The Ohio Wildlife Council approved spring 2027 wild turkey hunting seasons and simplified bass fishing regulations during its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife announced.
Spring 2027 wild turkey hunting
Like the 2026 spring season, the spring wild turkey hunting seasons include separate youth dates for the south and northeast zones. The spring 2027 wild turkey hunting season dates are:
- South Zone Youth: Saturday, April 17 to Sunday, April 18, 2027
- Northeast Zone Youth: Saturday, April 24 to Sunday, April 25, 2027
- South Zone: Saturday, April 24 to Sunday, May 23, 2027
- Northeast Zone: Saturday, May 1 to Sunday, May 30, 2027
Ohio's spring turkey hunting season is split into two zones to align with the timing of turkey nesting in those regions. The south zone covers the majority of Ohio, comprising 83 counties. The northeast zone includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull counties.
Hunting hours during the youth weekends in both zones are from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. In the south zone and northeast zone, hunting hours for the first nine days of each season will be from 30 minutes before sunrise until noon, with hours for the remainder of the season from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
Site-specific bass fishing regulations
The Ohio Wildlife Council voted to remove many site-specific length restrictions and daily bag limits for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and spotted bass. Most waterbodies with site-specific bass regulations will fall under the statewide limit of five bass and minimum length of 12 inches. The change simplifies fishing regulations for Ohio's anglers after Division of Wildlife surveys revealed the site-specific harvest regulations were effectively meeting management goals. These new regulations take effect March 1, 2027.
Other regulations
- The daily limit and 9-inch minimum length requirement for crappies at Hoover Reservoir were removed. This regulation takes effect on March 1, 2027.
- An online game check option for river otter trapping was approved. The online game check will be in place for the upcoming season, which begins Saturday, Dec. 26.
Ohio Wildlife Council
The Ohio Wildlife Council approves all Division of Wildlife proposed rules and regulations. Council meetings are open to the public. Individuals interested in providing comments are asked to call 614-265-6304 at least two days prior to the meeting to register. All comments are required to be three minutes or less.
The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more.
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.