Ohio’s wild turkey hunters bagged 15,887 birds during the spring 2026 season, which concluded on Sunday, May 31, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The total statewide harvest represents all turkeys checked from April 18 to May 31, including the 2,058 birds taken during youth-only hunting.
During the 2025 spring season, the total number of turkeys checked was 16,014.
The three-year average for the spring season (2023, 2024, and 2025) is 15,743.
Ohio’s spring turkey season is split into two zones to align with the timing of turkey nesting in those regions.
The northeast zone includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull counties.
In 2026, 1,216 turkeys were checked in the northeast zone, while 14,671 birds were taken in the 83 counties that comprise the south zone.
The top 10 counties for wild turkeys taken in the 2026 season were Ashtabula (500), Tuscarawas (433), Belmont (418), Monroe (413), Trumbull (410), Highland (407), Adams (401), Gallia (397), Guernsey (383), and Brown (358).
The season bag limit was one bearded bird. Adult male turkeys made up 85% of the final count with 13,441 birds taken.
Following strong brood production summers in the last few years, biologists expected a high proportion of adult birds in the total harvest this spring.
Hunters checked 2,285 juvenile male turkeys in 2026, representing 14% of birds taken.
Turkey hunters also checked 161 bearded female turkeys (hens) this season.
Shotguns accounted for 98% of the total harvest (15,631 birds) this spring.
The remaining 256 birds were taken with archery equipment.
The ODNR Division of Wildlife issued 52,799 spring turkey permits for use during the spring 2026 hunting season.
In 2025, the agency issued 52,693 spring turkey permits.
