OHIO — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife provided an update on the 2025 spring wild turkey season, with hunters bagging over 10,000 birds.

What You Need To Know

  • More than 10,000 turkeys have been checked so far this season

  • The southern zone's season ends May 18
  • The northeast season begins Saturday, May 3

  • The bag limit is one bearded turkey

The season opened in the south zone on April 19 and through Sunday, April 27, a total of 10,078 birds have been taken, including the 1,740 turkeys checked during the youth only weekend earlier this month.

Last year, during the same time period, hunters checked 10,082 wild turkeys.

The wait for the northeast zone, including Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties, ends this weekend with the season opening on Saturday, May 3. 

So far, the top 10 counties with the most turkeys this season are: 

  • Belmont (324)
  • Monroe (316)
  • Guernsey (309)
  • Muskingum (286)
  • Meigs (274)
  • Tuscarawas (274)
  • Harrison (273)
  • Coshocton (269)
  • Carroll (264)
  • Columbiana (264)

ODNR said 846,845 spring wild turkey permits were issued that are valid through the 2025 season. The southern zone remains in season until May 18. 

For the northeast zone, on opening day, hunting hours will be from 30 minutes before sunrise to noon for the first nine days. From May 12 to June 1, the hours shift to 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset for the zone.

The bag limit is one bearded turkey.

Hunters must have a valid hunting license and a spring turkey permit, unless exempted. Turkeys must be game-checked no later than 11:30 p.m. on the day of the harvest.

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