When is ontario turkey season

Ten turkey hunting myths busted by Al Davy April 16, Turkey hunting myths arise because we see wild turkeys do the same thing several times, and then assume they will always do it that way. Next Page ». Memory Bank More photos from our readers ». Stay in the know on all things hunting and fishing in Ontario. Sign up for our FREE newsletter! Sign up now. Soon, no amount of shifting weight helps.

This makes it harder to sit for a long period and invariably a bird gets spooked. On top of that, there are all the thistles and thorns.

Hawthorne bushes are the worst. Those spike-like thorns can bury into your backside and become infected. You learn to be extra careful when choosing your seat on a turkey hunt. Consider carefully where you place your bum, as discomfort can take many forms.

Ellis carries a gobbler off the field. Photo credit: Gord Ellis Technology is Not Always Your Friend Not that long ago, turkey hunting meant long sits, with only your brain—and the occasional turkey gobble—for amusement.

That was before smartphones. Now turkey hunters are texting, tweeting, checking Google earth and receiving email from trail cams. If you are sitting on the ground, in camouflage, trying to be still, this phone thing can be a problem. A frequent turkey hunting partner is also a semi-recent smartphone owner. He came later to the party than me, but finally gave in. One time last spring, my partner was noticeably ignoring his phone for the first few days of the hunt.

My partner was—quite properly—invested in killing a gobbler and not answering text messages. There is a two-bird bag limit during the spring turkey hunting season. In the spring, only bearded birds are fair game. This rule protects the turkey hens during their laying season. There is also a fall turkey season. It begins in October. In fall hunting, part of the season allows for bow hunting, and part of the season is bow and shotgun.

The fall season of turkey hunting has a single bird bag limit. Before heading out into the field for the first time, every turkey hunter needs to complete a hunter education course and received their outdoors card. They must purchase a small games license for every year they want to hunt. If hunters plan to use a gun, they also need to have their PAL. Once hunters have all the correct licenses, they must also purchase turkey tags. After harvesting an animal, hunters must tag them immediately to show they were harvested legally.

It's important to keep those tags safe! Hunters now print their tags at home, and the system allows them to be printed just once. These new paper tags can be easily damaged, so ensure tags have a sleeve to protect them. For a full listing of regulations and enforcement, visit th e Ontario Fish and Wildlife website.

Remember, the new hunting rules are in full effect this year. Forgetting to report a hunt has serious consequences. When setting out to hunt wild turkey, it's important to invest in some special equipment. It might seem expensive, but proper turkey gear can make the difference between reaching bag limits or reaching for air. A smart turkey will still sus you out unless you are prepared.