CWTF 2017 Inaugural Member's Edition Magazine

CWTF 

MANDATES 

To promote the establishment, restoration, 

preservation and sustainable management 

of wild turkeys and their habitats in Canada. 

To develop programs and engage in 

projects to establish, restore, preserve and 

enhance wild turkey hunting practices, 

traditions and heritage. 

To promote responsible wild turkey hunting 

practices, traditions and heritage. 

To work with Governments, organizations 

and others to develop programs and 

engage in projects to protect and enhance 

wildlife habitat. 

To promote conservation, hunting, fishing, 

and other outdoor and wildlife oriented 

activities. 

To host, sponsor and promote educational, 

social, exhibition and other events for 

members and the public. 

JOIN THE 

CWTF TODAY 

SINGLE MEMBERSHIP 

$35.00 / YEAR 

KID/YOUTH MEMBERSHIP 

$10.00 / YEAR 

SPONSOR MEMBERSHIP 

$250.00 / YEAR 

GET STARTED AT WWW.CWTF.CA

INAUGURAL MEMBER’S 

EDITION ARTICLES 

4 A Message from the 

President & Director of 

Operations 

6 The CWTF Story 

10 Best of Both Worlds 

12 CWTF Chapter Update 

14 Current and Future 

CWTF Chapters 

16 My Memorable Hoot and 

Shoot Experience 

20 Not Quite Close Enough 

24 Enjoying the Game 

26 A Call Maker’s Story 

28 Redneck Reflections 

32 Canadian Wild Turkey Slam 

36 Current Status of Wild 

Turkeys in Québec 

40 Spur Chaser’s Club 

44 CWTF Outreach Programs 

SCORE shells are proudly manufactured by Prairie 

Shot Ltd in Carberry, Manitoba. $1.00 per box of 

turkey ammo sold is donated to the CWTF.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

With the support of many volunteers, the 

Canadian Wild Turkey Federation (CWTF) has 

reached its third anniversary. The countless 

hours of talking turkey, spreading the word 

of our commitment to supporting youth and 

women’s outdoor events, as well as habitat and 

wildlife conservation projects are paying off. 

I have been a part of conservation groups 

for the past 25 years and in that time, I have 

seen first hand the results of volunteers who are 

active in conservation. Including many projects 

that allow wild turkeys to thrive in Canada. 

CWTF is “The New Face of Conservation in 

Canada” and is growing and gaining momentum. 

Our volunteers forge ahead by holding fund 

raising banquets, sharing their experiences 

in the woods with others, social media 

announcements, volunteering at trade shows 

and speaking at wildlife meetings. If it wasn’t for 

our volunteers across Canada, CWTF would not 

exist today. 

We still have a long way to go. There are 

many people that are interested in the great 

outdoors and the CWTF is working to help them 

become involved. With the recent launch of the 

Women Like Us (WLU) and Kids Like Us (KLU) 

programs, CWTF works hard to ensure these 

programs leave long lasting memories with the 

participants. The Hoot and Shoot Youth Turkey 

Camp and Hunt is a great example of this, which 

is holding its 5th anniversary. 

I would like to personally thank the CWTF 

board of directors, the staff and national council, 

chapter presidents, committees, sponsors and 

donors for their hard work and efforts over the 

past 3 years. Your work is truly what makes 

CWTF “The New Face of Conservation in Canada”. 

Terry Smith 

CWTF President 

tsmith@cwtf.ca 

4 - canadian wild turkey federation conserve • enhance • protect cwtf.ca

A MESSAGE FROM THE 

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 

Over the last three years I have travelled 

many miles as we launched the CWTF. I 

remember thinking in the early days that 

we were on a path that would truly make a 

difference for wild turkeys, and for conservation 

in general here in Canada. 

Today I see an organization that is growing 

and putting down solid roots to achieve those 

goals. It is exciting to see chapters holding their 

4th annual CWTF events this year, and those who 

are planning their first. 

As the Director of Operations, I have an 

amazing job. I get to see and meet people from 

across the country who have come together 

to help make the CWTF “The New Face of 

Conservation in Canada”. I have heard the 

stories, worked on local projects and toiled late 

into the evenings with volunteers who share that 

passion, while making friends that I look forward 

to seeing each year. 

