COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio's fall wild turkey season ended November 30 with 1,692, birds killed during the seven-week season. Ashtabula County led the state with 130 birds taken, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife.
 
Fall turkey hunters enjoyed expanded opportunities this year. They were able to hunt the entire season, from October 11 through November 30, with a shotgun, muzzleloading shotgun, bow or crossbow.  This new rule adds 35 days to the previous season for fall turkey gun hunting. Hunters had 46 counties in which to pursue a wild turkey of either sex, which included nine additional northeast Ohio counties.
 
"We saw a relativity minor change in harvest when compared to the significant changes in opportunities for hunters," said Dave Risley, who oversees wildlife management and research for the division.  "We are still well below the acceptable level of harvest for the fall season."
 
The top 10 counties for fall turkey harvest were: Ashtabula-130, Tuscarawas-112, Harrison-96, Brown-91, Clermont and Coshocton-83, Trumbull-82, Highland-79, and Adams and Washington-67.
 
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

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EDITORS NOTE: The following is a list of wild turkeys checked and tagged through November 30. The number taken during the 2007 fall turkey season is marked in ( ): 2008 (2007); counties marked (NA) had no fall season in 2007.
 
Adams -67 (42); Ashland -50 (23); Ashtabula -130 (97); Athens -20 (21); Belmont -31  (23); Brown -91 (45); Carroll -21 (33); Clermont -83 (42); Columbiana -62 (29); Coshocton -83 (52); Cuyahoga -12 (NA); Gallia -37 (41); Geauga -22 (32); Guernsey -60 (56); Harrison -96 (31); Highland -79 (29); Hocking -23 (21); Holmes -25 (30); Jackson -52 (43); Jefferson -32 (23); Knox - 57 (46); Lake -17 (NA); Lawrence -31  (24); Licking -53 (35); Lorain -34  (NA); Mahoning -17 (NA); Medina -33 (NA); Meigs -26 (30); Monroe -28 (33); Morgan -14 (9); Morrow - 25 (27); Muskingum  -13 (34); Noble -11 (30); Perry -30 (24); Pike -20 (17); Portage -21 (NA); Richland -54 (23); Ross -47 (20); Scioto -51 (12); Stark -35 (NA); Summit -17 (NA); Trumbull -82 (46); Tuscarawas -112 (36); Vinton -35 (33); Washington -67 (24); and Wayne -6 (NA).  Preliminary totals -1,692 (1,216).