Hunting dates for Ohios 2025 spring turkey season have been proposed to the Ohio Wildlife Council.
Anyone who would like to comment on those suggested new dates may do so online at wildohio.gov until Sept. 25., according to a news release provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The 2025 youth spring wild turkey hunt is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of April 12 and 13.
Ohios 5 northeastern counties — Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull — could see its regular 2025 spring turkey season take place May 3 – June 1.
Hunters in the Ohios remaining 83 counties might expect the regular 2025 spring turkey season dates to run April 19 to May 18.
For dedicated turkey hunters, springtime in Ohio brings exciting opportunities. The state opens its diverse wildlife areas and forests for legal turkey harvesting each year. But exactly how long is turkey season in Ohio? In this article, we’ll break down the dates, zones, permits, and regulations that govern these annual spring hunts.
Overview of Ohio Turkey Seasons
The Ohio Division of Wildlife provides separate turkey hunting seasons in the spring and fall annually The fall season is limited, with only specific dates, areas, and permits available But the popular spring season runs for a full month statewide.
During 2023, Ohio’s month-long spring turkey season will open on Saturday, April 22nd and close on Sunday, May 21st. Legal hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until noon each day. So spring turkey hunters will have around 4 weeks to harvest birds across all areas of the state.
Ohio’s Spring Turkey Hunting Zones
Though the spring season dates are consistent statewide, Ohio actually has 3 distinct turkey hunting zones that require zone-specific permits:
- Zone A: Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit counties
- Zone B: The remaining counties in the northeast district
- Zone C: The rest of Ohio
Zone A and B permits are more limited with controlled quotas, Zone C covers the majority of the state with unlimited permit availability Hunters must choose the correct zone permit for the region they plan to hunt
Spring Turkey Permits and Limits in Ohio
To hunt turkeys in Ohio, all hunters over 18 years old must purchase an annual hunting license and spring turkey permit. Youth under 18 can hunt without licenses but must carry the permit. The permit quotas and bag limits include:
- Zone A: 500 permits, 1 bearded turkey limit
- Zone B: 7,000 permits, 2 bearded turkey limit
- Zone C: Unlimited permits, 2 bearded turkey limit
Two turkeys can be harvested statewide per spring season, but Zone A and B restrict the number of available permits. It’s advisable to apply early for these limited permits each year.
Fall Turkey Seasons in Ohio
In addition to the full spring season Ohio also offers a fall turkey hunting period with much shorter dates and permit limitations
- October 15-16, 2022: 1-day hunt, Zone A only, 500 permits
- October 22-30, 2022: 9-day hunt, Zone B only, 1,000 permits
- November 3-6, 2022: 4-day hunt, open statewide with unlimited permits
So overall, Ohio offers about 4 weeks of spring turkey hunting statewide but only 14 total days of hunting in the fall. The fall hunts are more restricted but provide additional opportunities on select weekends.
Legal Hunting Methods for Ohio Turkeys
Turkey hunters in Ohio can harvest birds using shotguns and archery equipment:
- Shotguns: 10 or 12 gauge shooting #4 lead or #4 nontoxic shot
- Bows: Minimum draw weight 40 pounds shooting broadhead arrows
Electronic calls and decoys are legal but live baiting is prohibited. Successful hunters must immediately tag their turkeys before moving them from the harvest site.
Tips for a Successful Ohio Turkey Season
Here are a few tips to make the most of your limited spring turkey hunting days in Ohio:
- Scout areas heavily before the season to pattern bird movements
- Stay mobile and cover ground until you locate active birds
- Use turkey calls cautiously to avoid spooking warier late-season birds
- Set up near known roosting sites at dawn and dusk
- Stay alert and maintain stealth when moving through the woods
- Be safely concealed when turkeys approach your calls or decoys
- Bring hunting essentials like bug spray, snacks, and raingear
- Check regulations before hunting on public or private lands
With proper preparation and persistence through Ohio’s 4-week spring turkey season, a successful and satisfying hunt is within reach. Good luck pursuing those wary gobblers this year!
Ohio’s wild turkeys split into 2 hunting zones
Separating the Buckeye States spring wild turkeys into two different population zones is common.
“Ohios spring turkey season is split into two zones to align with the timing of turkey nesting in those regions,” the ODNR news release reads.
Activity among turkeys in the two zones could fluctuate by as much as 2 weeks.
“Annually, the south zone opening date is proposed to begin on the Saturday closest to April 21, and the northeast zone is proposed to begin on the Saturday closest to May 1,” the news release reads.
The Ohio Wildlife Council, an 8-member board that approves all ODNR Division of Wildlife rules and regulations, is scheduled to meet Oct. 30 to vote on the spring turkey season dates and other updates to the states hunting and fishing regulations.
HOW LONG WILL THEY STAY IN THE TREE??? – Late Season Turkey Hunt in Ohio
FAQ
How long is turkey season open for?
California’s general spring turkey season opens statewide March 30, and runs through May 5.Mar 27, 2024
How many turkeys were killed in Ohio in 2024?
Ohio hunters checked 15,535 turkeys during the 2024 spring hunting season. Adult male turkeys made up 82% of the final count with 12,778 birds taken. Following above-average brood production summers in 2021 and 2022, biologists expected a high proportion of adult birds in the total harvest this spring.
Do you need a license to hunt turkey in Ohio?
All hunters, regardless of age, must carry a valid hunting license to hunt or trap game in Ohio. Hunting deer, turkey, waterfowl or hunting or trapping of furbearers requires the hunter to possess an additional, game-specific permit.
What is the outlook for turkey season in 2024?
And the outlook for 2024 is good. “State biologists’ models indicate the turkey population is stable statewide, increasing in recent years with more favorable winter rain,” said Matt Meshriy, environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s upland game program.
What are Ohio’s wild turkey hunting seasons?
The spring 2025 wild turkey hunting seasons were proposed to the Ohio Wildlife Council on Wednesday, Aug. 21. Ohio’s spring turkey season is split into two zones to align with the timing of turkey nesting in those regions. The south zone is the majority of Ohio, comprising 83 counties.
When is Ohio’s spring turkey season?
Ohio’s spring turkey season is a highly anticipated tradition that has occurred annually since 1966. Ohio’s 2024 youth wild turkey hunting season is Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14.
When is Ohio wild turkey hunting season 2024?
Ohio’s 2024 youth wild turkey hunting season is Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14. Ohio’s regular seasons are divided into two zones: the south zone, which opens to hunters on Saturday, April 20, and the northeast zone (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull counties), which opens on Saturday, April 27.
When is wild turkey season open?
Spring wild turkey season is open in the northeast zone from May 3, 2025 through June 1, 2025. (b) The south zone for turkey consists of the remaining eighty-three counties not included in the northeast zone. Spring wild turkey season is open in the south zone from April 19, 2025 through May 18, 2025.
When does wild turkey hunting start?
Home | Privacy Policy | For advertising opportunities please contact us. © eRegulations. All Rights Reserved. Wild Turkey Hunting Dates: SEASON OPENING DATE CLOSING DATE BAG LIMIT Fall Wild Turkey: Select Counties Oct. 14, 2023 Nov. 12, 2023 1 (either…
Is there a bag limit for wild turkeys in Ohio?
The spring wild turkey season’s bag restriction is one bearded wild turkey, while the fall bag limit is one bird. The bag limit for waterfowl and migratory birds after the second day is three times the daily bag limit. What equipment is legal for hunting in Ohio?