We are truly embarking on a journey that 

will see many great things accomplished for 

wildlife and conservation in our country. Enjoy 

our magazine and I look forward to meeting you 

along the way. 

Steve Nicholson 

Director of Operations 

snicholson@cwtf.ca 

Thank you Nick Pujic, 

Nick is the founder of Vantage 

Point Media House. Having 

produced over 100 hours of 

prime-time television within 

North America and Europe 

to-date. He was gracious enough 

to provide us with an amazing 

photograph for our inaugural 

edition cover. 

canadian wild turkey federation the new face of conservation in canada cwtf.ca - 5

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY MIKE HOLLAND 

Crossroads. That is the place where decisions are made that 

chart a course and a path to the future. Many times, that path 

leads us into the unknown and more often than not with a sense 

of adventure. That is where the CWTF story begins. 

When the National Wild Turkey Federation ceased to operate 

in Canada, a couple of guys felt like the work that was being done 

was too important, and it must continue. What started with a 

phone call, led to more conversations and a small group of like 

minded people who were passionate about the outdoors set out 

with a purpose. Focused on expanding opportunities to develop 

wild turkey hunting and preserving our outdoor lifestyle here at 

home, they launched what is now the CWTF. 

Something amazing happened in those early days. The group 

that would eventually form the CWTF was made up of people with 

many different talents, but the one thing that they all shared was 


that they were very ordinary 

people, with a love of the 

outdoors and a passion for 

conservation. That shared set 

of values forged a commitment 

to being an organization that 

was focused on regular people 

and creating opportunities 

for them to enjoy all that the 

woods had to offer. Whether 

it is introducing youth, or 

non-hunters to our hunting 

heritage, or recognizing the fact 

that ladies are a fast-growing 

segment of the hunting 

population and celebrating 

their contribution to our sport, 

one thing has always been 

consistent; our membership is 

open to anyone, not just the 

experienced. 

It’s exciting to think back 

to our very first event held 

in New Brunswick over three 

years ago. It was not a huge 

event, and it was all hands-ondeck 

to make it happen, but 

we recognized that we were 

part of something much bigger 

than a fundraising event. We 

were taking the first steps to 

becoming a household name 

in the Canadian outdoor 

community. Since then, 

we have sponsored and or 

participated in youth events, 

programs that introduce 

women to conservation, habitat 

development projects and 

wild turkey trap and transfer 

programs. From those humble 

beginnings, we have expanded 

our Hunting Heritage banquets 

to over 15 per year and are 

looking to double that in the 

not too distant future. 

The organization has 

grown to include a very 

diverse membership from 

all over the country. Each 

bringing with them a unique 


skill set and a desire to become a participant 

in the good work of the CWTF. That spirit 

of teamwork has allowed the CWTF to create 

communication committees, a National Council 

and a strong Board of Directors all working in 

unison to achieve the aims and objectives of 

the organization. Yes, the wild turkey is our 

namesake, but the primary achievement we have 

accomplished is that regardless of a member’s 

place in the organization, they feel valued, 

informed and a part of the process every step of 

the way. 

CWTF has worked hard to create an 

infrastructure where information is readily 

and rapidly shared to the members. More 

importantly, steps have been taken to ensure 

that the members, the average everyday person, 

has the means to have their voice heard as well. 

As stated earlier, ordinary people formed the 

CWTF and ordinary people will always have a 

voice in how it achieves its goals. 

That’s why presenting this magazine is such 

a proud moment for the leadership of the CWTF. 

We are excited to share the news about what we 

are doing and how we are fast becoming “The 

New Face of Conservation in Canada”. One thing 

you will notice as you read the articles and look 

at the photos, they are all people like you. Some 

of whom have been with the CWTF from the 

beginning, others have joined the ranks along 

the way. 

And now you are here with us as well. Join 

us as we chart the course of the future for the 

CWTF in the days and months to come. We 

are glad to have you at the crossroads as we 

prepare to have even more influence and impact 

on the outdoor industry. We are at the front 

of yet another bold and exciting adventure as 

we look forward to 2017 and it is our hope that 

we can look back with pride on this year at the 

difference we all made, as a team. 

PHOTO MELISSA LINDSAY 

GET YOUR 

DIGITAL 

MAGAZINE 

CWTF.CA 



BOARD MEMBER AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE CWTF 

Strategic alliances have been a regular 

part of business for a long time. The coming 

together of two great organizations in a way 

that compliments the goals of both is not 

uncommon. We see this many times in our daily 

life. Starbucks and Chapters, Apple and IBM, and 

McDonald’s and Coca-Cola just to name a few. 

