That's my thinking. Also, since you can take hens in the fall, populations in some areas could drop a lot.
Ontario turkey hunters - Turkey hunting changes confirmed for 2017
- Thread starter Arclight
- Start date
That's my thinking. Also, since you can take hens in the fall, populations in some areas could drop a lot.
I think the turkey population is going to take a big hit from all the birds that will be taken in the next couple of years....
I predict (with more hunting opportunities and number of hunters afield) that the spring turkey hunting will boil down to one tag in the near future and that they will leave (because it was just introduced and look silly to take it away so quickly) the fall turkey hunting season will remain the same (well maybe just jakes/toms being legal birds)...
That's my take on it as I can't see this system maintaining/sustaining the bird numbers.
I predict (with more hunting opportunities and number of hunters afield) that the spring turkey hunting will boil down to one tag in the near future and that they will leave (because it was just introduced and look silly to take it away so quickly) the fall turkey hunting season will remain the same (well maybe just jakes/toms being legal birds)...
That's my take on it as I can't see this system maintaining/sustaining the bird numbers.
We are seeing so many birds feeding in the winter yards it us crazy.hundreds of birds.i think the harvest is less then 59 percent of tags filled so I think weather like ice and wet springs is harder on birds then hunting.once the new guys get to donate blood to the spring vampires a lot of them will not be back . Lol
I firmly believe that the inclusion of #7 shot was geared towards heaver than lead shot, unfortunately you will get guys using lead #7's which would be fine if they pattern their guns and keep it under 40yds. I personally wouldn't even use #6 lead but that being said my go to load is a 3 1/2" #6 heavier than lead. Before I used the heavy stuff I always shot lead #5's as pattern density is defiantly key as well, hence using smaller pellets but in a heavier than lead material. There is a big movement in the US towards smaller gauges and smaller pellet size but they are all using heavy stuff. Guys are shooting #9 SST's which is a real heavy metal, no company loads these pellets so they are all reloading it themselves, guys shooting .410's with #9 sst's and having great patterns out to 40-50 yds, 6 to 10 year old kids shooting turkeys with these little guns successfully as well as lots of adults too, no recoil but very effective. I personally will stick to my 3 1/2" blow your shoulder into the next county shells...........lol. Might have something to do with they discontinued making my preferred load but I caught wind of it soon enough and bought 12 to 15 boxes of the stuff............I am set for many years!!
I don't mind most of the changes but not a big fan of the month long bow only fall season.........going to be a lot of birds of opportunity from deer hunters, most likely be mostly hens.....not sure if our population can handle that but I guess we are going to find out in a couple of years......... Really hate to see us drop to 1 tag in the spring for us die hard turkey guys because there is a bunch of bow deer hunters who will shoot the first bird that walks by. I'm not a big fan of shooting turkeys with a bow to begin with unless a guillotine broadhead is used, I feel this is going to lead to a bunch of wounded/dead birds not recovered. With a guillotine head its rather a dead bird or a clean miss. That being said you won't find me rallying against bow hunting for turkeys it's just my personal opinion.
I don't mind most of the changes but not a big fan of the month long bow only fall season.........going to be a lot of birds of opportunity from deer hunters, most likely be mostly hens.....not sure if our population can handle that but I guess we are going to find out in a couple of years......... Really hate to see us drop to 1 tag in the spring for us die hard turkey guys because there is a bunch of bow deer hunters who will shoot the first bird that walks by. I'm not a big fan of shooting turkeys with a bow to begin with unless a guillotine broadhead is used, I feel this is going to lead to a bunch of wounded/dead birds not recovered. With a guillotine head its rather a dead bird or a clean miss. That being said you won't find me rallying against bow hunting for turkeys it's just my personal opinion.
northern skies
CGN frequent flyer
I'm very happy about the inclusion of number 7 shot, with all I have been reading about the mag-shok #7 high density 20-gauge load. I feel that I will be hunting more ethically with this than with previously legal loads, if it patterns in my gun. I am happy that for once, the legislation is keeping up with technology.
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Trimmer 905
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
LOL....tough crowd. Ontario's Black Bear hunt is on at the same time as Wild Turkey,but,that's OK,you guys just sit there all camo'd up virtually invisible. Don't come cryin' when (a) your hunt gets busted and (b) you get butt-pucker from shots fired nearby.
Runningfool
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
I hope that the OFHA makes some turkey hunting information available online - with only 67 days to go, I was kind of expecting them to have at least posted a link to the Wild Turkey Hunting video by now. If they felt the wild turkey course was so important to begin with, why haven't they been more proactive about providing resources to licensed hunters who might be considering going out this spring?
