Turkey Hunting Regulations
Wild Turkey Hunting
It is unlawful to hunt or take wild turkeys with the aid or use of bait. An area is considered baited for 10 days after the complete removal of any bait.
It is unlawful to use a live decoy while hunting wild turkeys.
It is unlawful to possess or use an electronic calling device while hunting wild turkeys.
It is unlawful to take or attempt to take a wild turkey while it is in a tree.
It is unlawful to possess more than one hunting implement while turkey hunting.
A successful wild turkey hunter may aid or assist another hunter who is hunting wild turkeys if the turkey permit has been filled in, he or she does not carry any hunting implement commonly used to kill wild animals, and has a valid hunting license. Those persons exempted from having a hunting license and wild turkey permits for turkey hunting on their property are required to have a hunting license and turkey permit to aid another hunter off of their property or hunt turkey off of their property.
Bag Limits
- It shall be unlawful for any person to take or possess a wild turkey during the spring wild turkey season that does not have a visible beard.
- A harvested wild turkey must be checked by 11:30 p.m. on the day of kill.
Tag and Check
A hunter is required to complete the game check process following the harvest of a wild turkey.
Fall Wild Turkey Season
- A valid Ohio hunting license and fall turkey permit are required, unless exempt.
- A wild turkey of either sex may be hunted during the fall season. The bag limit is one turkey.
- Fall wild turkey hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
- It is legal to use dogs to assist in taking wild turkeys during the fall season only.
Youth Wild Turkey Season
- A valid hunting license and wild turkey permit are required, unless exempt.
- Hunting hours for youth turkey season are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
Spring Wild Turkey Season
- The bag limit for the 2025 spring season is one bearded wild turkey.
- A valid Ohio hunting license and spring turkey permit are required, unless exempt.
- It is legal to use a leashed dog to recover wounded wild turkeys in the spring turkey season.
- The Northeast Zone is Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull counties. The South Zone is the remainder of the state.
- South Zone wild turkey hunting hours from April 19-27, 2025 are 30 minutes before sunrise to noon.
- South Zone wild turkey hunting hours from April 28 - May 18, 2025 are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
- Northeast Zone wild turkey hunting hours from May 3-11, 2025 are 30 minutes before sunrise to noon.
- Northeast Zone wild turkey hunting hours from May 12 - June 1, 2025 are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
- Lake La Su A Wildlife Area is open only to wild turkey controlled permit holders during the spring season.
Legal Wild Turkey Hunting Equipment
Season | Equipment |
Shotgun: 10 gauge or smaller shotgun using shot, includes muzzleloading shotguns. | |
Fall and Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Seasons | Longbow or Bow: The minimum draw weight is 40 pounds. This includes compound bows and recurve bows. The arrow tip needs to have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed, and a minimum 3/4-inch width. Expandable and mechanical broad heads are legal. |
Crossbow: The minimum draw weight is 75 pounds. The arrow tip needs to have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed, and a minimum 3/4-inch width. Expandable and mechanical broad heads are legal. |
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