Spring turkey season set to open in Ohio next week

April showers may bring May flowers but here in Ohio it also brings spring turkey season.

The hunting season in the South Zone (except for Lake La Su An Wildlife Area in Williams County) is April 24 through May 23. Hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until noon through May 2. Hunting hours from May 3-23 are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.

The hunting season for the Northeast Zone (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties) is May 1-30.

The bag limit is two bearded turkeys per season and only may be taken per day. Hunting a second turkey requires a second permit. Consult your 202021 Ohio hunting and trapping regulations for more information.

I recently spoke to Mark Wiley, Ohio Division of Wildlife game bird biologist, to get his thoughts on the upcoming season.

The statewide spring harvest typically mirrors the trends observed in the reproductive index of the birds, Wiley said. The index was below the long-term average during the summers of 2017, 2018 and 2019 but rose above the long-term average in 2020. Wiley suggests that pattern means hunters should encounter a number of mature gobblers (similar to 2020) but a slightly elevated number of jakes (young males).

Here’s some info on equipment needed for the turkey hunter and a tip or two on setup.

Gun: No longer is this a 12-gauge or 10-gauge only hunt. With the advancement of turkey ammunition, it has opened up the use of 20 gauge and even 410 gauge.

Choke tubes: It’s a good idea to invest in one that fits your gun. Choices in choke tubes have really changed over the years and they keep getting better and better.

Ammunition: Turkey ammo can be expensive, but this is not a place to go cheap. Make sure you pattern your gun with the same round you hunt with — three rounds should be sufficient, leaving seven rounds for the hunt. This is only a oneor two-shot hunt so seven rounds should be plenty.

Decoys: Very important to a turkey hunt. A jake and hen set up together are the typical decoys used.

Calls: You can’t hunt turkeys without a call. Locator calls, such as owl and crow, can help with locating turkeys. There are numerous turkey calls to choose from. Practice with the call before you hunt.

Clothing: Camouflage is a must. Try to match your clothing patter as close to the area and terrain you are hunting. A vest is also a must have.

Blinds: The pop-up blind was invented for the turkey hunter. They can be set up in a matter of minutes and turkeys will walk right up on them.

Some of the turkey hunting areas here in southwest Ohio are East Fork State Park, Caesar Creek State Park, Rush Run Wildlife Area, Pater Wildlife Area, Woodland Trails Wildlife Area and Hueston Woods State Park.

Have a fun and successful spring turkey season. Until next time, enjoy the outdoors.