Ohio's 2025 spring turkey hunting season begins April 12-13 with the youth season, followed by the adult South Zone season, including Knox County and central Ohio, from April 19 through May 18. For hunters in the Northeast Zone, the season runs from May 3 to June 1.
“I love turkey hunting because it’s such a challenge,” Kevin Pugh, vice president of America’s Freedom Lodge and an experienced turkey hunter, told the Mount Vernon News.
Pugh emphasized the meticulous preparation required for a successful hunt.
“Getting prepared for turkey season is just a matter of scouting and getting your guns patterned in,” he said. “The scouting part is probably the most tedious. You’ve got to have places to hunt and know what the birds are doing.”
Pugh explained that turkey hunting is one of the most challenging types of hunting due to the bird’s sharp eyesight.
“A turkey’s eyes are the best eyes of any North American animal,” Pugh said. “It’s one of the toughest animals to hunt. Unlike a deer, they can’t smell, and if they could, we’d never kill them.”
Successful turkey hunting is not just about having the right gear, but also mastering the art of turkey calling and understanding the birds’ behavior.
"It’s primarily about your technique on calling and knowing when to say what," Pugh said. "Turkeys have different vocals depending on what they’re trying to do. You just have to listen to what they’re saying and try to replicate it."
Pugh emphasizes the importance of mimicking the sounds turkeys make during different times of their mating cycle, with the call of a live hen being nearly unbeatable.
"If you get a live hen in there that knows exactly what she’s saying, it’s hard to beat the real thing," he said. "Sometimes, it feels like they’re smarter than we are."
For hunters new to turkey hunting, Pugh advises pairing up with someone experienced.
"If they can find somebody that has experience, then by all means, get out with them," he said. "Don’t be afraid of making mistakes because you will, and you’ll learn from them. Turkeys are smart, and they’ll educate you more times than you’ll be successful."
Pugh also emphasized the importance of patience, noting that turkeys often come in silent, especially after being hunted or disturbed by predators like coyotes.
"Patience is key," he said. "If you’re not patient, you’re not going to kill any birds. The older I get, the easier that is because I don’t like moving around."
In terms of hunting gear, Pugh prefers a shotgun equipped with a full choke tube to maintain a tight pattern, ensuring more pellets hit the target.
"You shoot for the neck and head, not the body," he said. "Turkey feathers are too dense to kill them if you shoot them in the body."
Pugh also spoke about the types of calls used in turkey hunting.
"There are multiple types of calls—mouth calls, slates, crystal calls, and box calls," he said. "I primarily use mouth calls and slates. I don’t like the crystals or glass calls; I think the slates sound the closest to a real turkey."
To increase his chances of success, Pugh carries 15 to 20 diaphragms into the woods, changing them out until he finds the one that grabs a tom’s attention.
"Just like when you hear a voice that annoys you, a turkey may prefer one call over another," Pugh said. "It’s just a matter of finding the right sound that gets their attention."
Pugh recommends patience.
“Turkeys are smart, and they’ll educate you more times than you’ll be successful,” he said. “Patience is the biggest thing in turkey hunting.”
Pugh’s passion extends beyond his personal hunts.
As vice president of America’s Freedom Lodge, he helps disabled veterans experience the joys of the outdoors, including a spring turkey hunt.
“We do four events a year, and we’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit,” Pugh said. “We take vets out for a turkey hunt every year. We’ve had veterans come in from as far as North Pole, Alaska and Texas.”
America’s Freedom Lodge operates on a Christian camp in Utica, Ohio, and provides veterans with a variety of outdoor activities.
“We try to help veterans cope with their disabilities,” Pugh said. “Our deer hunt is highly successful, and our turkey hunt is fairly successful, but the most important thing is helping these vets heal.”
To learn more about America’s Freedom Lodge or to donate, visit americasfreedomlodge.org.
