Ohio spring turkey harvest tops 18,500 realtree camo. The preliminary total represents a 2 percent increase over last years preliminary harvest number of 18,556. Proposed ohio 20172018 hunting and trapping season. See below for countybycounty results from ohio s 2017 wild turkey hunting season. Hunters checked 19,095 birds during the 2017 wild turkey south zone and northeast zone hunting seasons compared to 16,229 birds in 2016. Spring turkey hunting opened statewide in 2000, and ohio hunters checked more than 20,000 wild turkeys for. Youth hunters checked 1,882 birds during the 2018 youth season compared to 1,895 in 2017. Columbus, oh the 20182019 small game and migratory bird hunting seasons and the trapping seasons were proposed to the ohio wildlife council on wednesday, jan. Hunters prepare for ohio s 2017 wild turkey season.
Known for one of the best states to hunt whitetail bucks. A complete report of the 2017 fall wild turkey season is available at wildohio. The 2020 spring turkey hunting statebystate forecast. The third factor fall turkey harvest was also down in the autumn of 2017 compared to 2016 season, when a total of 2,168 turkeys taken. Ohio wildlife council has approved hunting and trapping seasons for 20182019. Ohios spring wild turkey hunting season begins april 22. It is your responsibility to know the correct dates for your hunt. Columbus, oh the start of spring ushers in ohio s annual wild turkey hunt, and hunters can enjoy the warmer weather in pursuit of this popular game bird. Columbus, oh many young hunters found success during ohio s 2017 youth spring wild turkey season after 1,895 birds were harvested, according to the ohio department of natural resources odnr. Ohio hunters check more than 21,000 wild turkeys during spring.
Fish and wildlifes process allows the proposal of waterfowl regulations to the ohio wildlife council in january. Membership here is free but we guarantee that the collective knowledge of our members will be worth much more to you. Across the state, the numbers are already 18,269, beating last years season total of 16,950. New for the 2017 season, the state has been divided into two zones. For many hunters, spring brings the unmistakable sound of gobbling wild turkeys as ohio s annual hunt of this popular game bird begins. Fall hunting season runs from midoctober through late november. The 2017 spring wild turkey season in ohio included two separate regular season zones with offset dates. Hunters prepare for ohio s 2018 spring wild turkey season. Eight new counties added to ohios fall wild turkey hunting season. Ohio hunters harvest more than 3,100 wild turkeys on. April 29, 2017 first morning hunt here in north central ohio.
Your permit number can be found on your deer or turkey permit. Hunters prepare for ohios 2018 spring wild turkey season. We want to assure our visitors that we are monitoring the situation closely and doing all we can to protect the public and our staff. The ohio wildlife council approved the 20172018 hunting seasons in april 2017. The youth wild turkey season will occur on saturday and sunday, april 2223, according to the ohio department of natural resources odnr. Youth hunt days, archery, muzzleloader and regular firearms seasons are available, as well as some continuously open seasons. It was a wonderful time turkey hunting in central ohio fir the few days i was able to. Persons wishing to take a second wild turkey during the spring season must purchase a second spring turkey permit. Spring turkey season sees numbers drop sports the columbus.
Ohio s first modernday wild turkey season opened in 1966 in nine counties, and hunters checked 12 birds. A statebystate guide to getting your gobbler this season. Fall turkey hunting will be expanded to 11 additional counties for the first time. A complete report of the 2017 fall wild turkey season is.
Ohio s spring wild turkey season is divided into two zones. The northeast zone is ashtabula, cuyahoga, geauga, lake, and trumbull counties. In the northeast zone, hunting season runs through most of the month of may. Purchase your hunting and fishing licenses via ohio s wildlife licensing system. Seventy ohio counties are open for fall turkey hunting, including three counties open to fall turkey hunting for the first time. Hunters age 17 and under were eligible to participate in the twoday season, april 2223. Ohio hunters in the south zone checked 3,123 wild turkeys on the first day of the spring wild turkey hunting season, april 24, 2017.
New for the 2017 season, the state has been divided into two zones for spring turkey hunting. Hunters can view the 2017 spring turkey season zone map at wildohio. Hunters harvested 1,053 wild turkeys during ohio s 2017 fall wild turkey season, according to the ohio dnr. After hearing concerns expressed by those hunting in ohio s snowbelt, the odnr division of wildlife surveyed hunters in the northeastern part of the state and conducted a twoyear study to examine if turkeys were nesting later there than in other regions of the state. Thats the fewest birds since in 2017 the state was split into a south zone, comprising central ohio among its 83 counties, and a northeast zone. Refer to the hunting regulations for complete information on the game check process and to verify eligibility for the landowner status. Ohio turkey hunting ohio sportsman your ohio hunting. Ohio wildlife council approves 20172018 hunting regulations. Ohio has again experienced a record low wild turkey hatch, with last years nesting season negatively impacted by rainfall and flooding, said odnr. The first birds reintroduced into ohio were turned lose there over 50 years ago. By the end of the spring turkey season on may 15, 2017, a total of 427 turkeys were checked.
