ATTENTION WILD TURKEY HUNTERS: your opinion is not just important, but necessary. What do you think the future of Wild Turkey hunting in Ontario should look like? What do you want to see changed? What should stay the same? These questions need answers.
Have your say here: http://bit.ly/23pfukd
I dropped out of turkeys........way too many ticks.........seeing tons of turkeys all the time.......open up the seasonsQuote:
Originally Posted by OFAH
status quo works...
status quo works well. I think the way our system is set up is excellent. When you compare to places like Wisconsin where you have to draw for a specific week to turkey hunt in, etc it really makes me appreciate our system.
I wouldn't mind seeing something like a "Turkey Stamp" which works like a Duck Stamp where the money would go to purchase land suitable for turkey habitat and for hunting...even if it was a voluntary purchase, etc. Although who am I kidding the government would take that money to put up more windmills or just keep it..
I would like to be able to shoot two birds in the same day. It doesn't happen often but if it did I wouldn't mind to be able to shoot the second. And another idea would be if you didn't fill your second tag, maybe that tag could carry on for the fall hunt since the fall hunt is so short and the tags are the same price seems silly to me.
I completed my survey. Thanks for the opportunity to provide some feedback.
Survey done.
Licence cost too high, eliminate MNR $2 per transaction fee. The property owner who gave me hunting permission was shocked how much I paid for a licence. I got 2 turkeys last year, once I told him the fee for 2 seals, he thinks we're crazy to pay those fees. For him, animals are bought low and sold for profits.
During my turkey safety course, I do recall being told; "Don't turkey hunt to save $."
Survey done!
Yup have to agree with you on that. Survey done.Quote:
Originally Posted by bush24
Survey done............. Would like to see only bearded birds be hunted in the fall.
Have to disagree with you Frank sorry. There's an abundance of female birds around and with it being a short season I doubt very much they will be over harvested... There just isn't enough turkey hunters especially in the fall compared to that of the U.S.
Open fall season everywhere.
Survey done.i would love to see a early youth season. .
Early one week bow season But agree with most comments so far.
I had the following observations:
1.Commencing a hunting season on a Monday is a pet peave of mine - ergo I responded with 4th Saturday of the month
2. The use of e-callers can potentially improve safey by separating the sound source from the hunter
3. I would like to take two birds in a single day, but I would be more greatful with 3 per season. The number of birds I am season has been increasing steadily over the past 4 years. With a 20 km radius of my home the areas where I can successfully scout for turkey has doubled.
4. The survey did not provide an option to extend the hunting day to 1/2 hour after sunset to be consistent with other hunting regs.
You'll change you mind once you retire and see how nice and quiet an opening day is when the working stiffs aren't out there :)Quote:
Originally Posted by DGearyFTE
Quote:
Originally Posted by Farmer G
Yep,X2 Survey completed.
How true,how true. It's absolutely beautiful........nothing against the workin' stiffs,of course. :moose:Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
Survey completed thanks for sharing
Season should always open on a Saturday like trout. Last Saturday in April every year.
Early bow season would be great. Most years I stop hunting after week 2. Too many bugs & the birds seem to hide from too many hunters. Also the walleye fishing is on fire so I have other interests.2 birds in the same day would be good too for those of us who have limited time to get out & have to drive 1.5hrs to hunt Turkeys. Living in Essex county sucks for hunting permission...
I would like to see you pay 1 fee to hunt turkey for the year instead of having to pay for each tag.
Survey done.
I think we have it really good as turkey hunters with a nice long season in spring. The fall hunt can mess up archery deer hunts, and get deer off their pattern for guys following them for the controlled hunt. But I think we have enough turkeys and I'm not sure there is a better way to do the fall hunt, so we just have to be considerate to one another out there.
Would love to be able to harvest two on the same day. You can have a whole season go by with little opportunity, but there always seems to be that one hot day.
Have a pre-season one week before BOWS ONLY spring season
And open the fall season a little earlier were you can hunt turkeys during Thanksgiving
that's about the best suggestion so far....that makes sense and for everyone's benefit !!Quote:
Originally Posted by dbangler
Same here, most of my hunting partners have stopped hunting turkey because the cost of tags is too high.Quote:
Originally Posted by bush24
I can guarantee that many hunters are still getting birds, but simply not buying tags. This would not happen if the price was reasonable.
