COLUMBUS, OH -- Hunters in Ohio harvested a record 26,217 wild turkeys during the spring hunting season that was open April 23 through May 13, a 29 percent increase from last springs results. It was the twenty-fourth consecutive year for a record turkey harvest in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
State wildlife biologists estimate Ohios wild turkey population at more than 200,000 birds. Last year, hunters killed 20,276 wild turkeys during spring turkey season.
This years preliminary total represents an increase of 5,941 over last year. Four counties broke the 1,000-bird mark, with Ashtabula County checking in with 1,108, Guernsey with 1,101, Muskingum 1,039 and Coshocton with 1,007.
I am extremely proud of Ohio's turkey program, said ODNR Division of Wildlife Chief Michael Budzik. "Our work and assistance from partners such as the National Wild Turkey Federation has resulted in an incredible restoration of wild turkeys in Ohio. No one would have believed it possible 20 years ago."
Ohio's fall turkey hunting season runs October 13-28 in 32 counties.
Adams 428 (342); Allen 1 (0); Ashland 538 (395); Ashtabula 1108 (1030); Athens 872 (542); Auglaize 10 (9); Belmont 700 (554); Brown 429 (299); Butler 36 (25); Carroll 557 ( 469); Champaign 76 (28); Clark 15 (9); Clermont 421 (304); Clinton 35 (25); Columbiana 378 (326); Coshocton 1007 (875); Crawford 36 (21); Cuyahoga 9 (5); Darke 7 (1); Defiance 76 (66); Delaware 51 (27); Erie 8 (6); Fairfield 281 (234); Fayette 23 (20); Franklin 10 (5); Fulton 25 (26); Gallia 620 (411); Geauga 422 (325); Greene 19 (9); Guernsey 1101 (900); Hamilton 49 (24); Hancock 10 (11); Hardin 39 (18); Harrison 981 (809); Henry 14 (25); Highland 245 (162); Hocking 812 (545); Holmes 584 (385); Huron 125 (117); Jackson 850 (610); Jefferson 674 (476); Knox 529 (431); Lake 191 (163); Lawrence 327 (251); Licking 613 (481); Logan 95 (70); Lorain 56 (49); Lucas 12 (7); Madison 4 (1); Mahoning 152 (145); Marion 20 (21); Medina 106 (67); Meigs 589 (409); Mercer 0 (0); Miami 2 (0); Monroe 903 (676); Montgomery 5 (1); Morgan 693 (471); Morrow 139 (140); Muskingum 1039 (590); Noble 674 (573); Ottawa 1 (0); Paulding 34 (36); Perry 683 (486); Pickaway 71 (33); Pike 281 (190); Portage 103 (94); Preble 52 (41); Putnam 13 (11); Richland 536 (423); Ross 658 (438); Sandusky 14 (10); Scioto 325 (225); Seneca 77 (77); Shelby 28 (20); Stark 296 (215); Summit 14 (9); Trumbull 557 (504); Tuscarawas 759 (688); Union 5 (5); Van Wert 0 (0); Vinton 639 (475); Warren 61 (40); Washington 846 (540); Wayne 110 (121); Williams 165 (161); Wood 6 (2); Wyandot 52 (35) Totals: 26,217 (19,895).
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For Further Information Contact:
Vicki Mountz, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6393
- or -
Dave Swanson, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(740) 664