OHIO — During opening weekend of the spring hunting turkey season on April 20 and 21, Ohio hunters checked 4,367 birds, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife. 

It's more than last year's total — 4,078 turkeys — and much more than the three-year average during the first two days of the spring hunting season — 3,758 turkeys.

The top 10 counties to check the most turkeys during opening weekend are as follows:

  • Belmont (146)
  • Tuscarawas (139)
  • Carroll (128)
  • Meigs (128)
  • Washington (128)
  • Adams (127)
  • Guernsey (126)
  • Monroe (126)
  • Gallia (125)
  • Jefferson (119)

Starting Saturday, turkey hunting season will kick off in the northeast zone (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake and Trumbull counties). For the south zone, which is 83 of Ohio's 88 counties, hunting starts Monday. Hunting hours during the first nine days of each zone will start 30 minutes before sunrise until noon, according to ODNR. However, in the northeast zone, hours from May 6 to May 26 will be 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. 

The season closes on May 19. 

For more information, click here.

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