I went turkey hunting for the first time this year---
I never paid attention to the turkey harvest numbers, but it seems like the fall season is tough. 1300 birds for 17000 hunters. What makes fall so much different than spring? And are those people buying tags and coming home empty handed?


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Hunters harvest more than 1,300 turkeys during Ohio's fall season
Fall wild turkey hunting season ended Sunday -- the day before deer-run season began.
Norwalk Reflector Staff
Nov 29, 2012

Hunters harvested 1,338 wild turkeys during Ohio's 2012 fall wild turkey season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Ohio's 2012 fall wild turkey hunting season was open Oct. 13 to Sunday.

This year's total is a 2.5 percent decline from 2011, when hunters bagged 1,372 wild turkeys. The 2010 harvest total was 1,425.

"Wild turkey hunting is a challenging activity that thousands of hunters enjoy year after year with family and friends," ODNR Director James Zehringer said. "Ohio's wild turkey population remains strong, and we appreciate those hunters who participated in the fall wild turkey season this year."

The top 11 counties for fall turkey harvest were: Ashtabula (61), Coshocton (56), Geauga and Tuscarawas (53 each), Knox (46), Clermont (42), Licking (41), Guernsey (39), Holmes (38) as well as Adams and Richland (37 each). Ashtabula was also the top county in 2011, with 67 wild turkeys.

Prior to the start of this fall's hunting season, Ohio's wild turkey population was about 180,000. More than 17,000 hunters, not including private landowners hunting on their own property, enjoyed Ohio's fall wild turkey season. Hunters could pursue a wild turkey of either sex in 48 counties using a shotgun, muzzleloading shotgun, bow or crossbow.

More information about Ohio wild turkey hunting can be found at wildohio.com. Hunters can share photos by clicking on the Photo Gallery tab online.

A list of wild turkeys checked by hunters during the 2012 fall season is shown below. The first number following the county's name shows the harvest numbers for 2012, and the 2011 numbers are in parentheses.

Adams: 37 (35); Ashland: 22 (17); Ashtabula: 61 (67); Athens: 32 (27); Belmont: 27 (32); Brown: 21 (26); Carroll: 29 (39); Clermont: 42 (32); Columbiana: 29 (37); Coshocton: 56 (44); Cuyahoga: 2 (0); Defiance: 20 (13); Gallia: 25 (36); Geauga: 53 (31); Guernsey: 39 (53); Harrison: 34 (38); Highland: 32 (37); Hocking: 28 (20); Holmes: 38 (42); Jackson: 21 (17); Jefferson: 23 (20); Knox: 46 (55); Lake: 9 (7); Lawrence: 14 (21); Licking: 41 (40); Lorain: 9 (29); Mahoning: 22 (24); Medina: 11 (17); Meigs: 30 (15); Monroe: 34 (45); Morgan: 17 (23); Morrow: 16 (11); Muskingum: 35 (36); Noble: 31 (50); Perry: 29 (26); Pike: 21 (21); Portage: 19 (18); Richland: 37 (39); Ross: 20 (19); Scioto: 24 (22); Stark: 17 (23); Summit: 9 (3); Trumbull: 36 (31); Tuscarawas: 53 (53); Vinton: 34 (21); Washington: 24 (24); Wayne: 7 (9); Williams: 22 (27). Total: 1,338 (1,372).
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NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2012

Ohio Hunters Harvest More Than 17,000 Turkeys During Spring Hunt
Ashtabula County again leads the harvest


COLUMBUS, OH- Hunters checked 17,647 wild turkeys during Ohio's four-week statewide spring turkey hunting season that ended May 20, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources� (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The preliminary total represents a three percent decrease over last year's harvest number of 18,162.

Ashtabula County again led the state in the number of turkeys killed with 762. Counties with additional high harvest numbers were: Ashtabula-762, Tuscarawas-531, Guernsey-495, Coshocton-492, Muskingum-486, Belmont-456, Knox-451, Harrison-450, Trumbull-428 and Adams-420.

The Division of Wildlife estimates that more than 70,000 people hunted turkeys during the season. Prior to the start of the spring hunting season, state wildlife biologists estimated the wild turkey population in Ohio to be more than 180,000 birds.

Wild turkeys were nearly eliminated in Ohio before being reintroduced in the mid-1950s by the Division of Wildlife. The first spring turkey hunting season opened in 1966. Wild turkeys are now present in all 88 counties.

Turkey hunters are reminded that hunting licenses purchased now are also valid during the 2012 fall hunting season. Spring turkey permits are good for spring season only. Those participating in the fall turkey season will need to buy a fall turkey permit. The 2012-2013 licenses will not be printed on weatherproof paper. Sportsmen and women should protect their licenses and permits from the elements by carrying them in a protective pouch or wallet.