(Ontario) Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, Section 31 "Nuisance Wildlife"

.22LRGUY said:
I don't disagree with most of that, but if what farmers tell me is true (and I don't see why it wouldn't be) most are running very close to the line as it is. Again, not saying I agree/disagree with this particular guy's desire to see these turkeys gone, but it's not hard to imagine how frustrating it would be to see a young pea field being munched on every day by a roving pack of turkeys. lol He'd rather see them just leave...but they seem intent on staying. With the mild winter unfolding here, he's also concerned that their numbers might very well be greater by next year. I can tell you...there will be at least a couple less harvested the proper way, and I'll extend an invitation to one of my buddies I hunt groundhogs with as well.



Well, hopefully...this is how things will unfold. Oddly enough...I'm the resident "pigeon guy" for some of these area farms myself. :) That I have no issues with, the turkey situation doesn't sit that easy with me.
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Pigeon hunting is awesome! Im not sure if you're hunting pigeons on this particular farm, but if its anything like where I hunt, the turkeys will find a new home once they hear the constant shotgun blasts. In fact, this is the very reason why I hunt pigeons when I do. I have to make sure to end my pigeon hunts by the beginning of march, otherwise, the turkeys will still be spooked by the time the spring season starts. Another thing I do is set up a feeder in the bush far away from the crops. My intent is to feed the turkeys and keep them in the bush, far away from the crops. Im not sure this is an option for you on this property, but if there is also decent sized forest or bush on the land, you may to try this. Im amazed at how well this tactic works. The landowner doesnt mind it as the expense is mine, and he says he doesnt see any turkeys on his field, despite the fact that Im capturing massive flocks on my game cam. Ultimately, its out of sight, out of mind for the landowner. And to be honest, im also doing the turkeys a huge favour by providing them a controlled food source during the harsh winter months.

As with many things, perception is paramount when it comes to some landowners. Even though its appears to be a economic catastrophe for him, 8 turkeys in a field is nothing! If you can give him the perception that you're doing your part to help him, he'll likely be happy all the same
 
1963beretta said:
Pigeon hunting is awesome! Im not sure if you're hunting pigeons on this particular farm, but if its anything like where I hunt, the turkeys will find a new home once they hear the constant shotgun blasts. In fact, this is the very reason why I hunt pigeons when I do. I have to make sure to end my pigeon hunts by the beginning of march, otherwise, the turkeys will still be spooked by the time the spring season starts. Another thing I do is set up a feeder in the bush far away from the crops. My intent is to feed the turkeys and keep them in the bush, far away from the crops. Im not sure this is an option for you on this property, but if there is also decent sized forest or bush on the land, you may to try this. Im amazed at how well this tactic works. The landowner doesnt mind it as the expense is mine, and he says he doesnt see any turkeys on his field, despite the fact that Im capturing massive flocks on my game cam. Ultimately, its out of sight, out of mind for the landowner. And to be honest, im also doing the turkeys a huge favour by providing them a controlled food source during the harsh winter months.

As with many things, perception is paramount when it comes to some landowners. Even though its appears to be a economic catastrophe for him, 8 turkeys in a field is nothing! If you can give him the perception that you're doing your part to help him, he'll likely be happy all the same
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Great points. Thank you.

Pigeons~yeah...interesting birds. They're faster than you might think too. Never noticed until I started wing shooting them. The ones IN the barn learn quick that it's a bad idea to fly out too...so they can take a little creativity to deal with.
 
.22LRGUY said:
Great points. Thank you.

Pigeons~yeah...interesting birds. They're faster than you might think too. Never noticed until I started wing shooting them. The ones IN the barn learn quick that it's a bad idea to fly out too...so they can take a little creativity to deal with.
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Wingshooting pigeons is a blast. They are fast and acrobatic! The best way i've found to get them to fly out of barns is to use a sling shot and chuck rocks up at them. If they fly around and perch themselves somewhere else, I go outside the barn and lightly chuck rocks at the metal roof close to where they are perched. I found that if they hear the surprise sound of the rock hitting the roof and slowly rolling down from outside, they get the hell out of dodge. The ones that remain are usually females tending to their nests, so I leave those ones alone.
 
leaving game to rot because of some MNR regulation is wrong.
A farmer can shoot any animal that is causing trouble or damage on his property.
In the case of deer or turkeys leaving them to rot is criminal in my opinion.
 
Sadly legal does not mean moral, and moral isn't always legal. Sometimes I may be breaking the law myself, but I won't sacrifice morality for ridiculous and ambiguous laws created by narrow minded control freaks.
 
You may want to shoot one of those turkeys in the spring that are feeding on peas. You may be surprised that they are more likely eating bugs and very little green. Loss is more likely deer at night. I had a similar land owner that blamed early bean damage on turkeys until I showed him the exact thing. Turkey with a crop full of bugs in the morning and a dozen deer in the field 2 hours after dark and every one with 3" plants hanging out of its mouth.
Coincidentally he then tried for a nuisance permit for deer that was denied. Another farmer that grows hay and has a swamp the deer yard in adjacent had fields literally browsed to the ground with over 100 deer on it and the MNR response was it would grow back, its grass. Good luck on proving turkey nuisance.
 
old hound said:
leaving game to rot because of some MNR regulation is wrong.
A farmer can shoot any animal that is causing trouble or damage on his property.
In the case of deer or turkeys leaving them to rot is criminal in my opinion.
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Most times, the MMR will either let you keep it or they will take it for a food bank...... That rule is in place to protect from illegal harvest....
 
