Ontario - proposed changes to turkey hunting for 2017

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Arclight

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https://www.ofah.org/2016/09/changes-proposed-wild-turkey-management-ontario/

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September 29, 2016
Province looking to add bows-only fall season; standardize spring open date among other changes for 2017

PETERBOROUGH – Turkey hunting in Ontario may look a little different in 2017 as the provincial government has proposed some significant management changes.

The proposal, which would come into effect next year, is currently up for comment on the Environmental Registry and includes the elimination of the separate wild turkey hunter education course, new seasons in two Wildlife Management Units, a bows-only season in the fall and standardization of spring season opening dates.

“The OFAH has long been asking hunters for their perspectives on wild turkey management in Ontario,” says Dawn Sucee, fish and wildlife biologist for the OFAH. “More than 1,300 turkey hunters responded to an OFAH survey in April, providing great feedback that clearly showed a high level of satisfaction with turkey management in Ontario,#while also identifying some opportunities for improvements.”

New seasons would open in WMU 36 (spring) and WMU 94 (fall), while a bows-only season would run Oct. 1-31 in all WMUs that have a fall wild turkey hunt.

“Being able to harvest a turkey ahead of Thanksgiving is a great way to bring together family and celebrate our hunting heritage in Ontario,” Sucee adds.

Other proposed changes include the merging of the wild turkey hunter education course into the curriculum for the Ontario Hunter Education Program (OHEP). Adding wild turkey content to the OHEP course eliminates the need for a separate wild turkey course, though many questions remain regarding exactly how this will be implemented.

The MNRF is also proposing to make April 25 the universal opening day of the spring season, regardless of which day of the week it falls on and giving consideration to allowing shot size number 7 for wild turkey – in addition to 4, 5 and 6. The will also clarify minimum bow requirements for hunting wild turkey in the hunting regulations.

“The OFAH is happy to see some of the opportunities identified by hunters reflected in the current proposal, but we believe there are many other sustainable enhancements that can be made to wild turkey management beyond the current proposal,” says Sucee. “We will continue to pursue other important topics including youth hunting opportunities, licence fees, sealing requirements, reporting improvements, and habitat.

Members of the public have until Nov. 3 to comment on the proposal. Visit www.ofah.org/wildturkeyregs to submit your comments.

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 735 member clubs, the OFAH is the province’s largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit us online at www.ofah.org, follow us on Twitter @ofah and on Facebook and Instagram @theofah.
 
I never took the course, part laziness, part defiance toward the rip off. I have long said I was holding out for the day they dropped the stupid thing.
 
It's mostly how to identify jakes vs toms vs hens, how to not get shot by another hunter, and 'shoot me in the face!!' as my instructor excitedly put it.

No orange is required unless there is an open gun season for deer, elk, or moose.

Edit:
Guess I should have read more carefully... Money grab. Why give it away for free when you can get paid for it. Keep the base course lower to be more attractive, but always slowly rising. People on the fence are more willing to pay 100 vs 150 which still brings them in. They know the ones who are "all in" will be willing to pay a moderate, and again increasing, additional fee.
 
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thebaron said:
Wonder if existing hunting license holders without the turkey course will be able to buy turkey tags after the changes?
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It's possible, but likely not. I doubt they would drop the "T" requirement from the tags. New courses will probably just add that to the "Hx". They'll just up the price of the DVD to help out.
 
Parts said:
Question form a newbie, why is/was Turkey treated differently?
Not trying to hijack post
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I'm as old as Methuselah, so I took the course many years ago. We were told that in US jurisdictions with no mandatory extra Turkey instruction, accidents amongst turkey hunters were the highest of any other small or large game species, hunters. Have never googled to substantiate the fact but I think that without the proper instruction, camoed hunters stalking on all fours through brush would be more prevalent...
 
So they didn't make it where if one did not harvest a bird in the spring, you don't need to buy a new fall tag!?! Big fail. I used to hunt turkey, now I just buy a Butterball turkey from the grocery store for the same price or less.
 
maple leaf said:
So they didn't make it where if one did not harvest a bird in the spring, you don't need to buy a new fall tag!?! Big fail. I used to hunt turkey, now I just buy a Butterball turkey from the grocery store for the same price or less.
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I was hoping for that too. I followed the link and provided my input including suggesting they allow unused spring tags to be valid in the fall. If enough of us do the same they may listen.
 
I think it's going to lead to a lot more run and gun trespassers. It's getting stupid in South western Ontario now. Take Away the fact they actually have to get off their ass to take a course to hunt and everyone will be out
I admit the course is just a cash grab. The fall bow season helps with deer hunters though. That's a positive thing

Wish they'd allow rimfire
 
Parts said:
Question form a newbie, why is/was Turkey treated differently?
Not trying to hijack post
Click to expand...

I was told that, because it was a reintroduced species, it mandated a separate course to introduce hunters to the hunting methodology and biology of the animal. Except I don't think they did that for elk when it was reintroduced.

Also, money grab, as mentioned above.
 
As a bow hunter (deer), this is a positive change. Next year the "bow only" Turkey season will start the same day as the Early bow for deer - so can pop either if they stop by :) - but probably more likely that Kathleen just want's the price of a Turkey tag out of deer/bow hunters that otherwise don't hunt fall turkey. And it will probably work - had a turkey come in to my deer stand today while waiting for bambi.

But yes, would have been nice if they scrapped the spring and fall tags (brought back spring bear and the tag is good for the fall as well).

And since they have put this out for comments, that means it's a "done deal" (same as the changes to the moose regs last year)
 
Call said:
I was told that, because it was a reintroduced species, it mandated a separate course to introduce hunters to the hunting methodology and biology of the animal. Except I don't think they did that for elk when it was reintroduced.

Also, money grab, as mentioned above.
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Your right. There is no special elk course.
 
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