Youth Hunters Harvest 1,823 Wild Turkeys in Ohio

Youth Hunters Harvest 1,823
Wild Turkeys

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Youth wild turkey hunters across Ohio harvested 1,823 birds during the special youth-only hunting weekend April 15-16, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Meigs County youth harvested 44 birds, slightly higher than the three year average of 41. If you had a youth that harvested a turkey from Meigs County during the two day hunt you can send your pictures to [email protected] and we will post them to the website.

 
The season was open to hunters 17 years old and younger, and participants were required to be accompanied by a non-hunting adult. As of April 16, the Division of Wildlife has issued 5,941 youth turkey permits, which can be used throughout the 2023 wild turkey hunting season. The season limit is one bird and only bearded turkeys may be harvested.
 

Ohio’s youth turkey hunters harvested 1,823 birds during the two-day season on April 15-16.

The three-year average for wild turkeys taken during the two-day youth season (2020-2022) is 1,475 birds. In 2022, youth hunters harvested 1,103 turkeys on the corresponding weekend.
 
The top 10 counties for wild turkey harvest during the 2023 youth season were: Noble (66 turkeys harvested), Monroe (62), Muskingum (61), Washington (58), Jefferson (55), Belmont (54), Tuscarawas (52), Coshocton (51), Columbiana (50), and Gallia (48).

Turkey hunting opportunities for hunters of all ages begin Saturday, April 22 in the state’s south zone, and Saturday, April 29 in the northeast zone (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, and Trumbull counties). In the south zone, the season is open until Sunday, May 21, while the northeast zone’s season concludes Sunday, May 28. Find compete details in the Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet.
 
In 2022, the top five counties for wild turkey harvest by the end of the season were Ashtabula (348), Tuscarawas (338), Belmont (314), Guernsey (312), and Columbiana (309). More information about previous seasons can be found in the 2022 spring wild turkey report.
 
Hunters are required to have a valid hunting license in addition to a spring turkey permit, unless exempted. Successful hunters are required to game-check their turkey no later than 11:30 p.m. on the day of harvest. Game check, licenses, and permits are available on the HuntFish OH app, on the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System, or at a participating license agent. Game check can also be done by phone at 1-877-TAG-IT-OH (877-824-4864).
 
From 2017 to 2020, below-average reproductive success contributed to a decline in the wild turkey population in many areas of the state. The statewide wild turkey reproductive index recorded a positive turn in 2021 with 3.1 poults per hen, which is above the 10-year average of 2.7 poults per hen. In 2022, the reproductive index was again above average, with 3.0 poults per hen recorded.
 
Anyone interested in learning to hunt or becoming a mentor to a new hunter can visit the Wild Ohio Harvest Community page for information on how to get started, hunting-related workshops, as well as special hunting opportunities for mentors and new hunters. 
 
The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more. 
 
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov. 

A county list of all wild turkeys checked by youth hunters during the 2023 youth turkey season is shown below. The first number following the county’s name shows the harvest numbers for 2023, and the three-year average from 2020 to 2022 is in parentheses. A three-year average provides a better overall comparison to this year’s harvest numbers, eliminating year-to-year variation because of weather, misaligned season dates, and other unavoidable factors. Numbers below are raw data and are subject to change. 
 
Adams: 38 (30); Allen: 12 (9); Ashland: 32 (20); Ashtabula: 39 (33); Athens: 32 (22); Auglaize: 4 (3); Belmont: 54 (39); Brown: 41 (31); Butler: 30 (14); Carroll: 33 (25); Champaign: 10 (6); Clark: 2 (2); Clermont: 18 (21); Clinton: 10 (7); Columbiana: 50 (39); Coshocton: 51 (43); Crawford: 6 (2); Cuyahoga: 1 (0); Darke: 15 (10); Defiance: 29 (28); Delaware: 8 (7); Erie: 7 (1); Fairfield: 9 (9); Fayette: 2 (3); Franklin: 1 (2); Fulton: 15 (17); Gallia: 48 (34); Geauga: 28 (12); Greene: 6 (1); Guernsey: 40 (45); Hamilton: 11 (3); Hancock: 7 (3); Hardin: 9 (8); Harrison: 37 (38); Henry: 3 (8); Highland: 35 (33); Hocking: 29 (19); Holmes: 32 (29); Huron: 8 (7); Jackson: 23 (27); Jefferson: 55 (39); Knox: 27 (25); Lake: 4 (5); Lawrence: 34 (21); Licking: 36 (24); Logan: 14 (10); Lorain: 8 (8); Lucas: 5 (6); Madison: 0 (0); Mahoning: 15 (15); Marion: 5 (3); Medina: 6 (10); Meigs: 44 (41); Mercer: 3 (2); Miami: 4 (4); Monroe: 62 (54); Montgomery: 5 (2); Morgan: 30 (28); Morrow: 12 (13); Muskingum: 61 (46); Noble: 66 (44); Ottawa: 0 (0); Paulding: 9 (9); Perry: 37 (28); Pickaway: 3 (3); Pike: 12 (14); Portage: 17 (20); Preble: 20 (6); Putnam: 6 (7); Richland: 35 (16); Ross: 21 (22); Sandusky: 2 (3); Scioto: 14 (17); Seneca: 16 (11); Shelby: 2 (3); Stark: 24 (20); Summit: 1 (4); Trumbull: 35 (34); Tuscarawas: 52 (49); Union: 10 (4); Van Wert: 2 (3); Vinton: 21 (24); Warren: 6 (9); Washington: 58 (39); Wayne: 13 (8); Williams: 27 (19); Wood: 1 (4); Wyandot: 18 (9).
 
2023 Total: 1,823
Three-Year Average Total: 1,475