COLUMBUS, OH - This years fall wild turkey hunting season in Ohio will provide hunters more opportunities for hunting than ever before, including a new archery-only season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The 16-day fall wild turkey hunting season is set for Saturday, October 12, through Sunday, October 27. The new archery only season will open October 28 and run through December 1. In addition, Ashland, Richland and Scioto counties will open for the first time, bringing to 35 the total number of counties open for fall turkey hunting.
Although turkey numbers may be down due to consecutive years of cold, wet weather during the hatching period Ohios turkey population is still strong and hunters should have no problem finding turkeys, said Dave Swanson, ODNR Division of Wildlife turkey management leader.
Fall wild turkey season hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The bag limit is one turkey of either sex per hunter per season. A fall turkey permit is required in addition to a current Ohio hunting license. All harvested turkeys must be taken to an official turkey checking station by 8 p.m. the day of harvest.
Dogs may be used to assist in taking wild turkeys during the fall hunting season, but not during the spring season.
Hunters should be aware that because of the increased number of turkey hunting days, the season will partially overlap the Special Area Primitive Season (October 21-26) deer hunt on three state-owned areas: Wildcat Hollow and Salt Fork state wildlife areas, and Shawnee State Forest. Turkey hunting will not be allowed on these areas during the primitive deer hunting season.
Ohios increasing statewide wild turkey flock now numbers more than 250,000 birds. An estimated 24,000 hunters pursued wild turkeys in Ohio last fall, harvesting 3,331 turkeys. The first fall wild turkey hunting season in Ohio was in 1996.