COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s wild turkey hunters have harvested 15,555 birds in the spring season through Sunday, May 21, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
In 2022, spring turkey hunters checked 11,770 birds during the corresponding dates. The three-year average for turkeys taken in that period is 14,667. This season’s total harvest includes 1,823 turkeys taken during the two-day youth season on April 15-16, all birds checked in 30 days of hunting in the south zone, and all birds harvested through 23 days of hunting in the northeast zone (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull counties).
The spring wild turkey hunting season concluded in the south zone counties on Sunday, May 21. Hunting in the five counties of the northeast zone remains open until Sunday, May 28. Hunting is open from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset in those counties, with a season limit of one bearded turkey. Find more information in the 2022-23 hunting and trapping regulations booklet.
The 10 counties with the highest 2023 spring turkey harvest totals so far are Gallia (428), Muskingum (419), Monroe (410), Ashtabula (409), Tuscarawas (407), Belmont (398), Coshocton (381), Adams (377), Jefferson (374), and Washington (369).
The Division of Wildlife has issued 50,100 spring turkey permits that are valid until Sunday, May 28.
Wild turkeys were extirpated in Ohio by 1904 and were reintroduced in the 1950s by the Division of Wildlife. Ohio’s first modern-day turkey season opened in 1966 in nine counties, and hunters took 12 birds. The turkey harvest topped 1,000 for the first time in 1984. Spring turkey hunting opened statewide in 2000, and Ohio hunters checked more than 20,000 turkeys for the first time that year. More information about previous turkey seasons can be found in the Spring Turkey Harvest Summary.
The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.
Editor’s Note: A list of all wild turkeys checked by hunters in each county through Sunday, May 21, 2023, is shown below. Results include 30 days of hunting in the south zone, 23 days in the northeast zone, and the two-day statewide youth season. The first number following the county’s name shows the harvest numbers for 2023, and the three-year average through the corresponding dates (2020-2022) is in parentheses. The numbers below are raw data and are subject to change.
Adams: 377 (352); Allen: 72 (67); Ashland: 180 (151); Ashtabula: 409 (364); Athens: 291 (312); Auglaize: 47 (36); Belmont: 398 (430); Brown: 292 (352); Butler: 238 (185); Carroll: 346 (307); Champaign: 94 (78); Clark: 26 (17); Clermont: 288 (273); Clinton: 59 (66); Columbiana: 360 (386); Coshocton: 381 (351); Crawford: 54 (50); Cuyahoga: 6 (6); Darke: 62 (58); Defiance: 197 (185); Delaware: 99 (95); Erie: 44 (37); Fairfield: 102 (93); Fayette: 11 (9); Franklin: 23 (16); Fulton: 127 (104); Gallia: 428 (346); Geauga: 219 (158); Greene: 27 (20); Guernsey: 363 (399); Hamilton: 127 (103); Hancock: 47 (36); Hardin: 110 (89); Harrison: 345 (369); Henry: 58 (46); Highland: 342 (327); Hocking: 248 (219); Holmes: 196 (194); Huron: 86 (89); Jackson: 268 (273); Jefferson: 374 (371); Knox: 245 (262); Lake: 62 (52); Lawrence: 233 (190); Licking: 293 (268); Logan: 140 (108); Lorain: 121 (112); Lucas: 50 (52); Madison: 9 (7); Mahoning: 194 (173); Marion: 35 (35); Medina: 91 (103); Meigs: 358 (402); Mercer: 28 (20); Miami: 32 (25); Monroe: 410 (406); Montgomery: 51 (23); Morgan: 257 (261); Morrow: 154 (123); Muskingum: 419 (389); Noble: 337 (332); Ottawa: 1 (1); Paulding: 75 (67); Perry: 291 (245); Pickaway: 29 (17); Pike: 240 (177); Portage: 212 (199); Preble: 153 (107); Putnam: 32 (43); Richland: 228 (201); Ross: 274 (273); Sandusky: 31 (22); Scioto: 251 (214); Seneca: 119 (110); Shelby: 42 (39); Stark: 249 (245); Summit: 50 (68); Trumbull: 304 (292); Tuscarawas: 407 (428); Union: 50 (45); Van Wert: 13 (17); Vinton: 240 (232); Warren: 82 (81); Washington: 369 (386); Wayne: 102 (108); Williams: 231 (183); Wood: 26 (25); Wyandot: 114 (80).
2023 Total: 15,555
Three-year Average Total: 14,667
