www.ocoa.ca
MEDIA RELEASE
April 23, 2007
CONSERVATION OFFICERS ENCOURAGE SAFE, RESPONSIBLE TURKEY HUNTING
The Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) wants to wish all of Ontario’s wild turkey hunters a safe, enjoyable, and successful hunt. The wild turkey season in Ontario opens on April 25 and runs until May 31. During this time, tens of thousands of hunters will take to the field in pursuit of this wariest of game birds. Since the re-introduction of wild turkeys to southern Ontario close to 20 years ago, the popularity of turkey hunting has grown as quickly as the turkey population itself. Wild turkeys are now found throughout most of southern Ontario, and populations are steadily increasing and expanding. With this increase in hunting pressure come added responsibilities for hunters to ensure that they are hunting in a safe and ethical manner.
Most turkey hunting occurs on private land, or on isolated pockets of public land surrounded by farmland. As a result, all hunters must be sure they know who owns the area they wish to hunt, and that they obtain permission from all landowners prior to the hunt. “Even though the vast majority of hunters obey the law, Conservation Officers investigate many reports of trespassing and road hunting every turkey season”, says OCOA President Dan VanExan, himself a southern Ontario field CO. “Most turkey hunters spend a lot of time scouting their potential locations for a hunt; it is equally important to contact landowners to make sure that good relations are maintained with the thousands of farmers who allow hunting on the land”, adds VanExan.
There are other regulations specific to turkey hunting to ensure a safe hunt, as well as to maintain sustainable populations of birds: hunters must complete a wild turkey hunting seminar and pass a written test before being eligible to purchase a licence; only two licences may be purchased by each hunter per year; all birds must be sealed at the time of the kill; party hunting is not allowed; and hunters may only hunt from one half hour before sunrise until 7:00 PM. A change for this year is the telephone harvest reporting. There are no more check stations; instead hunters must report their harvest by calling 1-800-288-1155 no later than 12:00 noon the day after their turkey was harvested.
The OCOA encourages hunters to contact their local CO if they have any questions about the regulations regarding turkey hunting. “Our officers are always willing to spend a few minutes talking to hunters to make sure that they understand the rules of the hunt”, said VanExan.
Anyone who observes illegal hunting activity is asked to help COs protect our natural resources by calling the MNR’s violation reporting line at 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667), or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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For further information:
Dan VanExan
President
Ontario Conservation Officers Association
(613)478-6132