When two organizations come together to share 

strengths, resources, and new opportunities, well 

as the old saying goes, “the incoming tide rises 

the boats in the harbour”. 

That’s why we at the CWTF are proud to 

announce a strategic partnership with the 

National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for 

the purpose of “Having a great impact on the 

conservation of the wild turkey as well as the 

preservation of the hunting heritage in North 

America”. That’s according to George Thornton, 

the NWTF’s CEO. 

The two organizations, although different 

in many ways, share a common ideal of making 

the woods, the water and the air a better 

place for all the wildlife that calls the great 

outdoors home. Thornton also says, “Being 

such close neighbours with many shared natural 

resources, this agreement will ensure wild 

turkey populations prosper on both sides of the 

border”. The CWTF is only three years old but 

has already participated in, or sponsored events 

in many provinces. The CWTF is also committed 

to creating opportunities to introduce new and 

young hunters to our outdoor lifestyle. The 

NWTF has over a generation of research and 

science supporting best practices for proper 

habitat management. They have also pioneered 

methods that have grown the wild turkey 

population from the brink of extinction and have 

much to share as it relates to translating that 

work north of the border in Canada. 

Terry Smith and Mike Holland - co-founders 

of the CWTF - were very involved as NWTF 

District Directors in years gone by. They know 

first hand about the good work that the NWTF 

does. Both have learned that creating and 

enhancing wild turkey hunting opportunities and 

habitat takes a lot of work and welcome being 


able to access over forty years 

of experience from the NWTF. 

Smith has said, “My passion is 

to create wild turkey hunting 

opportunities throughout the 

entire country of Canada”. He 

goes on to say that, “Someday 

we will look back to the humble 

beginnings of the CWTF and 

realize that we were a part 

of making history in the 

conservation world, much like 

the NWTF did many years ago”. 

CWTF brings a lot to the 

table in this alliance as well. 

With different habitats and 

climates than in the U.S., the 

NWTF stands to broaden 

their base of knowledge as 

it relates to creating habitat 

enhancements and hunting 

opportunities. As the NWTF 

has been established for so 

long, it is always a good thing 

to look over the shoulder of a 

younger organization as they 

explore and discover new ways 

to make a difference. 

Make no mistake, the 

CWTF and NWTF are two 

totally separate organizations 

that conduct their business in 

many different ways. This is 

not a merger or an acquisition, 

but rather a ground-breaking 

cross border collaboration 

for the worthy ideal of wild 

turkey, wildlife and habitat 

conservation. The hunting 

and outdoor industry is not 

without its critics so to have 

the opportunity to celebrate 

the coming together, and the 

synergy of two like minded 

groups shows a solidarity and a 

unification where the wildlife is 

the winner. 

As the CWTF enters its 

fourth year of operation, we 

ask you to join us in celebrating 

the desire to work together 

with the NWTF. Roll up your 

sleeves and get involved so 

that when one day hunters 

who are not even born yet 

head to the woods to hunt 

wild turkeys and enjoy the 

outdoors, you will know that 

you played a role in making 

that happen! 

The coming 

together of 

two great 

organizations 

in a way that 

compliments the 

goals of both is 

not uncommon. 


PHOTO MELISSA LINDSAY 

CWFT CHAPTER 

UPDATE 

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY STEVE NICHOLSON, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 

We’ve come a long way since the Carleton- 

Victoria Longbeards - CWTF’s establishing 

chapter - held their first banquet on June 7th, 

2014 in Perth Andover New Brunswick at the 

Hanscome Adventure Outdoors lodge. The best 

artists in the world couldn’t have painted a more 

beautiful setting for such an important day nor 

could we have been blessed with more gracious 

hosts than Ralf and Nancy Hanscome. If that 

wasn’t enough, add an amazing meal prepared 

by Chef Charlene and the welcoming of our first 

members who quickly became friends and family 

to all, making this day what I would call “a most 

perfect event”. 

The ground had been broken and the seed 

was planted for the “New Face of Conservation in 

Canada”, the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation. 

