I am happy to see that 7 shot will be allowed to be used, and they will get rid of that special turkey course. I am not happy that they won't allow spring licenses to carry over in to the fall. I also wish they would have the fall gun season before Thanksgiving...
https://www.oodmag.com/news/turkey-hunting-changes-proposed/
Ontario’s wild turkey hunting season will look a little different now that proposed changes have been confirmed for January 1, 2017 implementation.
On Sept. 19, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) posted a proposal on Ontario’s Environmental Registry that would alter the wild turkey hunting regulations. The post was open to public comment until November 3.
The changes standardize April 25 as opening day for the spring wild turkey season. Previously, when this date fell on a weekend the season start was delayed until the following Monday.
The proposal also called for the elimination of the separate wild turkey hunter education course. Instead, the course content will be incorporated into the Ontario Hunter Education Program that all new hunters must pass.
Other changes included allowing hunters to use size 7 shot. Previously, only shot sizes 4, 5, and 6 were legal. A proposed spring season will open in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 36 and a fall season in WMU 94. As well, a bows-only season is confirmed from October 1 to 31 in all WMUs that have a fall season. Gun seasons in those areas will remain unchanged.
Lastly, the proposal called for a clarification of the minimum bow weight required to hunt wild turkey. The weight will be clarified in the regulations to match the requirements for white-tailed deer (e.g. minimum draw weight and length).
The news of the proposed changes was hailed as positive by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (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,” said OFAH Fish and Wildlife Biologist Dawn Sucee.
“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,” added Sucee. “We will continue to pursue other important topics including youth hunting opportunities, licence fees, sealing requirements, reporting improvements, and habitat.”
To read the full proposal visit https://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/ and search for EBR Registry number 012-8597.
Here is the EBR summary:
Description of Regulation:
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, Ontario Regulation 665/98 (Hunting), and Ontario Regulation 670/98 (Open Seasons) specify the rules and seasons associated with hunting wild turkey across the province. Hunters are currently required to complete a mandatory wild turkey hunting training course if they wish to buy a wild turkey licence and hunt wild turkeys in Ontario. This course is in addition to the broader Ontario Hunter Education Program course that is required for all new resident hunters.
Hunting for wild turkeys in Ontario was initiated in two Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in 1987. Since then, the hunts have expanded to include new WMUs as wild turkey populations have increased their range and numbers.
The Wild Turkey Management Plan for Ontario (2007) takes an ecological and landscape-based approach to wild turkey management with population management goals based on the broader landscape in which turkeys are found.
The following regulatory changes are being proposed for implementation in 2017:
1) Remove the requirement for a separate wild turkey education course (course content will be incorporated into the broader Ontario Hunter Education Program). Existing accredited hunters who have not yet completed wild turkey hunter education training would be allowed to hunt wild turkeys without any further training. Note: the ministry is exploring options to share and distribute turkey hunting information to existing accredited hunters (e.g. making information available online).
2) Introduce a spring wild turkey hunting season in WMU 36 and introduce a fall wild turkey hunting season in Wildlife Management Unit 94. These two WMUs meet criteria outlined in the Wild Turkey Management Plan (2007) for opening of new seasons.
3) Introduce a fall bows-only season from October 1-31 in all WMUs that have a fall wild turkey hunting season. The regular firearm wild turkey hunting season would remain the same, opening the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and running until the second following Sunday.
4) Standardize the opening of the spring wild turkey hunting season to be April 25th of each year, even when the 25th falls on a weekend.
5) Allow shot size number 7 to be used for wild turkey hunting in addition to shot size numbers 4, 5 and 6.
6) Clarify through regulation minimum bow requirements for hunting wild turkey (e.g. minimum draw weight and length) according to the current guidelines found in the Hunting Regulation Summary for wild turkey hunting with a bow.
https://www.oodmag.com/news/turkey-hunting-changes-proposed/
Ontario’s wild turkey hunting season will look a little different now that proposed changes have been confirmed for January 1, 2017 implementation.
On Sept. 19, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) posted a proposal on Ontario’s Environmental Registry that would alter the wild turkey hunting regulations. The post was open to public comment until November 3.
The changes standardize April 25 as opening day for the spring wild turkey season. Previously, when this date fell on a weekend the season start was delayed until the following Monday.
The proposal also called for the elimination of the separate wild turkey hunter education course. Instead, the course content will be incorporated into the Ontario Hunter Education Program that all new hunters must pass.
Other changes included allowing hunters to use size 7 shot. Previously, only shot sizes 4, 5, and 6 were legal. A proposed spring season will open in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 36 and a fall season in WMU 94. As well, a bows-only season is confirmed from October 1 to 31 in all WMUs that have a fall season. Gun seasons in those areas will remain unchanged.
Lastly, the proposal called for a clarification of the minimum bow weight required to hunt wild turkey. The weight will be clarified in the regulations to match the requirements for white-tailed deer (e.g. minimum draw weight and length).
The news of the proposed changes was hailed as positive by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (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,” said OFAH Fish and Wildlife Biologist Dawn Sucee.
“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,” added Sucee. “We will continue to pursue other important topics including youth hunting opportunities, licence fees, sealing requirements, reporting improvements, and habitat.”
To read the full proposal visit https://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/ and search for EBR Registry number 012-8597.
Here is the EBR summary:
Description of Regulation:
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, Ontario Regulation 665/98 (Hunting), and Ontario Regulation 670/98 (Open Seasons) specify the rules and seasons associated with hunting wild turkey across the province. Hunters are currently required to complete a mandatory wild turkey hunting training course if they wish to buy a wild turkey licence and hunt wild turkeys in Ontario. This course is in addition to the broader Ontario Hunter Education Program course that is required for all new resident hunters.
Hunting for wild turkeys in Ontario was initiated in two Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in 1987. Since then, the hunts have expanded to include new WMUs as wild turkey populations have increased their range and numbers.
The Wild Turkey Management Plan for Ontario (2007) takes an ecological and landscape-based approach to wild turkey management with population management goals based on the broader landscape in which turkeys are found.
The following regulatory changes are being proposed for implementation in 2017:
1) Remove the requirement for a separate wild turkey education course (course content will be incorporated into the broader Ontario Hunter Education Program). Existing accredited hunters who have not yet completed wild turkey hunter education training would be allowed to hunt wild turkeys without any further training. Note: the ministry is exploring options to share and distribute turkey hunting information to existing accredited hunters (e.g. making information available online).
2) Introduce a spring wild turkey hunting season in WMU 36 and introduce a fall wild turkey hunting season in Wildlife Management Unit 94. These two WMUs meet criteria outlined in the Wild Turkey Management Plan (2007) for opening of new seasons.
3) Introduce a fall bows-only season from October 1-31 in all WMUs that have a fall wild turkey hunting season. The regular firearm wild turkey hunting season would remain the same, opening the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and running until the second following Sunday.
4) Standardize the opening of the spring wild turkey hunting season to be April 25th of each year, even when the 25th falls on a weekend.
5) Allow shot size number 7 to be used for wild turkey hunting in addition to shot size numbers 4, 5 and 6.
6) Clarify through regulation minimum bow requirements for hunting wild turkey (e.g. minimum draw weight and length) according to the current guidelines found in the Hunting Regulation Summary for wild turkey hunting with a bow.
