Youth hunters checked 1,740 wild turkeys over the weekend

Youth wild turkey hunters across Ohio checked 1,740 birds during the state’s youth-only hunting weekend held April 12-13, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.

The two-day season was open to hunters age 17 and younger, who were required to be accompanied by a nonhunting adult. The three-year average for wild turkeys taken during the youth weekend from 2022 to 2024 is 1,571. In 2024, youth hunters checked 1,785 birds during the same weekend.

As of Sunday, April 13, the Division of Wildlife had issued 6,731 youth turkey permits, valid for the entire 2025 wild turkey hunting season. The season limit is one bird, and only bearded turkeys may be harvested.

The top 10 counties for turkeys checked during the 2025 youth season were: Monroe (62)

Noble (60)

Guernsey (55)

Tuscarawas (55)

Muskingum (54)

Belmont (52)

Ashtabula (49)

Carroll (49)

Harrison (47)

Columbiana (43)