Young hunters productive during special two-day turkey hunt

Young hunters across Ohio again experienced success during the annual youth spring turkey season, held Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

Hunters age 17 and under harvested 1,632 wild turkeys during the special two-day season, compared to 1,490 wild turkeys last year.

Counties reporting the greatest number of wild turkeys checked were Ashtabula-73, Muskingum-60, Tuscarawas-53, Carroll and Monroe-49, Highland-48, Washington-46, Jackson-42, Harrison-41 and Knox and Trumbull-39.

All participants were required to possess a valid Ohio youth hunting license and youth spring turkey permit, as well as be accompanied by a non-hunting adult 18 years of age or older. The young hunters’ turkey season was open statewide with the exception of Lake La Su An State Wildlife Area in Williams County, which required a special hunting permit.

The youth spring turkey season is one of four special youth-only hunting seasons designed to offer a safe and productive early hunting experience for young hunters. Special seasons are also set aside for upland game, white-tailed deer and waterfowl hunting opportunities.

Details on youth hunting opportunities and hunting seasons can be found in the 2011-2012 Ohio Hunting Regulations, available where licenses are sold. It can also be viewed online at wildohio.com.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at www.ohiodnr.com.

A list of wild turkeys checked by young hunters during the 2012 two-day youth spring turkey season follows. Numbers for 2011 are listed in parentheses.

Adams: 30 (38); Allen: 7 (5); Ashland: 22 (23); Ashtabula: 73 (49); Athens: 23 (22); Auglaize: 2 (6); Belmont: 30 (26); Brown: 34 (49); Butler: 21 (18); Carroll: 49 (43); Champaign: 7 (9); Clark: 3 (0); Clermont: 24 (35); Clinton: 10 (6); Columbiana: 38 (26); Coshocton: 29 (28); Crawford: 9 (4); Cuyahoga: 0 (0); Darke: 11 (17); Defiance: 22 (23); Delaware: 12 (8); Erie: 6 (2); Fairfield: 9 (7); Fayette: 0 (1); Franklin: 1 (1); Fulton: 13 (8); Gallia: 36 (25); Geauga: 20 (15); Greene: 2 (1); Guernsey: 31 (37); Hamilton: 4 (10); Hancock: 1 (2); Hardin: 6 (7); Harrison: 41 (28); Henry: 0 (2); Highland: 48 (47); Hocking: 24 (28); Holmes: 23 (27); Huron: 23 (18); Jackson: 42 (40); Jefferson: 28 (25); Knox: 39 (37); Lake: 5 (2); Lawrence: 21 (19); Licking: 31 (46); Logan: 9 (18); Lorain: 11 (11); Lucas: 5 (3); Madison: 0 (0); Mahoning: 23 (9); Marion: 4 (3); Medina: 11 (7); Meigs: 36 (35); Mercer: 4 (2); Miami: 1 (2); Monroe: 49 (35); Montgomery: 1 (0); Morgan: 34 (34); Morrow: 23 (19); Muskingum: 60 (47); Noble: 37 (34); Ottawa: 0 (0); Paulding: 14 (6); Perry: 25 (20); Pickaway: 3 (1); Pike: 14 (15); Portage: 21 (20); Preble: 6 (2); Putnam: 6 (6); Richland: 31 (30); Ross: 18 (21); Sandusky: 2 (1); Scioto: 16 (16); Seneca: 18 (14); Shelby: 4 (9); Stark: 17 (14); Summit: 2 (0); Trumbull: 39 (32); Tuscarawas: 53 (47); Union: 2 (0); Van Wert: 3 (2); Vinton: 26 (20); Warren: 6 (9); Washington: 46 (39); Wayne: 13 (6); Williams: 22 (20); Wood: 1 (3); Wyandot: 6 (8). Total: 1,632 (1,490).