Hunters in the Buckeye State will have an extra week to hunt wild turkeys this fall.
The 16-day fall wild turkey hunting season is set for Saturday, October 13, through Sunday, October 28. In addition to a longer season, Ashtabula, Geauga, Licking, and Trumbull counties will open for the first time, bringing the total number of counties open to fall turkey hunting in Ohio to 32.
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 22-27) 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 hunting season.
Ohios increasing statewide wild turkey flock now numbers more than 260,000 birds. An estimated 22,270 hunters pursued wild turkeys in Ohio last fall, harvesting 2,407 turkeys. The first fall wild turkey hunting season in Ohio was in 1996.
For more information about fall turkey season call your district wildlife office.