The 2023 spring turkey season opened on April 25 for most of Ontario, and the Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) released a statement wishing all of Ontario’s wild turkey hunters a safe, enjoyable, and successful hunt. Wild turkeys were reintroduced to Ontario in the late 1980’s, and the growth of the turkey population in subsequent years has expanded the hunting season.
“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,”, stated Matthew McVittie, OCOA president. “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.”
The 2023 Hunting Regulations are available online at https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-hunting-regulations-summary, and the OCOA recommends all hunters review the hunting methods and tagging requirements. Questions can be directed to local conservation offices.
“When hunting on private property please ensure you are familiar with the property boundaries and you have permission from the landowner to be there,” stated 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.”
Natural resources or public safety related violations should be reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry violation reporting line at 1-877-847-7667, or Crime Stoppers at 1800-222-TIPS (8477).
