If you run across either Wild Turkeys or a Ruffed Grouse while out and about, please report your sighting to the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
Every year, the ODW conducts a turkey and grouse brood survey to estimate population growth. The brood survey relies on the public to report observations of all wild turkeys and ruffed grouse seen during May, June, July and August. Wildlife watchers (that would be us) can report observations at the new Wildlife Species Sighting webpage. Information submitted to the brood survey helps to predict population changes and helps guide the state’s hunting regulations. More than 7,000 turkeys were reported during the 2016 survey timeframe, with an average of 3.6 young turkeys (poults) per adult hen turkey. This average was higher than the long-term average of 2.5 poults per adult hen.
Information is available from past wild turkey or ruffed grouse observations online under ODW’s Forest Species Overview webpage. Biologists began tracking summer observations of wild turkeys in 1962. Ruffed grouse were added to the survey in 1999.