COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife reported a successful opening weekend of the spring hunting season, with Ohio hunters checking 4,078 wild turkeys on April 22-23. This is a significant increase compared to last year’s opening weekend, which saw 3,315 wild turkeys checked. The average number of harvested birds over the past three seasons during the first two days is 3,590.
The 2023 south zone’s top 10 counties for wild turkey harvest during the opening weekend included Adams, Muskingum, Belmont, Guernsey, Gallia, Harrison, Jefferson, Monroe, Tuscarawas, and Meigs. Adams County took the lead with the highest number of turkeys harvested, totaling 129.
Throughout the spring hunting season, the Division of Wildlife has issued 37,610 spring turkey permits. In addition to the opening weekend figures, youth hunters checked 1,823 wild turkeys during Ohio’s youth season on April 15-16. The south zone’s wild turkey hunting will remain open until Sunday, May 21. Hunting hours are scheduled from 30 minutes before sunrise until noon until April 30, extending to 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset starting May 1.
The Division of Wildlife conducts brood surveys each summer to collect information on young wild turkeys, known as poults. Surveys in 2021 and 2022 showed above-average results, with the average poults per hen observed at 3.0 in 2022 and 3.1 in 2021, compared to a 10-year average of 2.7. These results will positively impact Ohio’s wild turkey population numbers this spring.
Ohio’s spring season limit is set at one bearded turkey per hunter. To participate, hunters must possess a valid hunting license and a spring turkey permit, unless exempted. Successful hunters must game-check their turkeys no later than 11:30 p.m. on the day of harvest. Game check, licenses, and permits can be obtained through the HuntFish OH app, the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System, or at a participating license agent. Hunters can also game-check by phone at 1-877-TAG-IT-OH (877-824-4864).