Survey done, here's hoping for 2 birds same day and an early bow season!
Changes are just going to rune this sport here. As for two birds in one day, you need to have confidents in your hunting, why is it all right to use 2 tags at once(same day) because you are scared you may not use the second tag later ? As for youth season or Bow season only week, you need to see how the season goes in the states that have these seasons, just opens the door to poaching like it or not. As for populations in Ontario, yes some WMUs have a great population, but others do not because of factors of snow loads and predators. Its far more of a larger picture of all across Ontario instead of the wood lot down the road you hunt every year. Why is the OFAH interested in this now after they dropped out and away from it when the NWTF took over ?
Why do guy think $30 for 30 days of hunting is too expensive.. $1 a day for the opportunity to hunt is about the cheapest thing you can do. I've spent $30 for a dinner that lasted less then an hour...what does a pizza cost now ?Quote:
Originally Posted by 3Wheelerdude
I dont see 2 tags the same day, the same way you do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ontario Hunter
If I take a day off from work to go hunting and manage to fill one tag in the morning. It would be nice to be able to go back in the afternoon and fill my second tag without having to take another day off work.
I already pay my small game licence for the 'right to hunt'. I could be hunting every day of the year with my small game.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
The 30$ is specific to Turkeys, and 30$ for a Turkey is pricey when compared to Deer, Bear or even Ducks and Geese. Im sure you get the idea, but I get 60+lbs of deer, 100+lbs of Moose or bear ,10+ ducks, 20+ Geese.....
The ratio is just off for Turkey, its pretty much 100$ for 3 turkeys per year.
Like I said, I am the only one out of our group that still hunts Turkeys. Ask the rest of the group and they will all say it costs too much.
Do you shop ??...Retail for Turkey is almost $3 a pound, that 20lb Tom is worth about $45...(15lbs dressed x $3)Quote:
Originally Posted by 3Wheelerdude
If you are trying to pro-rate the cost of the meat to the cost of the sport (same with fishing) you might as well hang your gun/rod on the wall. :)
The only one where we save is migratory bird, unlimited geese in possession and still only $17 a year for the license, $42 is you consider the required small game license.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
Deer is getting better as beef is going up, $48, no small game license required and with about 80lbs of meat off a mature animal you are looking at 60 cents a pound, very good compared to beef.
Thanks for linking the survey. I would like to see the turkey course abolished. I find it quite strange that hunting turkeys requires a special course. I know they were re-populated but so were elk - we don't require a elk course to enter the elk lottery.
I would rather it didn't...that way I can concentrate on my 1st gobbler those 3 days then go chase some rainbows the Sat morning, besides harder for a CO the enforce as well if both opened the same timeQuote:
Originally Posted by Hunter John
Its not a ratio with the grocery store. Its a ratio with the other animals that require tags.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
If you really want my opinion. One hunting licence should be enough. Forget the tags. Why does our government think they own wildlife? I understand the costs attributed to CO's and management. But right now it feels like I am buying wildlife from the government when I buy tags.
Bow only season..............NO THANKS!
youth hunt............yes that is a great idea, was just thinking about that the other day
2 tags in 1 day..........wouldn't care, might do it once just to say I killed 2 birds at once but I have confidence in my hunting skills so not really an issue for me.
Hahaha guys who want to pay one price to hunt turkeys are dreaming, if it did happen it would be $60 for the spring and $30 for the fall or $90 for the full year and since I don't fall hunt I wouldn't want that. Really $60 is not that bad, I don't do it for the meat I do it because I love turkey hunting!!! Like mike said not much you can do these days for $60!!! If that is too much $$$$ for you guys then by all means stay home!
Well that's your opinion , But when you add the small game licence to it that turkey licence is way over priced. Especially when you compare it to Any other game that is offered, Hell its the same price for a Moose licence.
Quote:
Originally Posted by duckslayer
I would like to be able to use a rimfire rifle.
^^^^ WHY ^^^^
Me too! It's bad enough picking #4 shot out of geese but it ticks me off for turkey since there is no valid reason why .22 LR shouldn't be legal.Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyJR
Enough idiots in the woods don't need guys trying to shoot flying or running birds in a open field with a .22, and don't say it wont be done because im sure it gets done enough already.