From there we continued with two more 

chapters in our first year, the Moncton Codiac 

Longbeards and the Truro Struttin Gobblers 

from Nova Scotia. We certainly couldn’t have 

made it to year two without the hard work and 

dedication of these three founding chapters. 

2015 saw the addition of six more chapters to 

the family, one newly established chapter in 

Belleville Ontario and five former NWTF chapters 

coming back to the flock under the new wings of 

the CWTF. In 2016 our growth continued with an 

additional five new chapters, one in Quebec, two 

in Manitoba, one more in Ontario and another in 

New Brunswick. 

To all the committees, volunteers, members 

and sponsors, we couldn’t have done it without 

your hard work, dedication and generosity. 

You are the CWTF. You are the New Face of Conservation in Canada. 


HOW TO START A CHAPTER 

To Join our growing family and 

establish a chapter in your local 

community simply contact: 

Steve Nicholson 

snicholson@cwtf.ca or 

info@cwtf.ca 

We would be happy to work 

with you through the process. 

Help us make a 

difference, join 

the CWTF today. 

©2017 B.O.P. 

Images based on two minute stay in a dry vapor chest then spritzed with water 10 times.Tests conducted at Surfaces Research in Lenexa, KS. Comparison consisted of Bushnell 

Elite, Vortex® Diamondback and Nikon® ProStaff riflescopes. Vortex is a® 2014 registered trademark of Sheltered Wings, Inc. Nikon is a registered trademark of Nikon, Inc. 


CURRENT AND 

FUTURE CHAPTERS 

ACROSS CANADA 

CURRENT CHAPTERS 

FUTURE CHAPTERS 

Clerical & 

Administration 

Chapter Contribution 

& Outreach 

8% 10% 

Human 

Resources 

68% 

14% 

The CWTF and its Board of Directors 

work to secure funding for the CWTF 

legacy and long-term projects. By 

creating and communicating the value, 

importance and reward of the donation 

experience. The CWTF works to secure 

a bright and stable future for the CWTF 

and its mandates. 

Banquet Expenses 


PETERBOROUGH COUNTY GOBBLERS 

EST. 2016 - PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO 

CLINTON DAVIS: clinton.davis924@gmail.com 

BAY OF QUINTE STOMPIN TOMS 

EST. 2015 - BELLEVILLE, ONTARIO 

STEVE NICHOLSON: snicholson@cwtf.ca 

BEDFORD BLUENOSE LONGBEARDS 

EST. 2015 - BEDFORD, NOVA SCOTIA 

STEPHEN WHITMAN: armsports@gmail.com 

CAPE BRETON STRUTTERS 

EST. 2015 - SYDNEY MINES, NOVA SCOTIA 

KEVIN ROGERS: 00728mgr@sobeys.com 

WHEATLEY STRUTTIN TOMS 

EST. 2015 - WHEATLEY, ONTARIO 

CHRIS CLARK: shallbe71@gmail.com 

MOUNT HOPE MOSSY HEADS 

EST. 2015 - DELHI, ONTARIO 

ROBERT DAVIS: robertcdavis@rogers.com 

SOUTHWEST STRUTTERS 

EST. 2016 - BRANDON, MANITOBA 

MELISSA LINDSAY: melissacox82@hotmail.com 

UPPER GRAND LONGBEARDS 

EST. 2015 - ELMIRA, ONTARIO 

ROB GIMBLET: drgimblet@tdtech.ca 

TRURO STRUTTIN GOBBLERS 

EST. 2012 - TRURO, NOVA SCOTIA 

MATT POUPART: 

matt@furandfeatheroutfitters.ca 

MONCTON CODIAC LONGBEARDS 

EST. 2012 - MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK 

KEVIN STEEVES: ksteeves11@yahoo.com 

CARLETON VICTORIA LONGBEARDS 

EST. 2012 - PERTH-ANDOVER, NEW BRUNSWICK 

TYLER NICHOLSON 

tyler_nicholson_69@hotmail.com 

SOUTH WEST LONGBEARDS 

EST. 2016 - NEW BRUNSWICK 

WAYNE TOWNSEND: loonbay@nbnet.nb.ca 

MUDDY WATER LONGBEARDS 

EST. 2015 - WINNIPEG, MANITOBA 

JANESSA BARNSDALE: jjbarnsdale@hotmail.com 

LONGUE BARBE QUÉBEC 

EST. 2017 - QUÉBEC 

NICOLA BAILLARGEON: 

nicolasbaillargeon@gmail.com 

Get chapter updates 

and take part in 

conservation. 

