By Curt Williams

By all indications, Ohio hunters are in for another good year of turkey action. Even with wet spring weather back to back during the past two years, the state's wild turkey population is still in great shape.

"We had about the same reproduction index as last year," said Dave Swanson, forest wildlife research biologist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. "This looks to be another year with older, more mature birds that gobble very little. We predict about the same harvest numbers as last spring season."

In total, 20,368 gobblers were checked in across the state last year. The top five counties, which accounted for 18 percent of the total harvest, were Ashtabula (1,127), Muskingum (655), Guernsey (618), Tuscarawas (614) and Belmont (611). Compared to the 2002 spring season, the 2003 harvest increased in 32 counties, decreased in 53 counties and stayed the same in three counties.

Since the inception in 1966 of Ohio's modern wild turkey season, 199,661 birds have been taken during the annual spring hunt. From humble beginnings - the 1966 season took place in only nine counties, with an estimated 500 hunters taking part - the spring hunt has grown such that it now covers all 88 counties, with an estimated 87,000 hunters taking to the woods last year.

The 2004 spring season is to run from April 26 through May 23. It will be advisable to make preparations before the hunt in order to increase the chances of a safe and successful outing.

"The most successful hunters go out well before opening day and do a lot of scouting," Swanson noted. "Hunters who get their turkey year after year are the ones who take the time to out where the birds feed, strut and where they roost."

The following district-by-district report will help you in your quest for a boss spring gobbler in your region of the Buckeye State this season.

Photo by John Trout Jr.

Ludwig noted that though public hunting lands are limited in the central region of the state, private landowners who permit hunting can be found. Take some time before the season to request permission to hunt, and be considerate of the landowner's property to open the door to some prime turkey habitat in the district.

The Kokosing Lake and Delaware wildlife areas are top destinations for hunters seeking public land in areas noted for good populations of birds. Kokosing Lake WA covers 1,323 acres in Knox County. Hunters at this top-producing central Ohio county reported 536 gobblers last spring, and the outlook for the upcoming season looks to be just as good.

"Kokosing Wildlife Area receives a lot of hunting pressure," Ludwig noted. "The area is small, but it is a good, brushy area, and holds quite a few birds."

This public hunting ground is southeast of Interstate 71 near Fredericktown. State routes 95 and 546 provide access, and Waterford Road (county Road 6) leads into the wildlife area.

Delaware WA contains 4,670 acres of public land in portions of Delaware, Marion and Morrow counties. Morrow County hunters reported 250 birds taken last spring season. With nearly 50 percent of the land covered by woodlands, this area offers excellent wild turkey hunting terrain and habitat.

Delaware WA is eight miles north of the town of Delaware between U.S. routes 42 and 23. The wildlife area is adjacent to Delaware Reservoir and can be reached by state Route 229 and county Road 220.

For additional information on the turkey hunting opportunities available in the region surrounding the state capital, contact Wildlife District One, 1500 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 644-3925.

Plageman said that a unique turkey-hunting season for youth is available at the Lake La Su An Wildlife Area in Williams County: For the entire spring turkey season, this area is open to youth hunting only. A special youth hunting permit is required.

"This is a high-quality turkey hunt," Plageman asserted. "Every young person who has taken part in this hunt has seen or heard turkeys."

Plageman also took note of Willard Marsh WA as a public hunting area to consider. This 1,676-acre wildlife area is in Huron County, where 195 gobblers were harvested countywide last spring. With approximately two-thirds of the area covered by woodlands and much of the remainder in brush, this area makes for singular turkey hunting.

Willard Marsh WA is four miles southeast of the city of Willard. Section Line Road provides access from U.S. Route 224. Originally known as the "Huron Bog," the area was drained long ago for agricultural purposes, and the ODOW has managed the area for public hunting since 1942. Turkey numbers are doing well here.

For additional information on the turkey hunting in northwestern Ohio, as well as information on the special youth turkey hunt at Lake Lu Su An WA, contact the Wildlife District Two office, 952 Lima Avenue, Findlay, OH 45840, (419) 424-5000.

Although the northeastern region of the state has more heavily-populated urban areas than is the case elsewhere in Ohio, turkeys have prospered in the habitat bordering these urban regions. Two of the top five counties for last spring's season are in this region, so turkey hunters have plenty of birds for the taking.

Public hunting areas are abundant throughout District Three. Although Ashtabula County is by far the state's leader in annual harvests, the availability of public land there is limited. One relatively new area in Ashtabula County is the Dorset WA. This wildlife area covers approximately 1,100 acres north and east of the town of Dorset on state Route 93 in the east-central region of the county.

Grand River WA in Trumbull County has nearly 6,800 acres open to hunting. Trumbull County hunters harvested 572 gobblers in 2003, and this year's outlook appears to be as good or better than that outcome. State Route 88 crosses the area in an east-west direction, and state Route 534 borders the wildlife area on the west.

Another Trumbull County public hunting area that's a hot prospect for spring turkey action is 4,845-acre Shenango WA, which is off state Route 7 about 22 miles north of Youngstown. With approximately 60 percent of its acreage consisting of second-growth hardwoods, Shenango is notable for the quality of its wild turkey habitat.

In the southeastern portion of District Three, about six miles southeast of Salineville in Jefferson County, lies Brush Creek WA. On its 3,000-plus acres of turkey hunting terrain, turkey hunters in this county harvested 610 birds last spring. Access to the area is via county Road 55, which can be reached from state Route 164 at Monroeville. Several township roads provide access to the wildlife area; parking lots are available throughout.

More information on the turkey- hunting opportunities in this region of the Buckeye State may be obtained from the ODOW's Wildlife District Three office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, OH 44319, (330) 644-2293.