Hunting News

Youth hunters take 1,473 turkeys

Youth hunters take 1,473 turkeys

By Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Ohio’s youth wild turkey hunting season ended April 18 with 1,473 birds harvested by young hunters. Youth hunters 17 years old or younger enjoyed mostly mild temperatures and dry conditions during the two-day season.

The top 10 counties for wild turkey harvest during the 2021 youth season include Guernsey (60), Monroe (51), Noble (51), Jefferson (48), Coshocton (47), Tuscarawas (46), Belmont (44), Muskingum (44), Columbiana (43), and Meigs (41). In 2020, youth hunters harvested 1,843 wild turkeys during the two-day youth season.

Participants in the youth season were required to be accompanied by a nonhunting adult. As of April 18, the Division of Wildlife has issued 6,978 youth wild turkey permits, which can be used throughout the 2021 spring hunting season.

Ohio offers opportunities for hunters of all ages to pursue wild turkeys. Hotspots for turkey hunting are found throughout the southern and eastern regions. In 2020, the top five counties for total turkey harvest were Belmont (533), Monroe (532), Tuscarawas (528), Guernsey (508), and Meigs (503). More information about previous turkey seasons can be found in the Spring Turkey Harvest Summary.

The state has two zones for spring wild turkey hunting, the south zone and northeast zone. The 2021 season dates for the south zone are from April 24 to May 23. The northeast zone is open from May 1 to May 30. Hunters are required to have a hunting license in addition to a spring permit. Find complete details in the 2020-2021 Hunting and Trapping Regulation Booklet.

Hunting hours from April 24-May 2 in the south zone and May 1-9 in the northeast zone are 30 minutes before sunrise until noon. Hunting hours from May 3-23 in the south zone and May 10-30 in the northeast zone are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

Hunters may use shotguns or archery equipment to hunt wild turkeys. It is unlawful to hunt turkeys using bait, live decoys or electronic calling devices, or to shoot a 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 to remain visible to others.

The spring hunting season limit is two bearded wild turkeys. Hunters may harvest one bearded turkey per day, and a second permit may be purchased at any time throughout the spring season. A turkey is required to be checked no later than 11:30 p.m. the day of harvest using the new Hunt Fish OH mobile app, by phone at (877)824-4864, at a participating license agent or the automated game-check system.

Copyright 2024 by Buckmasters, Ltd.

Copyright 2020 by Buckmasters, Ltd