VISIT CWTF.CA 


ARTICLE WRITTEN BY JESSICA MATTINSON 

There was still a spring coolness in the 

evening air as our guide Jim Westcott let out an 

owl caterwaul to try and get a response from a 

roosting tom. He had no sooner finished his call 

when we heard an old tom answer back with 

a resounding gobble. Jim turned towards me 

and with a high five, he said we’d be back in the 

morning to tackle that old bird. 

Last year I was invited by the Canadian 

Wild Turkey Federation to participate in an 

annual event called the Hoot and Shoot; my first 

ever wild turkey hunt. The Hoot and Shoot is a 

co-sponsored event by CWTF and NWTF to create 

an opportunity for youth hunters to learn and 

participate in the hunting of wild turkeys. 

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, 

the day arrived where I would get the chance to 

bag my first wild turkey. On April 24th, 2014, my 

Dad and I made the six-hour trek down to Casco, 

Maine. Several other teams from Maine and 

Atlantic Canada would be there as well. 

We all stayed at Point Sebago Lodge in a 

beautiful log chalet overlooking Sebago Lake. 

We had an awesome view of one of Maine’s 

largest inland freshwater lakes. The first night 

there, everybody headed down to Buck’s Naked 

Barbecue for supper, where we got the chance 

to talk to the other hunters and meet the 

guides. The day before the youth hunt, we had 

a workshop where we learned all about hunting 

wild turkeys and luring them in with different 

types of calls and decoys. We were given our 

guides for the hunt and then all we had to do 

was wait for the morning to finally get started. 

The whole house was awake by four-thirty 

and anticipation was through the roof. My Dad 

and I went to meet our guide, Jim Westcott, 

and then we were off. Jim is not only a guide 

in central Maine, he is also instrumental in the 

rehabilitation of the turkey population. If you 

ever get to meet him, you will be able to tell he’s 

got a true passion for these birds. 


Everything kicked into high gear as the tom 

came walking out about ten feet behind her. 

My heart was beating in my throat, I’d never 

felt so excited in my life.” 

We pulled into one of Jim’s 

honey holes around six-thirty. 

After a few locator calls from 

his crow call, we could hear 

turkeys gobbling in behind us. 

They were still on the roost and 

Jim was hoping to coax them to 

us with a few soft clucks using 

his box call. Jim explained to 

me the process of the fly down 

and where he expected the 

bird to approach us. Jim also 

showed me the spot he would 

like me to take the shot; if 

given the chance. 

As the sun came up we 

heard less and less from the 

turkeys and following their “fly 

down cackle”; Jim figured these 

birds had simply walked off. 

Later that morning we decided 

to change spots because the 

turkeys weren’t responding well 

to the call. At that point, Jim 

suspected the toms had hens 

with them, which made them 

tough to call in. We did some 

scouting and found a big group 

of turkeys with a couple of nice 

toms. It was incredible how 

their heads would change from 

a bright red to almost blue or 

white. My Dad and I could not 

get over the size of some of the 

toms we spotted there; they 

were gorgeous! Jim came up 

with a strategy to enter into a 

neighboring field and attempt 

to call them in. It was; what we 

thought to be, fool proof! 

We set up in the edge 

of the adjacent property and 

started calling. He started off 

with some soft clucks, then 

what he called purrs. 


I’d like to thank the Canadian Wild Turkey 

Federation for this absolutely amazing experience” 

They were gobbling back, 

but just as it sounded like they 

were locked in on us someone 

close by fired and that was 

the last we heard from those 

turkeys. It was very exciting to 

have them start to respond to 

the calling nonetheless! 

The spot we were sitting 

was against one of the endless 

rock walls that are infamous 

throughout the New England 

states. I couldn’t help but try 

and fathom the hard work that 

must have been done by the 

settlers who had cleared their 

land and placed them there. 

We headed back to the car to 

do some more scouting and 

found another group on the 

back side of a huge orchard. 

This was one of Jim’s favourite 

locations and we were sworn 

to secrecy on this one! Jim 

led us into the edge of the 

field and we set up again. The 

turkeys were responding to us 

really well, but they didn’t seem 

to want to commit and hung 

up in their safety zone. It was 

almost dinner time and it was 

starting to rain, so we decided 

to pack it in for the day. 

