05/07/2025
For Immediate Release
May 5, 2025
Ohio’s Wild Turkey Hunting Season Results Through May 4
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Wild turkey hunters across Ohio have taken 12,451 birds so far during the 2025 spring season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
This year’s statewide total represents 16 days of hunting in the 83 counties that comprise the south zone, two days of hunting in the northeast zone (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull counties), and the 1,740 turkeys checked over the two-day youth hunting weekend. Hunters had checked an average of 11,681 turkeys by the corresponding date in the previous three seasons (2022 to 2024) and reported 12,934 birds at this point in 2024.
Ohio hunters have checked 12,451 wild turkeys so far during the 2025 spring hunting season.
The 10 counties with the highest totals for wild turkey harvest so far during the 2025 season: Monroe (382), Belmont (380), Guernsey (351), Muskingum (342), Tuscarawas (331), Carroll (329), Columbiana (321), Harrison (320), Meigs (316), and Coshocton (310).
The Division of Wildlife has issued 50,142 spring turkey permits that are valid throughout the 2025 season. Hunting is open in the 83 counties that comprise the south zone until Sunday, May 18. Hunting in the northeast zone is open until Sunday, June 1. Hours in the northeast zone are from 30 minutes before sunrise until noon through Sunday, May 11. Hunting hours in the rest of the state, and in the northeast zone beginning on May 12, are from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.
The season bag limit is one bearded turkey. 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, via the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System, or at a participating license agent. Game check can also be completed by phone at 1-877-TAG-IT-OH (877-824-4864). Complete details can be found in the 2024-25 hunting and trapping regulations.
Find more information about Ohio’s wild turkey hunting at wildohio.gov.
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.
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A list of all wild turkeys checked by hunters in each county through Sunday, May 4, 2025, is shown below. Results include 16 days of hunting in the south zone, two days in the northeast zone, and the two-day youth season. The first number following the county’s name shows the harvest numbers for 2025, and the three-year average (2022-2024) through the corresponding dates is in parentheses. The three-year average represents nine days of hunting in the northeast zone compared to two in the 2025 total because of a later start to the season this year. The numbers below are raw data and subject to change.
Adams: 298 (277); Allen: 66 (59); Ashland: 138 (134); Ashtabula: 165 (264); Athens: 200 (235); Auglaize: 39 (32); Belmont: 380 (321); Brown: 266 (233); Butler: 126 (158); Carroll: 329 (263); Champaign: 52 (65); Clark: 18 (19); Clermont: 219 (209); Clinton: 63 (52); Columbiana: 321 (283); Coshocton: 310 (274); Crawford: 36 (41); Cuyahoga: 3 (6); Darke: 52 (54); Defiance: 185 (136); Delaware: 61 (68); Erie: 32 (30); Fairfield: 57 (75); Fayette: 10 (7); Franklin: 19 (13); Fulton: 127 (99); Gallia: 292 (316); Geauga: 62 (142); Greene: 28 (21); Guernsey: 351 (297); Hamilton: 62 (84); Hancock: 50 (30); Hardin: 72 (73); Harrison: 320 (286); Henry: 52 (44); Highland: 272 (243); Hocking: 163 (185); Holmes: 177 (161); Huron: 75 (66); Jackson: 247 (196); Jefferson: 299 (291); Knox: 205 (174); Lake: 23 (36); Lawrence: 197 (171); Licking: 207 (212); Logan: 97 (102); Lorain: 108 (83); Lucas: 62 (50); Madison: 3 (5); Mahoning: 203 (146); Marion: 45 (29); Medina: 87 (84); Meigs: 316 (292); Mercer: 27 (18); Miami: 37 (27); Monroe: 382 (320); Montgomery: 13 (26); Morgan: 203 (194); Morrow: 112 (110); Muskingum: 342 (322); Noble: 273 (265); Ottawa: 1 (0); Paulding: 69 (58); Perry: 188 (207); Pickaway: 16 (14); Pike: 167 (164); Portage: 247 (158); Preble: 90 (102); Putnam: 47 (27); Richland: 171 (170); Ross: 203 (212); Sandusky: 38 (22); Scioto: 260 (191); Seneca: 108 (93); Shelby: 38 (29); Stark: 221 (204); Summit: 45 (40); Trumbull: 136 (211); Tuscarawas: 331 (334); Union: 33 (42); Van Wert: 11 (17); Vinton: 204 (174); Warren: 60 (64); Washington: 290 (289); Wayne: 96 (81); Williams: 215 (170); Wood: 27 (19); Wyandot: 103 (81).
2025 total: 12,451
3-year average total: 11,681
For more information, contact:
Will Babb, Division of Wildlife
Phone: 614-265-6746
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
