COLUMBUS, OH -- Hunters harvested 2,145 wild turkeys during Ohios seventh annual fall turkey gun hunting season that was open in 35 counties October 12-27, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The preliminary figure is a 36 percent decrease from last years final total of 3,331. Hunters checked in 1,250 birds during the inaugural fall season in 1996.
Fall turkey season was open for the first time in Ashland, Richland and Scioto counties. A new archery only season for wild turkey opened October 28 and will run through December 1.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife says Ohio has 250,000 wild turkeys statewide. Wild turkeys, absent in the state a half-century ago, now inhabit each of Ohios 88 counties.
Hunters were allowed to take a wild turkey of either sex while hunting from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. A fall turkey permit was required in addition to a hunting license to participate in the fall season.
EDITORS NOTE: The following is a list of wilD TURKEYS CHECKED AND TAGGED DURING THE FALL GUN TURKEY HUNTING SEASON. THE NUMBER TAKEN DURING THE 2001 FALL TURKEY SEASON IS MARKED IN ( ): 2002 (2001) Adams - 52 (88); Ashland - 30 (closed); Ashtabula - 134 (214); Athens - 48 (84); Belmont - 54 (96); Brown - 52 (85); Carroll - 51 (92); Clermont - 43 (38); Columbiana - 81 (51); Coshocton - 123 (173); Gallia - 59 (98); Geauga - 63 (119); Guernsey - 121 (173); Harrison - 81 (136); Hocking - 57 (94); Holmes - 56 (102); Jackson - 94 (120); Jefferson - 60 (64); Knox - 40 (112); Lawrence - 20 (35); Licking - 46 (64); Meigs - 53 (100); Monroe - 79 (135); Morgan - 44 (96); Muskingum - 62 (161); Noble - 50 (121); Perry - 79 (140); Pike - 17 (47); Richland - 63 (closed); Ross - 45 (51); Scioto - 30 (closed); Trumbull - 92 (133); Tuscarawas - 60 (128); Vinton - 53 (120); Washington - 53 (61); Total 2,145 (3,331)
For Further Information Contact:
Dave Swanson, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(740) 664-2745
-or-
Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882