Floridas osceola season is one of the first spring hunts of the year. For details, see the turkey hunting regulations brochure. Terrain contains lowland plains, fertile cropland, hardwood hills, and steep valleys. Legal methods and restrictions for archery turkey season. Hunting public land turkeys ohio sportsman your ohio. The zeleski state forrest is an excellent place to consider. Thetwo day youth season was open statewide during april 2223. The ohio department of natural resources continues to operate in accordance to guidance from the ohio department of health and governor mike dewine in the wake of the covid19 coronavirus in ohio. See hunt tables for details, pages 47 of the brochure. Ohio hunters checked more than 22,000 wild turkeys during. Spring season hunters took 18,936 gobblers last season, a 2 percent increase over 2008 and the second consecutive year the harvest was over 18,000. The total harvest was an increase from 2016, when 1,564 wild turkeys were checked. Since 2002, ohiosportsman is proud to be the oldest and largest hunting and fishing outdoors community in ohio.
Statewide except in areas where there is a closed firearm season on turkey. Share your waterfowl tips, tricks, techniques and success stories here. Ohio hunting seasons, 20192020 ohio s hunting seasons feature a variety of game, including deer, turkey, and pheasant. Ohio spring turkey hunting season opens april 23 buckeye. The ohio wildlife council approved the 2017 2018 hunting seasons in april 2017.
Columbus, ohio hunters checked 18,936 wild turkeys during ohio s fourweek, statewide spring turkey hunting season that ended may 17, according to the ohio department of natural resources odnr division of wildlife. Columbus, oh for many hunters, spring brings the unmistakable sound of gobbling wild turkeys as ohio s annual hunt of this popular game bird begins. Waterfowl seasons opening date closing date daily limit hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset during the regular waterfowl season, unless posted. The 2020 forecast indicates a stable population of birds statewide.
Even the most avid vagabond gobbler geek can only chase his spring passion for about weeks assuming an early start in florida and a june finish in maine. Wildlife researchers report the state has experienced consecutive years of belowaverage to fair turkey reproduction. Gobblers and hens are legal game during the fall wild turkey season. Ohios turkey hunting seasons are in the spring and fall, with occasional special dates set aside for youth. Hunting any wild animal except waterfowl from 30 minutes before. Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. Columbus, oh ohio hunters can harvest a wild turkey for their thanksgiving feast during the sevenweek hunting season, according to the. The 2016 ohio spring hunting season opens on monday, april 18, and the youth wild turkey season is saturday and sunday, april 1617, according to the ohio. Ohio s 2017 fall wild turkey hunting season was open in 67 counties from oct. Ashtabula county again led the state in the number of turkeys. Hunters prepare for ohios 2017 wild turkey season ohio. Columbus, oh this years spring wild turkey season opens in all 88 ohio counties on monday, april 23 and continues through sunday, may 20, according to the ohio department of natural resources odnr division of wildlife. Ohio s first spring gobbler season took place in 1966, and in 1999, some 57 counties were open to hunting, but 2009 marked the 10th spring when turkey hunting was allowed in all 88 counties.
Shotgun is a stoger condor du edition with winchester xr chokes shooting winchester longbeard xr rounds. Wild turkeys were completely eliminated from the state of ohio in 1904. Northeast zone wild turkey hunting hours from april 30 may. I had many responses with gobblers and a couple really. Ohioans prep for 2017 wild turkey hunting season outdoornews. The decline in the fall harvest yearoveryear, however, comes with a caveat in this case. This year, 11 counties were open during the fall turkey season for the first time. Odnr operations during coronavirus updated 5122020 at 5. The wild turkey harvest topped 1,000 for the first time in 1984. In there early years of ohio turkey hunting, it was the only place to go and got hunted pretty hard. Opening day of the 2018 ohio turkey hunting season was a special one for us.
Youth hunters find success during 2017 youth wild turkey. Turkey season dates and fees colorado parks and wildlife. Ohio has wild turkeys, an estimated 165,000 in fact 2018 national wild turkey federation data. Government lands % 6% private lands 26,852,625 acres. In the fall, hunters typically kill between 1,2200 and 1,500 birds, so the. Wild ohio store purchase wild ohio magazine, the ohio wildlife legacy stamp, or gift certificates, or make a donation. According to the ohio department of natural resources odnr, the 20 ohio spring hunting season opens monday, april 22, with the youth wild turkey season opening saturday and sunday, april 2021. Hunters harvest more than 1,000 wild turkeys during ohios. The ohio department of natural resources determines when the states actual hunting dates are, but generally, spring turkey season runs from late april through late may in the south zone.
If you are reporting a harvest under landowner status, check the landowner box. April 24 may 21, 2017 spring turkey hunting south zone may 128, 2017 spring turkey hunting northeast zone 5 counties oct. See legal use of firearms and archery tackle and local firearms ordinances. Hunters prepare for ohios 2017 wild turkey season news. A season dates 1 it shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or take wild turkeys at any time except in accordance with this rule or any provisions of this rule.