Looking for Public Land Turkey Hunting (Please Help)

Hey folks! I live on Lake Nimrod in Arkansas and fish awesome lake Millwood with my son, who runs a crappie guide service there. I haven't turkey hunted in almost 20 years. I started back this year as I'm retired now. I have 2 total knee replacements but it doesn't slow me down any. Our Arkansas turkey hunting is pretty tuff these days and it reminds me why I quit so many years ago. But, I really missed doing it and would like to come up to Missouri again and try it. I've only been there once years ago near the Eleven Point River. It was a fun trip and y'all have some of the most beautiful rolling hardwoods I've ever seen.
I might be able to talk my son into coming up with me but I just talked to him at Millwood and they're killing the 2 1/2 lb+ crappie right now. May have to fly solo. I was considering Eastern Kansas but due to Covid19 they are not selling non-resident tags this year.
I understand y'all's turkey hunting may be a little tough this year so any advice on a decent area of public land to hunt would be greatly appreciated. I'll probably just do the tent camping thing if I get to come up.

Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions!

Hey Bandit,
Come on to Missouri to give a couple gobblers a face full of bb's.We as you know are blessed to have a real good population. Don't expect to be huntin alone as most of the time in most places you are gonna have some company but that's ok just be careful and aware of it.Morning breaking and a bird gobbling of course makes our heart beat but it is a "hunter magnet" so to speak.
I cannot put you on a bird that is cornered and would not care to.Will tell you to get in the woods early and listen up.
You might consider bringing a boat and taking a early morning boat ride instead of burning boot leather. Easy access is a plus...there are birds around any river or lake.As far as where you just need to look at a map and decide on a area to hunt.The birds are there.Come get them,good luck,be safe .Enjoy your hunt and visit to Missouri.
Thought I was going to make my maiden voyage to Millwood this year til the Covid-19 pandemic reared it's ugly head.Still hope to make a trip in the future. Studied all the info I could find,bought a map,software for the graph.While doing all that I ran across a prior post from you with a couple pictures of your son.I may want his services for a day so please send me a PM with his contact info please.Thank You Kindly

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

lots of public land in MO especially around the lakes. good advice about not going to parking lots but to get on a boat where you know there is lots of open public and cruising around listening and then going in from there. easier walking and you will get away from the crowds.

Lots of MTNF in southern MO. I've had good luck and you can get away from people. That would be my recommendation.

Thanks Chris! I really don't want to drive too far this year anyway. That's about a 3 &1/2 hour drive.

I hunt almost exclusively public land for turkeys because I like to roam and there is lots of great public land turkey hunting in Missouri. I find the best time is later in the morning so if you want to sleep in a little and have a hot breakfast before going that is just fine, killed lots of turkey between 10 and 1. Check out MDC's website for places to go.

Thanks MinnowDipper, I talked to a friend that's hunting up there and he said the hunting pressure is terrible due to Kansas and Nebraska not allowing non-resident humters in due to the virus. Everybody went to Missouri I guess.

Well, today was our last day to hunt turkeys in Arkansas. I had a couple close calls but still came up short killing a gobbler. I just started back turkey hunting after about a 15 year hiatus. From everything I hear Missouri is having a tough year also with the turkey population down and all the extra non-resident hunters since Kansas and Nebraska closed to non-residents due to Covid-19.
I was really thinking about doing a solo tent camping trip to get to do a little more hunting but everyone I've talked to has tried to discourage me from going this year. Thanks for all the input though. I guess I'll just go fish with my son on Millwood. He's a guide down there and he's been killing them 2 to 3 lbers! Sounds like a little more fun to me.