 gauge or 20 gauge
A 12 gauge with a 3-inch chamber is the standard for waterfowl, because non-toxic steel shot is lighter than lead and needs the extra payload. A 3.5-inch chamber helps with geese. For turkey, a 12 gauge with tungsten loads reaches farthest, but modern 20-gauge tungsten shells kill turkeys cleanly to 40 yards with much less recoil, which is why many turkey hunters now carry a 20.
Pump or semi-auto
- Pump: the Mossberg 500 and 835, Remington 870 and Winchester SXP are affordable, rugged and forgiving of mud and cold.
- Semi-auto: gas guns such as the Beretta A300 and Browning Silver soften recoil; inertia guns such as the Benelli Super Black Eagle and Franchi Affinity run clean in wet duck blinds.
Rules that apply to waterfowl
Federal law requires non-toxic shot for ducks and geese and limits the gun to three shells total, so pump and semi-auto shotguns must be plugged. You also need a federal duck stamp and the Missouri migratory bird and waterfowl permits. Many MDC wetland areas run a daily draw for hunting positions; check the area pages before you drive.
Chokes and patterns
Steel shot patterns tighter than lead, so a modified or improved cylinder choke is usually right for ducks over decoys. For turkey, use an extra-full or dedicated turkey choke and pattern your gun at 20, 30 and 40 yards with the shell you plan to hunt. A red dot or small optic helps aim a tight turkey pattern.
Finish and fit
Camo or synthetic stocks with a corrosion-resistant finish are worth the money in wet blinds. Check length of pull: a gun that fits mounts the same way every time. Many shotguns come with stock spacers to adjust it.
Where to hunt
Hunters near St. Joseph, Hannibal, Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff are close to big river bottoms and wetlands. Turkey hunting is good statewide, especially in the Ozarks and the timber of northern Missouri.
Browse shotguns and ammunition. Shotguns ship to your Missouri dealer; shells ship to your door. Read the deer rifle guide if you hunt the November portion too.
General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.
