COLUMBUS, OH - Spring wild turkey hunters have an extra week to hunt this year, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Spring turkey season will open in all of Ohio's 88 counties on April 22 and continue through May 19.
Dave Swanson, turkey project leader for ODNR's Division of Wildlife, estimates there are approximately 260,000 wild turkeys in Ohio this spring. It should be a banner year for turkey hunters. I'm estimating they'll take between 25,000 and 30,000 gobblers this season, said Swanson.
The wildlife division anticipates that nearly 95,000 people will hunt wild turkeys during the four-week season, when only male turkeys (gobblers) can be hunted. Swanson said the best news for this year's hunters is that they can expect to see lots of mature gobblers.
Hunters harvested a record 26,156 gobblers during the 2001 spring turkey season, the 24th consecutive record spring turkey season.
Legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon. Hunters are required to have a turkey hunting permit, and can take one wild turkey per day. A special bonus turkey permit can be purchased, allowing hunters to take a limit of two bearded wild turkeys.
A special youth-only turkey hunt, for hunters 17-years-old and younger will be held prior to the regular spring gobbler season, April 20 and 21. Young hunters must have their hunting license and spring wild turkey permit to participate, and must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 18 years of age or older. The young hunter's turkey season is open only on public hunting areas with the exception of Lake LaSuAn Wildlife Area in Williams County.
Wild turkeys must be properly tagged and taken to an official check station by 2 p.m. on the day the bird is killed. Shotguns, longbows, and crossbows may be used to hunt wild turkeys. It is unlawful to hunt turkeys over bait, to use a live decoy or electronic calling device while hunting turkeys, and to shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree.
The Division of Wildlife advises hunters to wear hunter orange clothing when entering, leaving, or moving through hunting areas so they can remain visible to other hunters in the area. A pamphlet, "What Every Spring Gobbler Hunter Should Know," is distributed by hunting license vendors. It contains safety tips and a list of turkey check stations.
The wild turkey is Ohio's largest game bird. It stands three to four feet tall and may weigh up to 27 pounds.