Ohio’s Spring 2025 Wild Turkey Hunting Seasons Proposed to Wildlife Council

A complete list of proposed rule changes is available at wildohio.gov. Anyone who would like to comment on Division of Wildlife proposals can do so online at wildohio.gov between Monday, Aug. 26 and Wednesday, Sept. 25. The proposed rules will be voted on during the Ohio Wildlife Council’s meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

Wild turkey hunting proposals
The proposed spring 2025 wild turkey hunting season dates are:

• Youth: Saturday, April 12 to Sunday, April 13, 2025
• South Zone: Saturday, April 19 to Sunday, May 18, 2025
• Northeast Zone: Saturday, May 3 to Sunday, June 1, 2025

Ohio’s spring turkey season is split into two zones to align with the timing of turkey nesting in those regions. The south zone is the majority of Ohio, comprising 83 counties. The northeast zone includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull counties.

Annually, the south zone opening date is proposed to begin on the Saturday closest to April 21, and the northeast zone is proposed to begin on the Saturday closest to May 1. Under these guidelines, the opening dates for the south zone and northeast zone may be as much as two weeks apart.

Inland fishing proposals
The Ohio Wildlife Council received a proposal to remove the 15-inch minimum length requirement for walleye, sauger, and saugeye on Acton Lake, Alum Creek Lake, Atwood Lake, Buckeye Lake, Caesar Creek Lake, Ferguson Reservoir, Findlay Reservoir 1, Findlay Reservoir 2, Indian Lake, Metzger Reservoir, Piedmont Lake, Pleasant Hill Lake, Rocky Fork Lake, Seneca Lake, and Tappan Lake. If approved, there would be no minimum length requirement for walleye, sauger, or saugeye on those waterbodies.

As part of the same proposal, a 15-inch minimum length requirement for walleye, sauger, and saugeye would be added at Mosquito Creek Lake and LaDue Reservoir to better conserve fish populations.

Ohio Wildlife Council
The Ohio Wildlife Council is an eight-member board that approves all Division of Wildlife proposed rules and regulations. Council meetings are open to the public. Individuals interested in providing comments are asked to call 614-265-6304 at least two days prior to the meeting to register. All comments are required to be three minutes or less.

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.

In 2024, join ODNR as we celebrate 75 years of protecting Ohio’s natural resources and providing outstanding and award-winning recreational opportunities.

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.