New outdoors card. (No T on the front of the card)

[Chrisun]

Hi All,

Like many of you I renewed my outdoors card a few weeks ago. I received my new card in the mail today. One thing I noticed is that my new card no longer had the "T" on the front to say I was able to purchase a turkey license. I called the ministry and was told the "T" was no longer needed to purchase a turkey license. If this has already been discussed I apologize. Just wanted to let you all know.

[kickingfrog]

Turkey changes:
https://www.oodmag.com/news/turkey-h...nges-proposed/

[COLOR=#000000]Ontario’s wild turkey hunting season will look a little different now that proposed changes have been confirmed for January 1, 2017 implementation.
[COLOR=#000000]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.
[COLOR=#000000]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.
[COLOR=#000000]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.
[COLOR=#000000]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.
[COLOR=#000000]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).
[COLOR=#000000]The news of the proposed changes was hailed as positive by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH).
[COLOR=#000000]“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.
[COLOR=#000000]“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.”

[boogaloo]

Ya I called them as well. They are probably wishing that they left the "T" on by now.

[JMatthews]

I got mine in the mail today and noticed the same thing. I think if the attached document didn't mention the T , we probably wouldn't have been so concerned. You can't teach common sense.

[Gun Nut]

Turkey changes:
https://www.oodmag.com/news/turkey-h...nges-proposed/

[COLOR=#000000]Ontario’s wild turkey hunting season will look a little different now that proposed changes have been confirmed for January 1, 2017 implementation.
[COLOR=#000000]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.
[COLOR=#000000]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.
[COLOR=#000000]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.
[COLOR=#000000]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.
[COLOR=#000000]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).
[COLOR=#000000]The news of the proposed changes was hailed as positive by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH).
[COLOR=#000000]“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.
[COLOR=#000000]“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.”

There is a small point which might concern all turkey hunters, the fact that there is no longer a separate course requirement. Means that all the hunter who have never taken a turkey course and received the training on how to do it properly, can now get a turkey licence on the strength of there Outdoor card and small game hunting licence. So what has been done is to open up the possibility of turkey hunting taking some entirely different formats, where those untrained develop their own technique on how to do it best, an approach that comes to my mind is one of stalk, flush and shoot, or don't flush, just shoot. If this approach takes hold, I can see a couple things unfolding. The first is that those who have receive the proper training, and attempt to call their turkey in, are likely to be calling in more than just the turkeys with feathers. The second, with the the lighter shot sizes being used, turkeys that are flushed and shot at, are more likely to be wounded than killed winding up as coyote food, rather than in the roast pan. JMHO

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut.

[fishhawk]

Gun nut is right, this just opened up a loophole for the guys that never did the original turkey course. They can now buy a tag, could be a safety concern.

[greatwhite]

Why? What does the course teach about safety that you would learn in your regular hunting course..

Gun nut is right, this just opened up a loophole for the guys that never did the original turkey course. They can now buy a tag, could be a safety concern.

[rick_iles]

Why? What does the course teach about safety that you would learn in your regular hunting course..

Previously, there was no information taught with respect to safety issues specific to turkey hunting. They must have felt that information was necessary enough to have separate turkey hunting training. Any hunter now can take up turkey hunting without having the training.
I can see where there could be safety concerns. Hopefully the MNRF will make the safety information available to new turkey hunters somehow.

[greatwhite]

I still don't get it. So all other hunters are unsafe?

Previously, there was no information taught with respect to safety issues specific to turkey hunting. They must have felt that information was necessary enough to have separate turkey hunting training. Any hunter now can take up turkey hunting without having the training.
I can see where there could be safety concerns. Hopefully the MNRF will make the safety information available to new turkey hunters somehow.

[rick_iles]

I still don't get it. So all other hunters are unsafe?

You haven't taken the turkey training, have you !