Did you spot a wild turkey or ruffed grouse? ODNR wants your report. Here's how to do it

Do you hear the call? It might be Ohio's wild turkey population, and you can help keep track of how many birds there are.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources asks Ohioans to report any wild turkey and ruffed grouse sightings to estimate population statuses and reproductive success from July through August.

Wildlife biologists will use these public sighting reports and contribute them to ODNR’s annual population surveys. These help biologists predict future population changes, estimate brood success, and guide management decisions.

What turkeys should be reported to the ODNR?

During the summer, female turkeys and their young are most active. The public is asked to report wild turkeys of all kinds, including gobblers, hens, and young turkeys (poults), as well as adult and young grouse.

How has Ohio's wild turkey population changed?

After these surveys were conducted in 2021, 2022, and 2023, it showed the wild turkey population activity was above average after years of below-average results.

How to report sightings of wild turkeys and ruffed grouse

If you’ve observed a turkey or grouse, ODNR asks you to report the sight on their Wildlife Reporting System.

When observing, keep in mind the location of where you spotted the animal, and feel free to snap a few pictures. Make sure to keep a respectful distance when viewing the animal for your safety and the animal’s safety.

What are wild turkeys and ruffed grouse?

A wild turkey is Ohio’s largest upland game bird. This bird can grow up to four feet tall and weigh up to 24 pounds, according to ODNR’s website. They have featherless heads and slim, long necks.

In sunlight, its feathers are bronze with hints of red, green, copper, and gold. Adult males, or gobblers, have a reddish head, a long, tasseled beard, spurs on their legs, and black tips on their feathers. Females have a bluish head but no beard, spurs, or tipped feathers.

Ruffed grouse are chicken-like birds that come in mostly red or brown and sometimes gray. They have a black band extending across and near the end of their tails, and they have grayish-brown central tail feathers. Males have longer tails than females, and they have conspicuous black ruffs on each side of the neck.

Can turkeys fly?

The domesticated birds that might become Thanksgiving Day dinner can't fly, but wild turkeys are surprising strong fliers.

They don't fly at great heights or over great distances, but wild turkeys can fly at speeds up to 55 miles per hour, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. They usually fly into trees at night to roost and avoid predators.

How long has ODNR collected turkey and ruffed grouse observations?

Summer observations for wild turkeys have been collected since 1962, and grouse since 1999.

How does ODNR keep track of the birds?

ODNR has used acoustic recordings of turkey gobbling and grouse drumming, which helped determine relative population size and breeding activity in 2023 and 2024. They also collaborated with Ohio State University researchers, and over the previous two springs they tracked more than 100 wild turkeys to learn about nest timing and survival.

Where are these birds commonly found in Ohio?

Wild turkeys are strongly populated in the eastern and southern counties, and ruffed grouse are found in Ohio’s heavily forested regions.