Fall Turkey Hunt a Go

[Dan Andrews]

OFAH FILE: 842

May 22, 2008

For Immediate Release

Provincial fall wild turkey regulations now in force

O.F.A.H. welcomes hunt, advises hunters to review regulations before fall season

As promised by the Ministry of Natural Resources (M.N.R.), there will be a fall wild turkey season in designated parts of Ontario this year. Changes to regulations pertaining to wild turkey in the Open Seasons-Wildlife section under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, were finalized on May 15 and are now in force. The move had been expected, as the fall hunt was proposed in the Wild Turkey Management Plan, which was posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights (E.B.R.) for public comment in February.

"The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) is pleased that the fall wild turkey season will proceed as promised in parts of Ontario," said O.F.A.H. Executive Director Mike Reader. "The wild turkey is thriving, and expanded hunting opportunities provide for sound wildlife management, time in the outdoors for hunters, and economic benefits for many communities that derive their livelihood from the outdoor industry."

A fall wild turkey hunting season has been approved in Wildlife Management Units 64, 67, 68, 73, 76, 77, 78, 81, 82, 84, 89, 90, 92, and 93. The season will run each year from the Tuesday following Thanksgiving until the second Sunday following Thanksgiving.

Regulations for the fall season vary slightly from the spring, so the O.F.A.H. is strongly encouraging hunters to thoroughly review the regulations before the season opens. Whereas in the spring hunters may purchase two licences and harvest a season total of two birds over two or more days, the fall limit is one bird per hunter, per season. Unlike the spring season, fall harvested wild turkeys may be of either gender, with or without a beard.

Wild Turkey Facts:

* The O.F.A.H. initiated the highly successful program to bring back the extirpated eastern wild turkey to Ontario more than twenty years ago.

* There has been a hunting season since 1987, and during that time, wild turkey populations have continually increased. Moderate estimates place Ontario's turkey population at well over 70,000 birds.

* The wild turkey is a popular game bird, even though hunters require special training and certification to obtain the turkey designation on their hunting licence.

* Since 1987, the O.F.A.H. has trained 78,300 turkey hunters in seminars held across Ontario.

* Last year, wild turkey licence sales contributed $936,789 to the M.N.R. Special Purpose Account.

With 83,000 members and 655 member clubs, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is the leading fish and wildlife conservation organization in Ontario.

Contact

Lezlie Goodwin

Communications Coordinator

705 748-6324 ext 270 Rob Pineo

Forestry and Wildlife Biologist

705 748-6324 ext 270