That night everyone sat 

around at the house and we 

all told our hunting stories. It 

was great to hear the other 

young hunters tell their stories 

and watch the looks on their 

faces; as well as their dad’s 

faces, as they talked about the 

events that took place during 

their hunts. My Dad and I were 

going to stay a couple extra 

days to continue to hunt on 

our own following the Hoot 

and Shoot; as neither of us 

had experienced hunting these 

birds before and we weren’t 

ready to leave yet. 

Monday was the opening 

day of the general season 

across the state and we 

were up before dawn and 

off once again. All morning 

we weren’t having much 

luck. We were driving around 

looking for another spot 

when my Dad spotted this 

giant tom following a hen. We 

remembered a spot up the 

road a ways where we could 

set up and try to call him in. 

We quickly gathered our gear 

and set up in a small clearing 

not far from where we had 

spotted the birds. My Dad 

called to him and after about 

thirty minutes we still didn’t 

hear anything. We were about 

to pack up when we saw the 

hen cross the path about thirty 

feet in front of us. 

Everything kicked into high 

gear as the tom came walking 

out about ten feet behind her. 

My heart was beating in my 

throat, I’d never felt so excited 

in my life. The tom gave me a 

perfect shot. He weighed in at 

19.9 pounds and had a nine 

inch beard with one inch spurs. 

I’d like to thank the Canadian 

Wild Turkey Federation for this 

amazing experience for both 

me and my dad, and I can’t 

wait to come back and hunt 

wild turkeys in the future. 


©2017 B.O.P.

WHY GOBBLERS HANG UP & 

HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM 

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY OTHMAR VOHRINGER 

Anyone who has hunted North America’s 

most popular game bird for a season or two, had 

to learn to deal with the frustration of a big tom 

hanging up just outside the effective shooting 

range. The majority of these birds are the older 

wiser toms, the ones we hunters respectfully 

refer to as “Boss Gobblers”. They are masters at 

surviving and that makes them one of the most 

challenging game animals to hunt. In my opinion, 

shaped by my many years of observation and 

hunting turkeys, there are three main reasons 

why a tom hangs up and for each scenario 

there’s a solution. Let’s look at each and see how 

we can outsmart these Boss Gobblers. 

1. THE TOM COMES IN BUT THEN DOESN’T SEE 

WHAT HE EXPECTED TO SEE 

If a tom comes to your calling he naturally 

fully expects to see a hen. If he doesn’t he 

instantly knows that something is not quite 

right and he will hang up to check it out from 

a distance before advancing any further. A 

common mistake some hunters make is to set 

up where they can see for a long way. While it is 

nice to watch an approaching tom from a long 

distance it is worthwhile to remember that if the 

hunter can see that far then so can the gobbler. 

Turkeys know what to expect when they hear 

another turkey. Moreover, turkey ears can judge 

distance quite accurately and the location where 

the call is coming from. With that said the tom 

knows where and when he can expect so see 

what he came looking for. If he doesn’t he gets 

suspicious. Wouldn’t you if you heard someone 

calling you but didn’t see that person anywhere? 

While decoys help to give a visual stimuli to 

an approaching bird and might even fool him 

into coming a little closer it also needs to be said 

that turkeys, especially older, smarter gobblers, 

have become quite wary of seeing other turkeys 

standing motionless around in the landscape. A 

much better approach is to set up in such a way 

that the tom has to walk within shooting range 

to see where the calling is coming from. There 

are always features within the landscape that let 

you choose a set up that will force the tom to 

come close. 

One of my all times favourite features is a 

woodland or field corner. Also setting up just 

below a small crest or on the tip of a thicket will 

work just as well. Anywhere a turkey can’t see 

without approaching to within 30 to 40 yards 

to the decoys and your calling station is a good 


PHOTO CLINTON DAVIS 

spot. A few years ago I guided a hunter and 

remember that he was not very happy when I 

placed him around the corner of an overgrown 

logging road that the turkeys used as a route 

from their roosting tree to an alfalfa field. “How 

am I supposed to see when a tom comes down 

the trail”? He complained. “Trust me”. I said, “You 

will see him when he is close enough to shoot”. 