Winchested said:
Yea as it seems lately farmers (most) are in it for money and not the love of animals and land stewardship. Specifically I see pretty much every field now in southern Ontario being tiled and sent to drainage pond ditch etc. Seems they are all doing what the Americans have now done. Alus doesn't seem to be working in a large percentage at all. And now so many liberal city people whom know nothing about conservation and animals are buying all of the lands up because they're the only ones that can afford it.

Like said call the MNR turkey is a very soft spot as it took years and years to bring them back and like said a few peas aren't worth destroying that success story.
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Like any other business, farmers not surprisingly, are in it for the money. Tile drainage and other land improvements are done to increase the bottom line, which as any farmer will tell you can depends on many factors and is never a sure thing. To a non-hunting farmer every bushel counts and crop losses to wildlife is just another factor to be considered and addressed. A few deer or turkey, I agree will not cause much damage, but with the large flocks of turkeys and the high number of deer around they definitely cause highly visible damage The deer most noticeably in corn and beans , turkeys surprisingly cause the most damage to winter wheat in the fall when their scratching habits uproot large areas of just sprouted wheat. I don't agree with a cull but a farmer is allowed to protect his investment and his income.
 
It sucks that you aren't the son of that farmer as it grants automatic agent status.

"For all other wildlife, including wild turkeys, farmers and other property owners can take reasonable action to protect their property, including crops, livestock, poultry or honey bees, from predation by harassing or killing wildlife damaging or about to damage property."

I don't see where it says you have to call the MNR here. Not the case with deer, elk or geese.
 
For deer you have to make arrangements for the meat its condition of the removal approval. Also have to have a valid license. I forget the rest but I'm sitting on two nuisance tags, shotgun only and I don't have any time to smack one...or two. My tags are good from sept-dec 31. You also have to report the removal within 24 hours and the property owner has to send in a summary when the tags expire.
 
danastles said:
For deer you have to make arrangements for the meat its condition of the removal approval. Also have to have a valid license. I forget the rest but I'm sitting on two nuisance tags, shotgun only and I don't have any time to smack one...or two. My tags are good from sept-dec 31. You also have to report the removal within 24 hours and the property owner has to send in a summary when the tags expire.
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were abouts area you I am sure some here would help you out. .Dutch
 
Dealing with nuisance wildlife on farms in Ontario is not a huge issue but it must be done via a permit. I acted as an agent on three different farms in the area I resided in for nuisance Canada Geese & Sandhill Cranes. The farmers had to name me on the permit. There was a daily number of animals allowed to be killed along with specific instructions on how they could be killed. They could only be shot and not hunted via blinds, calls, decoys etc. As well they were not allowed to be harvested or removed from the spot they were killed at. They were not even allowed to be touched period or picked up to be disposed of. They had to be left where they fell. That was written on the permit under the rules allowed for nuisance kill. I ended up only killing two birds in about three or four years as I did not like the idea of killing them and not being able to make use of them and even one of the farmers agreed with me so we just fired shots to put them off on his property. The others I used to just tell the farmers I missed or couldn't get close enough for a shot. The one fellow was trying to secure a permit for Black Bears as he had major issues with them but was having a hard time getting the permit.
 
the spank said:
Dealing with nuisance wildlife on farms in Ontario is not a huge issue but it must be done via a permit. I acted as an agent on three different farms in the area I resided in for nuisance Canada Geese & Sandhill Cranes. The farmers had to name me on the permit. There was a daily number of animals allowed to be killed along with specific instructions on how they could be killed. They could only be shot and not hunted via blinds, calls, decoys etc. As well they were not allowed to be harvested or removed from the spot they were killed at. They were not even allowed to be touched period or picked up to be disposed of. They had to be left where they fell. That was written on the permit under the rules allowed for nuisance kill. I ended up only killing two birds in about three or four years as I did not like the idea of killing them and not being able to make use of them and even one of the farmers agreed with me so we just fired shots to put them off on his property. The others I used to just tell the farmers I missed or couldn't get close enough for a shot. The one fellow was trying to secure a permit for Black Bears as he had major issues with them but was having a hard time getting the permit.
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It is a shame that the birds go to waste. I believe you did the right thing taking everything into account. I would have done the same. I know i wouldnt feel good about killing animals knowing they would go to waste. I mentioned in a previous post, the landowner I deal with is happy just to hear gunshots. In his mind, the problem is being taken care of
 
1963beretta said:
It is a shame that the birds go to waste. I believe you did the right thing taking everything into account. I would have done the same. I know i wouldnt feel good about killing animals knowing they would go to waste. I mentioned in a previous post, the landowner I deal with is happy just to hear gunshots. In his mind, the problem is being taken care of
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That being said I have no issues pasting gophers all day long with my 22 but I would not consider them edible unless I was really starving.....
 
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