The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife has released the dates for the 2026 wild turkey hunting seasons, one of the state’s most popular outdoor traditions.
Spring turkey hunting draws thousands of Ohioans each year. During the 2025 season, hunters checked 16,014 turkeys, including 1,740 taken by youth hunters during the designated youth season.
Youth Turkey Hunting Dates
Youth turkey hunting is scheduled for:
- South Zone: April 18–19, 2026
- Northeast Zone: April 25–26, 2026
Spring Turkey Season Dates
- South Zone: April 25–May 24, 2026
- Northeast Zone: May 2–31, 2026
Ohio’s spring turkey season is split into two zones to reflect the timing of nesting in different regions. The south zone covers 83 counties, while the northeast zone includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull counties. Hunters are limited to one bearded turkey per season.
Eastern and southern counties, with more forested habitat, typically record the highest harvests. The top five counties for turkeys taken in 2025 were Ashtabula (516), Monroe (462), Belmont (459), Guernsey (419), and Muskingum (406).
Research on Ohio Turkeys
The Division of Wildlife is conducting studies on hen turkey nesting and survival in collaboration with researchers at The Ohio State University, along with similar research in Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Since 2023, biologists have fitted 319 hens with GPS transmitters to track movement, survival, and nest timing.
Research on male turkeys is also underway, with audio recorders capturing gobbling activity in eastern Ohio. Preliminary results show that peak gobbling aligns closely with periods of nest initiation and egg-laying, helping biologists understand turkey behavior and manage populations.
Hunting Regulations
- Youth hunters: Must have a youth hunting license ($10) and turkey permit ($16) and be accompanied by a non-hunting adult aged 18 or older. Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.
- Regular season: Hunting hours for the first nine days are 30 minutes before sunrise until noon; afterward, hours extend until sunset. Season ends May 24 in the south zone and May 31 in the northeast zone.
- Hunters must game check harvested birds by 11:30 p.m. the same day. Reporting can be done online at wildohio.gov, via the HuntFish OH app, by phone at 877-TAG-IT-OH (877-824-4864), or at a participating license agent.
A Wildlife Success Story
Wild turkeys were extirpated from Ohio around 1904. The Division of Wildlife began reintroducing them in the 1950s, with the first spring season opening in nine counties in 1966. Trap-and-transfer efforts allowed populations to grow rapidly, and by 1999, wild turkeys were established in all 88 counties.
Ohio’s wild turkey restoration is considered one of the state’s most notable wildlife conservation successes, and the 2026 spring hunting season continues this long tradition.