Sure enough a half hour into my first calling 

session the hunter almost grabbed his heart 

when a big tom came walking around the corner 

looking for that hen he heard a half mile away. 

Had we set up where the client wanted the tom 

would have seen from several hundred yards 

away that there was nothing where he would 

expect to see a hen. He would have stopped 

in his tracks and waited for a while and then 

probably would have walked away. Toms know 

that turkey hens are not invisible or just sit 

around motionless. 

Another tactic I often employ works very 

well with two hunters. One hunter is situated on 

the shooting set up and the second hunter who 

does the calling takes up position behind the 

first hunter about 20 yards inside the woodlot 

or similar cover. When the tom approaches the 

caller gets up and carefully walks in a straight 

line away from the approaching tom into the 

cover. Every few steps the caller stops and 

makes a few soft yelps and clucks, nothing too 

aggressive. Nothing frustrates a gobbler more 

then coming to a hen only to find that she is 

walking away from him. With this set up I had 

toms falling over themselves running after the 

hen that dared to walk away. By doing so they 

will run right in front of the gunner. Just make 

sure you have plenty of good cover available 

while employing this tactic otherwise the gobbler 

will detect you and the proverbial jig is up. 

2. THE GOBBLER IS ALREADY IN THE 

COMPANY OF HENS 

This is without a question the toughest 

situation. Coaxing a tom away from hens to 

follow another one is next to impossible. Since 

the gobbler already is in lovely company there is 

no plausible reason why he should risk loosing 

what he has by looking for another hen that 

might or might not be interested in him. You can 

produce the most enticing turkey love talk but 

the tom will not be swayed to leave his hens. 

So what do you do? Well, one of several 

tactics that has proven to work well is rather 

than calling the gobbler, call the hens. Given the 

toms jealous nature he will follow the hens. For 

this tactic a good set up and proper camouflage 

are very important because now you have not 

just one set of turkey eyes looking for you but 

two or even three turkeys looking for you. One 

suspicious move on your part and the game is 

over before it begins. Turkeys have incredible 

eyesight and it often has been said that if a 

turkey in addition to his eyesight could smell as 

well as a deer it would become unhuntable. So 

how do we call hens? Forget all about normal 

love talk now it’s chitchat time. Listen to the hen, 

and if more than one is present then listen to the 


oss hen and then match her, 

yelp for yelp, cluck for cluck. 

To be successful it is important 

that you exactly repeat every 

“word” she says, right down to 

the tone and frequency. Play 

that answering back game for 

a minute or two until you get 

her attention. Once she is onto 

you don’t wait until the hen is 

done talking: instead, be rude 

and interrupt her every time 

she is starting to talk. Nothing 

gets a hen more fired up then 

another hen cutting her off in 

mid sentence. Hens will get so 

angry that quite often they will 

come running looking for that 

disrespectful intruder and the 

tom will waddle busily after her. 

The rest is up to you to make it 

count. 

If you can’t bring the hens 

to you the next option is to 

ambush the gobbler. Put the 

calls away and observe in 

what direction the birds are 

travelling, using a good pair 

of binoculars if necessary. The 

turkeys, like all animals, have a 

natural tendency to follow the 

path of least resistance. Use this 

habit to your advantage and 

try to predict what route the 

birds are taking considering the 

terrain features. Carefully try to 

loop in a big arch around the 

birds and get ahead of them. 

Be fast but as quiet as you can 

and use every caution to stay 

undetected from the traveling 

turkeys. Set up an ambush that 

will take the turkeys past you 

and within shooting range. 

Another tactic that can also 

work very well is to rush the 

birds and scatter the flock. This 

is a very common tactic used 

during the fall season but can 

work great on spring turkeys as 

well. If you can’t get any closer 

than 70 to 100 yards, charge 

the flock, or where legal, send a 

hunting dog to scatter the flock. 

The idea is to separate the tom 

from the hens. Watch where 

the tom is flying or running and 

then following him as soon he 

is out of sight. After a while the 

gobbler will try to reunite with 

the hens or go and look for new 

company. Set up near where 

the tom settled and start calling. 

Since he lost his hens he may 

be willing to pay attention to 

your calling now. 