Like many here, it's not like I think there should be a separate hunting course for each species but the reality is, if you've never taken the turkey course or hunted wild turkeys, you may not know what you may not know. There are a few things that are unique about hunting wild turkeys and I think anyone considering hunting them would be wise to inform themselves before heading out.
I'm a touch nervous about there being an increased number of hunters out there this spring who haven't done anything to prepare for hunting turkeys beyond buying a tag...I only hunt on private land but I've had enough close encounters with people being where they shouldn't be and doing what they shouldn't be doing and I know these encounters are only going to be more likely. If I hunted some of the limited "public" spaces around here, I think I'd be even more concerned.
Like many here, it's not like I think there should be a separate hunting course for each species but the reality is, if you've never taken the turkey course or hunted wild turkeys, you may not know what you may not know. There are a few things that are unique about hunting wild turkeys and I think anyone considering hunting them would be wise to inform themselves before heading out.
I'm a touch nervous about there being an increased number of hunters out there this spring who haven't done anything to prepare for hunting turkeys beyond buying a tag...I only hunt on private land but I've had enough close encounters with people being where they shouldn't be and doing what they shouldn't be doing and I know these encounters are only going to be more likely. If I hunted some of the limited "public" spaces around here, I think I'd be even more concerned.
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
For those saying #7 shot is not adequate, you're forgetting that we're looking at very minimal penetration of the head and neck for a kill and the pellets do not need to carry enough energy to penetrate feathers or meat as with hunting other birds. With turkey, the more pellets you put into it's head and neck the better and #7 shot allows quite a few more pellets to be loaded into a shell which translates into denser patterns.
As for the course, I am glad to see it gone. I've heard it was mandatory as part of the reintroduction of the species, but have never looked into it. Amazing to think that 30 years ago is when the first birds were released and now they're everywhere. Definitely a success story.
As for the course, I am glad to see it gone. I've heard it was mandatory as part of the reintroduction of the species, but have never looked into it. Amazing to think that 30 years ago is when the first birds were released and now they're everywhere. Definitely a success story.
When does the 2017 summary get released? I'm expecting (at the very least) a more robust turkey section in that...
I was in Service Ontario renewing my drivers license/health card (Gov. needed my birthday money) in mid January, and the girl said that the summary are released mid March, and that is when tags etc. become available as well
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
I sat through the same course as you and thought it was useless waste of time.
Fair enough but they have thrown open the controlled deer hunt down our way this year and in four days of hunting our group of six spent just as much time running trespassers out as hunting. Set up before daylight and had two guys walk in front of a blind in the dark and one climbs in a treestand 40 yds from our blind. Screwing our hunt and did not give a f222k.
Waste of time or not someone is going to be shot this spring with the influx of folks that don't have a clue. I have had guys stalk or shoot decoys that have the course so I can hardly wait. I will say one thing. By thursday of the deer hunt I had to teach a repetitive trespasser a personal lesson on boundaries and politeness on a personal level that was nothing like the he got from the landowner when he decided to lip him off. I will be on that level opening day when the hoards come over the fence Tresspass and if I find you it is going to be a bad day
Waste of time or not someone is going to be shot this spring with the influx of folks that don't have a clue. I have had guys stalk or shoot decoys that have the course so I can hardly wait. I will say one thing. By thursday of the deer hunt I had to teach a repetitive trespasser a personal lesson on boundaries and politeness on a personal level that was nothing like the he got from the landowner when he decided to lip him off. I will be on that level opening day when the hoards come over the fence Tresspass and if I find you it is going to be a bad day
Thanks for the update! Not having the license carry over is a pain, especially seeing as we already spend so much to begin with. I can't complain too much, as my fall hunting is a lot less motivated as it is. Either way, I can't wait to hear the gobble!
No the course did not solve trespassing what it did is kept the people that couldn't be bothered to make some time, make an effort, keep their lazy asses, the hell out of the bush in the spring and off of property they have no business on. I was running two businesses and raising a 4 year old on my own 20 years ago when I took the day long course, and the excuse of I don't have time, that was used continuously, doesn't fly with me.
It is still a cash grab from Wynne and her ilk plain and simple. Better the person gives the $30 tag fee to the government than to the group running the course that might use it for conservation efforts or something useful. How soon we forget Wynne and her buddies robbed the MNR fund to fund their fiasco - and wait with little or no accountability to we who pay the fees for enforcement and conservation- rather than pay OPP overtime in Caledonia.
It is still a cash grab from Wynne and her ilk plain and simple. Better the person gives the $30 tag fee to the government than to the group running the course that might use it for conservation efforts or something useful. How soon we forget Wynne and her buddies robbed the MNR fund to fund their fiasco - and wait with little or no accountability to we who pay the fees for enforcement and conservation- rather than pay OPP overtime in Caledonia.
