COLUMBUS, OH -- Hunters killed 2,407 wild turkeys during Ohio's fifth annual fall turkey hunting season that was open in 28 counties October 14-22, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The preliminary figure is a decrease of 21 percent, or 640 birds, from last year's preliminary total of 3,047. Hunters checked in 1,234 birds during the inaugural fall season in 1996.
Hunters took a combined 203 turkeys in Adams, Brown and Clermont counties where the fall turkey season was open for the first time this year. This total included 57 turkeys taken in Adams County, 88 in Brown County and 58 in Clermont County.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife says Ohio has a record abundance of wild turkeys numbering about 200,000 birds statewide. Wild turkeys, once absent in the state a half-century ago, now inhabit each of Ohio's 88 counties.
Hunters last week were allowed to take a wild turkey of either sex while hunting from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. A fall turkey permit was required in addition to a hunting license to participate in the fall season.
EDITORS NOTE: The following is a list of wild turkeys checked and tagged last week in each of the 25 open counties. The preliminary number taken during the 1999 fall turkey season is marked in the 1999 column. This year's fall season was open for the first time in Adams, Brown and Clermont counties.
For Further Information Contact:
John Wisse, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 265-6539
-or-
Dave Swanson, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(740) 664-2745
-or-
Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882