Akron Beacon Journal
April 23, 2026, 11:14 a.m. ET
Youth hunters bag more turkeys during changed Ohio season. See numbers
- Ohio’s youth wild turkey hunting season saw an increase in checked birds during its first weekend.
- For 2026, the state has split its turkey hunting season into two zones to align with regional nesting times.
- Upcoming spring turkey season dates have been set for both the south and northeast zones.
The number of wild turkeys checked during youth hunting season in Ohio grew from the past year, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources0.
And, in a change from previous years, it was only the first half youth wild turkey season. For 2026, ODNR split the youth season, creating separate weekends for Ohio’s two turkey hunting zones. The second weekend of youth season is coming soon.
Hunters in the south zone checked 1,941 birds during the youth-only weekend on April 18-19. That’s an increase from 1,625 turkeys checked in 2025. The three-year average for youth season is 1,681.
So when is the second half of youth season? And when does turkey season in Ohio open for everyone? Here’s what to know.
When does spring wild turkey hunting season begin in Ohio?
Ohio’s upcoming turkey season dates are as follows:Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
- Youth turkey, northeast zone: April 25-26, 2026
- Spring turkey, south zone: April 25-May 24, 2026
- Spring turkey, northeast zone: May 2-31, 2026
Hunting seasons 2026-27: Ohio proposes changes. See what’s new
Why is Ohio split into two zones for turkey season?
Ohio’s spring turkey hunting season is split into two zones to align with the timing of turkey nesting in those regions. The south zone covers the majority of Ohio, comprising 83 counties. The northeast zone includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties.
What were the best counties for turkey hunting during the first youth weekend?
The top 11 counties for wild turkeys checked during the 2026 youth season in the south zone include:
- Highland (65)
- Tuscarawas (65)
- Guernsey (62)
- Monroe (57)
- Meigs (56)
- Adams (55)
- Gallia (55)
- Harrison (55)
- Carroll (52)
- Brown (50)
- Noble (50)
What are the hours for wild turkey hunting season in Ohio?
Hunting hours during the youth dates are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.
In both regular season hunting zones, turkey hunting hours for the first nine days of the season are from 30 minutes before sunrise until noon. For the remainder of the season, hours are extended until sunset.
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What is the bag limit during Ohio turkey hunting season?
The season limit is one bearded turkey.
What were the best counties for turkey hunting in 2025?
During the 2025 spring wild turkey season, hunters checked 16,014 birds. Among those were 1,740 turkeys taken by hunters aged 17 and younger during the youth season.
The top five counties for turkeys taken in 2025 were Ashtabula (516), Monroe (462), Belmont (459), Guernsey (419), and Muskingum (406).
ODNR hunting license: Buy, renew, check game online at WildOhio.gov or with HuntFish app
Hunters are required to have a valid hunting license and turkey permit before heading into the field. Youth hunters are required to be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, 18 years of age or older. Hunters are required to game check a harvested bird no later than 11:30 p.m. on the day it was taken.
Indiana and Kentucky turkey seasons
If you’re looking to expand your hunt, turkey seasons in Indiana and Kentucky are also opening soon.
In Indiana, turkey season will be held from April 22 to May 10. The bag limit is one bearded turkey per season.
In Kentucky, the season opened on April 18 and closes May 10. Youth season was April 4-5. Bag limits are one bearded turkey per wildlife management area, and a total of two turkeys for the spring season.
Hunting licenses and turkey permits are required by each state.