The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife has reported that the wild turkey poult index in Ohio was slightly above the 10-year average at 2.9 poults per hen in 2024. This metric is used to estimate nest success and poult survival for the bird, with public reports of wild turkeys and their young being collected in July and August each year to inform harvest regulations and population trends.
This marks the fourth consecutive year that Ohio’s brood survey has been above average or slightly above average, with recent years showing strong nest productivity that has benefited the turkey population. The statewide average for poults per hen was 2.8 in 2023, 3.0 in 2022, and 3.1 in 2021, contributing to an increase in the 10-year average from 2.7 to 2.8 poults per hen.
While the poult production varied slightly by region, Ohio’s turkey populations are typically strongest in the eastern and southern counties due to habitat availability. The survey results were based on 1,952 responses and indicated an overall positive trend in wild turkey populations in the state.
The restoration of the wild turkey in Ohio is considered one of the state’s most successful wildlife stories. Wild turkeys were wiped out around 1904 and reintroduced in the 1950s, leading to a rapid expansion of the population over the next five decades. Today, wild turkeys can be found in all 88 counties, with the state’s fall wild turkey hunting season currently open until October 27th. Hunters are reminded to check the 2024-25 Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more information on permits, bag limits, and game check procedures.
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