OHIO SPRING TURKEY HUNTING SEASON OPENS MONDAY, APRIL 21
Special youth-only hunt set for Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20

COLUMBUS, OH - Spring wild turkey hunting opens in all 88 Ohio counties on Monday, April 21, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The season continues through Sunday, May 18.

"Based on brood observations, hunters can expect statewide harvest numbers that are similar or slightly higher than last year," said ODNR wildlife biologist Mike Reynolds.

Hunters harvested 17,005 wild turkeys during last year's spring season.

Reynolds added that Ohio's current wild turkey population is around 185,000. He anticipates as many as 85,000 people, not counting private landowners hunting on their own property, will enjoy Ohio's increasingly popular spring wild turkey season.

A special youth-only turkey hunt for those age 17 and younger will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20. Young hunters must have their hunting licenses and spring wild turkey permits in order 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 statewide with the exception of Lake LaSuAn State Wildlife Area in Williams County. Legal hunting hours are a half-hour before sunrise to sunset each day during the two-day youth season.

The wild turkey is Ohio's largest game bird. It stands 3 to 4 feet tall and may weigh up to 27 pounds. Legal hunting hours for the regular spring season are one-half hour before sunrise until noon. Hunters are required to have a hunting license and a spring turkey-hunting permit and can take one bearded turkey per day. A second spring turkey permit can be purchased, allowing hunters to take a limit of two bearded wild turkeys.

Shotguns using shot, 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, or to shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree. A wild turkey must be properly tagged and taken to an official check station by 2 p.m. on the day it is harvested.

The Division of Wildlife advises turkey hunters to wear hunter orange clothing when entering, leaving, or moving through hunting areas in order to remain visible to others.

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For Further Information Contact:
Mike Reynolds, Division of Wildlife
(740) 589-9921
-or-
Lindsay Deering, Division of Wildlife, Central Ohio
(614) 644-3925
-or-
Tom Lavergne, Division of Wildlife, Northwest Ohio
(419) 424-5000
-or-
Jamey Graham, Division of Wildlife, Northeast Ohio
(330) 644-2293
-or-
Susie Vance, Division of Wildlife, Southeast Ohio
(740) 589-9930
-or-
Kathy Garza-Behr, Division of Wildlife, Southwest Ohio
(937) 372-9261