Because hunting with rimfires is fun. Nice clean head shot with no spoiled meat. You can take a big strutting Tom facing you without blowing a big hole in his tail. I personalty think there would be less wounded birds as well. I'm not saying it should be a mandated method of harvest, just an option to those who would choose it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunter John
There sure would be a lot less birds harvested....:)Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyJR
I get that but I fear we would see turkey snipers with highpower scopes trying shots at birds 100 yards or more and to me the fun of turkey hunting is its an up close and personal event. I love my rimfires and use them almost exclusively for rabbits and grouse and take much satisfaction in making head shots on both.Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyJR
Your right that is my opinion...........adding another $18 for small game is again still not that bad. Again I don't hunt for the meat I hunt for the experience..........meat is a great added bonus! Moose, deer, bear........end result I hunt for the experience because I enjoy the outdoors and time with friends and family, $80 to spend over a month out in the woods in the spring is priceless. Trust me I'm a working man and have little to show for my efforts so far in life but in reality it's not that bad, a lot of other things I do cost a LOT more!! Do I want prices to go up.....heck no........... would I be happy if prices went down.........for sure..........but I'm not going to on the internet about $80 and worry that I didn't get a moose's worth of meat in the freezer. Holy crap if I tallied up all the $$$ spent on gas, hunting equipment, gift cards and wine for the farmers.................Quote:
Originally Posted by JUDGE
Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyJR
Quote:
Originally Posted by DGearyFTE
Sorry guys not too sure I like the thought of sitting behind my DSD's with rimfires in the mix...........turkey hunting in Ontario seems to bring out the worst of hunters...................I can just imagine all the drive by scenario's we would be reading on here.
I'm completely fine with hunting them and getting them in close for the shotty or bows.
Here's my two cents
Always start on the 25th! That gives us From April 25th to May 31st to hunt! That's 37 days of turkey season! Starting on the last Saturday of April could mean a shorter season!
Allow unfilled spring tags to transfer over to Fall hunt.
Change fall hunt to start the Monday before thanksgiving so we can all have wild turkey to share with our families on thanksgiving.
No early seasons for bow or youth hunt. Even though I would benefit from this, I believe it allows the door to open for poaching, especially on private property.
That' s my two cents
I believe that you can't change the opening date of Turkey to the same opening day of trout season for safety. Too many people out in the bush walking around and I just see the potential for too many accidents.
Now opening Turkey a week earlier no problem. Don't see the need for a special bow only season...just open it a week earlier and have it end a week earlier. As already mentioned it gets really buggy out in Mid May.
I really like the two birds one day idea.
I like the idea of you pay one price get 3 tags and you can use them when you want either spring or fall season.
I'd like to see the Turkey course abolished. Just a money grab. Add it into the Hunters Ed course.
If you want to get wayyyyyy out of the box.... you could have a draw similar to the antler less deer draw for beardless turkeys in certain wmu's. That way the number of hens harvested can be controlled. Only one beardless tag per hunter, can be attached to beard or beardless turkey.
Remember I said way out of the box!! LoL
Handguns!
Reverse the restriction on #7 shot for turkeys specifically in blended shells.
What about the drive bys for geese? Drive bys for deer? People shoot turkeys with rifles, they also shoot them out of season, it is currently considered poaching.Quote:
Originally Posted by duckslayer
There are lots of places that allow rimfires and handguns for hunting turkeys and they do not have increases in hunting related injuries.
You have to be careful with that unsafe mindset, you might have people starting banning anything but bows for all hunting as you may have someone do something stupid. Forget about 223 for Coyote, no more sighting in your 30-30 south of Orillia, just too many people.
Personally I think turkey hunting is very expensive and it is even more expensive when you try to mentor someone. I could care less if I get a bird but to take my wife out and call for her I need a license, so at this point for her to get 2 birds it will cost us as a family almost $90.
The survey is very narrow, I think you should pay for your tag/tags at the start of the season and they should be good for the year, this spring/fall thing is BS, just another tax on hunters. The season start date, who cares, if you need to be out there on the opener then take the day off or call in sick if you work for the government, ha ha.
