The first two weeks of wild turkey hunting in Ohio ended with 11,292 birds checked through May 3. Hunters harvested 12,427 wild turkeys during the same time in 2019.
The top 10 counties for wild turkey harvest during the first two weeks of the 2020 hunting season include Belmont (368), Guernsey (355), Meigs (348), Monroe (343),Tuscarawas (336), Washington (307), Muskingum (306), Harrison (300), Brown (297) and Coshocton (297).
In addition to the first two weeks of hunting, youth hunters harvested 1,843 wild turkeys during Ohio’s youth season April 18-19. The state has two zones for spring wild turkey hunting: the south zone and the northeast zone. Opening day was May 4 for Ohio’s northeast zone, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties. The south zone is open until May 17. The northeast zone is open until May 31.
The spring turkey season bag limit is two bearded wild turkeys. Hunters may harvest one bearded turkey per day, and a second spring turkey permit may be purchased at any time throughout the spring turkey season. Turkeys are required to be checked no later than 11:30 p.m. the day of harvest. All hunters are required to report their turkey harvest using the automated game-check system available online, by phone or at a participating license agent.
Hunters may hunt wild turkeys with shotguns or archery equipment. It is unlawful to hunt turkeys using bait, live decoys or electronic calling devices, or to shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree. The Division of Wildlife advises turkey hunters to wear hunter orange clothing when entering, leaving or moving through hunting areas in order to remain visible to others.