COLUMBUS, Ohio — Outdoor enthusiasts across the Buckeye State have new dates and rules to look forward to. The Ohio Wildlife Council approved the spring 2027 wild turkey hunting seasons and a sweeping simplification of state bass fishing regulations during its Wednesday, October 28 meeting.
Announced by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, the updates aim to align hunting opportunities with wildlife biology while making everyday fishing rules much easier for anglers to navigate.
Spring 2027 Wild Turkey Hunting Dates
Following the framework used in recent years, Ohio’s spring wild turkey season is split into two distinct zones to properly align with regional turkey nesting cycles:
- South Zone (covering 83 counties):
- Youth Weekend: April 17 – April 18, 2027
- Regular Season: April 24 – May 23, 2027
- Northeast Zone (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull counties):
- Youth Weekend: April 24 – April 25, 2027
- Regular Season: May 1 – May 30, 2027
Hunting Hours: During the youth weekends in both zones, hours run from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. For the regular seasons in both zones, hunting hours for the first nine days will run from 30 minutes before sunrise until noon, shifting to 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset for the remainder of the season.
Major Changes to Fishing and Trapping Regulations
Anglers and trappers will see several rule changes take effect starting in early 2027:
- Simplified Bass Regulations (Effective March 1, 2027): The council voted to eliminate many complex, site-specific length restrictions and daily bag limits for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass. Most waterbodies previously carrying unique rules will now default to the straightforward statewide limit of five bass per day with a 12-inch minimum length. Division of Wildlife surveys indicated that past site-specific harvest rules have successfully met their management goals, prompting the shift.
- Hoover Reservoir Crappies: The 9-inch minimum length and daily limit requirements for crappies at Hoover Reservoir are being removed, also taking effect March 1, 2027.
- River Otter Trapping: Trappers will now have access to an online game check option for river otters, which goes into effect for the upcoming season beginning Saturday, December 26.
About the Council
The Ohio Wildlife Council is responsible for reviewing and approving all proposed rules and regulations put forward by the Division of Wildlife. Meetings are open to the public, and individuals wishing to comment can register by calling 614-265-6304 at least two days prior to a scheduled meeting.
To learn more about Ohio’s wildlife resources and outdoor recreation opportunities, visit wildohio.gov.