I see people talking about shooting birds at 70 yards with a shotgun so I do not see why a rimfire would be a problem, maybe actually specify the round but why not, who said turkey hunting has to be a short range game, everyone seems to be pushing that range out every year.
I also see people on here bad mouthing weekend hunters, guess what, people work, the majority of people work, we should all be happy that we have people who hunt and fish and keep our traditions alive rather than berate them for only being able to go out every other weekend.
I like turkey hunting, very little is more fun than having a tom light up at 20 yards in thick cover and you never knowing it was there but the actual hunting is becoming really overblown.
I found it interesting that question 21 - where did you hear about this survey - didn't include this website!
Me too....Quote:
Originally Posted by scarkner
They may have included this site in "magazine" option.
I've lawfully and safely used a 22 LR for "on the ground" ruffed grouse, 22 rifles are legal to use for small game, why not turkeys?Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt86
On the side, more of today's hunters seem to hunt for sport and don't seem to care about the cost per bird/deer... Those who hunt for food soon will refuse to hunt for turkeys. I think if some could hunt and release they would? Over the years, fishing mindsets have also changed. Last fall, I caught 3 ganaraska rainbows, released 2 and kept 1 to bring home. Out came the dirty looks and comments from the catch/release fanatics. "You killed it, your gonna need lots of ketchup, etc.." Whatever.
Ruffed grouse with a .22 and turkey with a .22 are two enormously different things, and anyone who know even the tiniest amount about hunting *should* be aware of it. Grouse shot with a .22 are usually at close range with the hunter standing so the bullet goes into the ground. A shot a turkey is going to be longer, with the hunter likely hidden, sitting and the bullet travelling in a near horizontal path. And the real kicker - its not very likely there is another hunter concealed nearby trying to call in a grouse.Quote:
Originally Posted by bush24
On that note,I'm still a tad leery about running the Turkey and Black Bear seasons together. What could possibly go wrong?Quote:
Originally Posted by werner.reiche
Nothing different than deer hunting and migratory bird or archery deer and upland game.Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
Not quite. I see trimmer's point. But I think we are counting on bear hunters not hunting the same terrain as turkey hunters on public land, which I think is a reasonable assumption.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
They will pass the .22 rule for turkey but to go along with it you will be required to wear hunter orange vest & hat. Good luck with that... :)
It all comes down to knowing what is behind your target.Quote:
Originally Posted by werner.reiche
I do not see that many spring bear hunters in SW Ontario where most of the turkey hunting will happen, there are some overlap areas but not that many.
I do not see this as any more dangerous than people in tree stands with camo on hunting archery for deer during an upland season, you can have people shooting up when birds flush.
Think about migratory bird hunting, hunting a marsh in October and November when deer and moose seasons are on, you are in full camp in a blind and hunting along an area where both big game and birds are both found, same problem here.
What about groundhog hunters and spring turkey hunting? Are there not a lot more groundhog hunters than black bear hunters? Black bears in the spring are generally hunted over bait from tree stands, groundhogs are shot at long range in fields and mainly along field edges and your best hunting is right at the start of turkey hunting season, before the grass starts to get long.
We can look at any hunting and any property, you may have someone just walking through the bush.
I do not see using a 22LR for turkey any differently than a 22 LR for groundhogs or target practice, if the safety of someone with a 22 LR in the field is such a problem then we need to ban all firearms from being shot outside of a CFO authorized range.
Actually there is a big difference...The turkey, which may be there because of decoys/calling by a hunter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
If you can't understand that, I think you should go retake both hunters safety and the turkey hunting course.
As far as knowing what's behind your target, with a shotgun you need to know for a few hundred yards. With a rifle, even the lowly .22, its more than a mile.
Wow, just wow.Quote:
Originally Posted by werner.reiche
So if someone is hunting with a shotgun for turkey and hiding along a field edge that guy with a 270 rifle on the other side of the farm is hunting groundhogs it is safer than someone hunting the other side of the farm with a 22 LR?
I know what safety is, I also know that "cause I said so" is not a viable answer.
