Ohio · Turkey · 2026–27 Edition
Ohio Turkey Season 2026–27: Fall Dates, Bag Limits
01 — Fall turkey
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fall wild turkey | Select counties only — ODNR publishes the open counties as a map, not a list | Oct 1 – Oct 25 |
02 — Bag limits
| Fall bag | 1 turkey, either sex |
|---|---|
| Equipment | Shotguns using shotshells only — archery equipment is not permitted in the fall season |
| Dogs | Legal to use dogs to help take turkeys, in the fall season only |
| Game check | A harvested turkey must be checked by 11:30 p.m. on the day of the kill |
| Prohibited | No baiting — an area counts as baited for 10 days after the bait is gone — no live decoys, no electronic calling devices, and no taking a turkey while it is in a tree |
| Implements | Only one hunting implement may be carried while turkey hunting |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 1, 2026) 06:57 — 19:12
Rule: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Turkey closes earlier than Ohio's general rule, which runs to 30 minutes after sunset. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Ohio sun times for any other date.
04 — License
An Ohio hunting license and turkey permit are required. Check whether the permit is sold with the license or separately, and note any cap on gobblers per hunter per year.
Ohio hunting license cost & turkey permits →
Where to hunt public land in Ohio — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — Scouting gear
Patterning a gobbler's roost and strut zone before Ohio's opener usually means glassing from a distance and running a trail camera through late winter and early spring.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
06 — FAQ
When does turkey season start in Ohio?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is October 1, 2026. See the tables above for each segment.
When does turkey season end in Ohio?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is October 25, 2026. Individual segments and zones close on their own dates.
When does fall turkey season start in Ohio?
Fall wild turkey opens October 1, 2026 (Select counties only — ODNR publishes the open counties as a map, not a list).
How many turkeys can you shoot in Ohio?
2026–27 bag limits: Fall bag — 1 turkey, either sex. Equipment — Shotguns using shotshells only — archery equipment is not permitted in the fall season. Dogs — Legal to use dogs to help take turkeys, in the fall season only. Game check — A harvested turkey must be checked by 11:30 p.m. on the day of the kill. Prohibited — No baiting — an area counts as baited for 10 days after the bait is gone — no live decoys, no electronic calling devices, and no taking a turkey while it is in a tree. Implements — Only one hunting implement may be carried while turkey hunting. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting turkey in Ohio?
On opening day (October 1, 2026) legal light runs 06:57 to 19:12. The rule is: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Turkey closes earlier than Ohio's general rule, which runs to 30 minutes after sunset. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Ohio sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt turkey on my own land in Ohio without a license?
Ohio residents who own land — plus their parents, children, and grandchildren under 18 — may hunt it without a hunting license; the same applies to tenants and their children. Deer and turkey still need their own permit.
Verified · Ohio Division of Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. From the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations, effective September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027. FALL ONLY, AND ODNR SAYS SO ITSELF: the regulations print the spring wild turkey row as 'To be announced' and direct hunters to the HuntFish OH app or wildohio.gov for spring dates and hours, 'which should be available by January 2027'. No spring rows are shown here rather than last spring's, and they will be added once ODNR publishes them. WATCH THE HOURS: fall turkey closes at sunset, half an hour earlier than Ohio's general rule of 30 minutes after sunset. The fall season runs in select counties only, and ODNR publishes those as a map rather than a list, so no county names are given here — check the map before you hunt. Dogs may be used to assist with turkeys in the fall season only.