COLUMBUS – Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Wildlife Division biologists recommended a major reduction in the 2022 fall wild turkey hunting season at the regular meeting of the Ohio Wildlife Council. Ohio on Wednesday.
According to the proposal, the season would play from October 15 to November 15. 13, a three-week reduction from the fall 2021 season.
The fall turkey hunt proposal was part of a larger set of seasonal dates that were presented to the Ohio Wildlife Council and includes small game, waterfowl and furbearers.
Wild turkey populations have declined throughout Ohio after several years of below average reproductive success. The proposed reduction in the fall hunting season is accompanied by a reduced limit for the spring season. Hunters in Ohio harvested 695 wild turkeys during the 2021 fall season which was open in 70 of 88 counties. The average harvest over the previous three years (2018-20) was 1,079 birds.
Additional dates for the 2022-2023 hunting seasons that were proposed on Wednesday include small game, furbearers and waterfowl and include the traditional squirrel and mourning dove start dates of September 1, hunting and fur trapping on November 10 and rabbit and pheasant on November 1. 4.
Waterfowl hunting dates in the Lake Erie marsh area have been proposed to begin October 15. Waterfowl openings for the northern and southern zones have been proposed for October 22.
White-tailed deer hunting seasons will be presented to the Ohio Wildlife Council on February 9.
The Ohio Wildlife Council is an eight-member council that approves all rules and regulations proposed by the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Board meetings are held virtually and are open to the public. Those interested in providing feedback are asked to call 614-265-6304 at least two days prior to the meeting to register. All comments should be three minutes or less.