The 270 is a lot more dangerous than a 22LR but it is perfectly legal to hunt with a 270 for groundhogs when someone is out hunting turkeys. Same with a 243, 223, 222, 17 Rem, how many more long range centerfire rifles do I have to list.
It is also legal to target shoot on a farm, put a target against a tree and fire a 7mm Remington Mag, still legal, even when there is an open season for turkey hunting.
I mentioned in the survey I'd like to use .22LR for turkey. While some may think it's more dangerous than shotguns, I don't buy it.
Ppl are out spraying .22s all year long for a variety of hunting and recreational purposes. Including turkeys doesn't up the danger one iota.
I also flat out stated that I know TONS of hunters who buy one tag to be "legal", and then harvest 2-4 birds and tag their last one.
The govt is losing money, the bird population takes a hit, the MNR misses out on key information and a mentality among hunters of Us vs Govt (the robbing crooks!) is perpetuated.
I suggested a $50 license for spring hunt with a 3 bird limit, or a $75 license for Spring & Fall hunt and a 4 bird limit. Or something to that effect.
The Hunter's perceived value is improved, the govt gets more money & the MNR (hopefully) gets improved accuracy in its collected data.
I hope you report the TONS of hunters harvesting 2-4 birds every year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Oddmott
That's a pretty lame straw man.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
You still don't get that adding turkey's to the equation changes everything. We're not talking about shooting groundhogs. We're talking about shooting turkeys (and turkey decoys). It wouldn't be the first time someone erringly shot at a decoy with a rifle and killed someone.
Ever see the remnants of a hunt camp fire? One of the many things that can happen when tattling on locals living off the land.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunter John
They also taught you to place the decoy so that anyone coming from a distance cannot sneak up on you and put you in your hide in a dangerous situation, I guess you missed that part, that is why the course I took back 15 years ago talked of not calling like a male bird and only using hen decoys.Quote:
Originally Posted by werner.reiche
*Exactly* And that is why we are limited to shotguns only... so the other hunter has to sneak up on you, not shoot from 100+ yards away across a field. Shorter range increases the odds of two hunters each realising the other is there. That is the purpose in limiting the hunt to shotguns and small (4,5,6) shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
That's lame Fox, real lame. Call the MNR tip line or crime stoppers as they are anonymous . Do you really support the no snitch mentality ? whats next , wearing an I CANT BREATH t shirt. LOL
Nu-uh.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunter John
For a variety of reasons.
But mostly I only concern myself with hunting issues that have to do with ppl's safety. I'll report someone for hunting drunk, road hunting, etc. Because there can be immediate and deadly consequences from it. But I'll let the law handle the policing of bag limits.
It's not worth pissing off neighbours & friends over.
Make it more affordable & increase efficiency of reporting and it becomes a much lesser issue.
werner.reiche, I think most of your posts are blowing what could be a small issue out of proportion. I would hunt them exactly the same and at the same range. Just with a well placed head shot.
You guys will be safe with me in your area. I will be using my x-bow & need to get my bird inside of 15 yards for a Magnus bull-head shot... LOL
If they did legalize the .22 I could care less I would still use by x-bow... :)
if gobbling like a tom or a strutter deke isn't in your arsenal when hunting you are missing out on a fast way to get a tom to cover distance and have a quick and easy huntQuote:
Originally Posted by Fox
they also taught you not to shoot the red cloth when the guys wipes his nose, hope u didn't need a course to learn that,
2 native buddies that are aloud to hunt before season have had guys sneak up and shoot at there dekes twice, don't need road hunters from a hundred yards rippin hollow points,
I think the issue is, would you be comfortable out hunting with your bow, knowing there are others out there hunting with .22's.Quote:
Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter
You would, sure. But if it was legalised, what about guys with a scoped .22 shooting 100+ yards?Quote:
Originally Posted by GuyJR
We have a whole whack of laws related to hunter safety, this is just one of them.
The MNR has to make laws for all hunters, not just the safe ones.
eight pages is a bit too long for me to go through sorry if these points are beat to death.
For all that is holy the reporting system!
1. reporting should be jake/tom/hen
2. WMU taken in
3. date
get rid the beard, spur, weight
I cant be convinced that when a new hunter takes the course having to take a another turkey course is not an out and out money grab. make the turkey course a subsection of the course.