Ohio

Sub-species: Eastern

Tags: Over the counter

Application Period: n/a

Electronic or Print at Home Fulfillment: YES

Hunter Education Required: Yes

Bag Limit: 1 bearded turkey

2026 Spring Season Dates:

South Zone – April 25-May 3 (ends at noon); May 4-24 (ends at sunset)

Northeast Zone – May 2-10 (ends at noon), May 11-31 (ends at sunset) 

Special Youth Hunt:

South Zone – April 18-19

Northeast Zone – April 25-26

Fall 2025 Season Dates:

Oct 1-26

Special Disabled Hunt: No

Decoys Allowed: Yes

Tagging Instructions: All hunters who a wild turkey are required to complete the game check process.  For wild turkey, the hunter must complete the game check process and receive a confirmation code by 11:30 p.m. on the same day it was killed.  A hunter may immediately complete the game check process prior to moving the game. The game must be tagged once the hunter leaves the animal unattended or arrives at a residence or temporary lodging.  Fill in the deer or wild turkey permit upon harvest with the date, time, and county of kill. Submitting through the Division of Wildlife’s mobile application fulfills this requirement. 

Once the hunter leaves the game unattended, the completed permit or tag, or confirmation code, must be attached. The permit or confirmation code is required to remain with the game at all times. Hunters may check game and receive a confirmation code by calling 1-877-TAG-IT-OH (1-877-824-4864), visiting ohiogamecheck.com and selecting COMPLETE GAME CHECK, through the Division of Wildlife’s mobile application, HuntFish OH, or by visiting any authorized license sales agent.  Regardless of game check method, the hunter must provide the 10-digit permit number, which is printed in large numbers on every permit. The hunter will be issued a confirmation code at the end of the process.  The confirmation code may be written on the corresponding permit or tag and attached to the game. When a hunter checks a deer or wild turkey by internet, agent, or mobile application, they will receive a game check receipt with their confirmation code printed on it. Hunters using the telephone game check method will receive the confirmation code over the phone. Hunters using the Division of Wildlife’s mobile application will receive their confirmation code once their phone has service.  The confirmation code must remain attached to the game and its parts. The code may be written on the back or bottom of a mount.

The game check process must be completed prior to butchering or processing the carcass. This does not include field dressing.

Noteworthy Restrictions: It is unlawful to possess more than one hunting implement while turkey hunting.  Legal hunting hours end at 12 noon during the first segment of each zone.  It is unlawful to take a turkey while it is in a tree.  Shotguns 10ga and smaller are legal. Lake La Su An Wildlife Area is open only to wild turkey controlled permit holders during the spring season. 

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

800-945-3543

Purchase License Online

Licenses Needed to Hunt Turkeys