If you haven?t considered hunting turkeys this time of year, you have 11 more reasons to do so this season. That?s how many counties have been added to the list of those open to the autumn opportunity this year. Hunters this month and next have their choice of 67 counties in which to pursue turkeys, and that includes hens and poults, as well as the mature ?sway-beard? male gobblers that are pursued with such a passion each spring.
While there are pockets of intense autumn turkey hunting followers and activity here in Ohio, such as in Ashtabula County, where avid hunters have special ?turkey? dogs to hound their prey, most of the turkeys that are harvested in the fall are taken as ?by catch? by deer and small game hunters who purchase a fall turkey tag to have in pocket in the event a turkey presents itself while they are pursuing their primary targets. Many hunters feel that $24 is a small price to pay for the opportunity that lasts for six weeks. I?m one ? and now look forward to harvesting a turkey this fall in a newly opened county where I already hunt deer and am already in the woods hoping for a whitetail.
Ohio hunters can pursue wild turkeys in 11 more counties this autumn than in years past, for a total of 67, during a six-week season that opens Saturday, Oct. 14 through Sunday, Nov. 26. Gobblers, poults and hens are legal game during the fall wild turkey season, but only one turkey of either sex may be harvested during the season. A valid Ohio hunting license and a fall turkey hunting permit are required to participate in the autumn opportunity that is open from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset daily. Shotguns using shot, as well as crossbows and longbows, are permitted, and turkeys must be checked by 11:30 p.m. on the day the bird is harvested.
Hunters must make their own game tag to attach to a turkey, and can use any material (cardboard, plastic, paper, etc.) as long as it contains the hunter?s name, date, time, and county of the kill. Go to the Turkey Hunting Resources page at wildohio.gov for more information on changes to the game check process.
Also, all successful hunters must report their turkey harvest using the automated game-check system, which is available online and by phone seven days a week, including holidays. Hunters with a turkey permit have three options to complete the game check:
? Online at ohiogamecheck.com;
? Call 877-TAG-ITOH (824-4864); or
? Visit a license agent. A list of agents can be found at wildohio.gov or by calling 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).
Landowners exempt from purchasing a turkey permit, and others not required to purchase a turkey permit, cannot use the 877-TAG-ITOH option. Landowners and others not required to obtain a permit have the following game-check options:
? Online at ohiogamecheck.com;
? Visit a license agent; or
? Call 866-703-1928 for operator assisted landowner game-check (a convenience fee of $5.50 applies).
The Division of Wildlife advises turkey hunters to wear hunter orange clothing when entering, leaving, or moving through hunting areas to remain visible to others. The list of open counties and other details regarding fall wild turkey hunting can be found in the 2017-2018 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations or at wildohio.gov.
