The Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) wants to wish all of Ontario’s wild turkey hunters a safe, enjoyable, and successful hunt. The 2023 spring wild turkey season in most of Ontario opens on April 25th and is a result of the reintroduction of wild turkeys to Ontario in the late 1980’s. The subsequent growth of turkey populations allowed for a limited hunt that has expanded over the years as the number of birds continues to grow.
“For many hunters, wild turkey season is the first opportunity of the year to get out and enjoy the outdoors with the chance of bringing home their first harvest of the year”, says Matthew McVittie, OCOA President and active turkey hunter. “As with any hunting season, hunters can expect to encounter conservation officers out in the field as they conduct hunter inspections to ensure everyone is following the rules and to ensure that the sport of turkey hunting continues to be a safe sport.”
Hunters are encouraged to review the 2023 Hunting Regulations Summary which is available online at https://www.ontario.ca/…/ontario-hunting-regulations… and ensure they are familiar with the hunting seasons, hunting methods and tagging requirements for game wildlife. If hunters still have questions about the hunting regulations they are encouraged to contact their local Conservation Officer for more information.
“When hunting on private property please ensure you are familiar with the property boundaries and you have permission from the landowner to be there,” adds McVittie, “and remember to follow proper safe hunting principles, including: always positively identify your target before shooting, know what is beyond your target, never hunt while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, treat every firearm as if it was loaded. We wish everyone a safe and successful hunt this spring.”
Anyone with information about a natural resources or public safety related violation is encouraged to call the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry violation reporting line at 1-877-847-7667, contact their local Conservation Officer directly, or call Crime Stoppers at 1800-222-TIPS (8477).
For more information about natural resources regulations and enforcement, please visit the OCOA website at http://www.ocoa.ca, or contact your local Conservation Officer.