3. THE ACCESS TO YOUR SET 

UP IS BLOCKED 

Many hunters have 

witnessed turkeys behaving very 

strangely at times. For example, 

a turkey doesn’t really mind 

flying across a river or ravine, 

walking across a small shallow 

creek, a road or slipping under 

barbwire fences, or navigating 

through a thicket to find food 

and shelter. But no matter how 

desperate a tom is for female 

company he will rarely if ever 

cross an obstacle to follow hen 

calls. This has to do with the 

fact that male turkeys are male 

chauvinists. They will go only 

so far and then fully expect the 

female to come the rest of the 

way to them. 

One time I watched a 

gobbler strutting back and 

forth along a field edge getting 

more and more agitated as 

his head turned from a purple 

red to a dark blue and back 

to fire red again. Each time I 

called he answered with more 

anger and frustration added 

to his thundering gobbles. But 

no matter how sweet my hen 

music must have sounded to 

his ears he would not come 

one step closer and kept pacing 

back and forth along that same 

path. About a half hour into 

that game and with no result 

I eventually got tired of it and 

had to find out what made 

that bird walk back and forth. 

There was a small shallow ditch 

he could have easily crossed 

but to the tom that was an 

obstacle he was not prepared 

to cross. Nobody knows why 

toms refuse to cross barriers, or 

even perceive such obstacles as 

barriers. By nature turkeys are 

good flyers and very agile on 

their feet. As mentioned before 

turkeys are used to flying and 

sometimes for great distances 

but not when they follow a hen 

call. Like I said, they are male 

chauvinists. 

The best solution to this 

problem is to avoid having any 

sort of barriers between you 

and the turkeys. Good preseason 

scouting helps you to 

pinpoint all possible barriers. 

When hunting on short notice 

on unfamiliar land, survey your 

surroundings before setting 

up to call. But no matter how 

careful you are, if you hunt 


turkeys long enough you’ll 

eventually get into a situation 

of facing the formidable task 

of trying to call a tom across a 

barrier. If the tom refuses to 

oblige despite your best calling, 

shut up. The tom will get either 

curious about the sudden 

silence and cross the barrier 

in a last ditch effort to get to 

a hen that, to his mind, has 

lost interest in him, or in most 

cases he looses interest and 

walks away. When this happens 

watch where he walks and then 

quickly and carefully move to a 

better place ahead of him and 

on his side of the barrier and 

then begin to call him again. 

Hunting the wily turkey is 

a challenge at the best of times 

and as more hunters take to the 

woods each spring in pursuit of 

North America’s largest game 

bird it will become an even 

bigger challenge. Turkeys are 

smart and by nature also highly 

paranoid. This can mean only 

one thing - we will see more 

and more gobblers hanging 

up just outside the effective 

range of a shotgun. Yes, they 

seem to know exactly how far 

a shotgun can send a load of 

pellets, and so we have to come 

up with tactics that get us closer 

to the tom or him closer to us. 

I hope that some of the tactics 

I outlined here will help you as 

much as they have me. 


Wild Turkey Burger with Jalapeno Jack 

Cheese, Cucumber & Pickled Red Onion 

PHOTOS NICK PUJIC 

TURKEY BURGER MIX 

2LBS GROUND WILD TURKEY 

2 SHALLOTS, DICED SMALL 

3-4 TBSP FRESH SAGE CHOPPED 

3/4 CUP BREADCRUMBS 

3/4 CUP MILK 

SALT & PEPPER TO TASTE 

PICKLED RED ONIONS 

4 MEDIUM SIZED RED ONIONS 

1 CUP CIDER VINEGAR 

3 TBPS BROWN SUGAR 

1 TSP SALT 

1 TSP WHOLE BLACK PEPPERCORN 

EXTRA WATER FOR BLANCHING 


BURGER MIX 

First mix the breadcrumbs 

and milk together and soak 

for at least 10-15 minutes. 

This ensures the breadcrumbs 

swell while absorbing the milk, 

making a more tender burger. 

Dice up the shallots and 

cook in a frying pan until 

they begin to caramelize then 

allow to cool. Mix together the 

ground turkey, breadcrumbs, 

milk, shallots, garlic, sage and 

season with salt and pepper. 

Cook your burgers on the 

BBQ or in a frying pan making 

sure they are fully cooked 

(165°F) before you add the 

cheese for melting. 

Enjoy on your favourite 

bun topped with cucumber, 

pickled onion and leaf lettuce. 

Any extra burgers can 

be placed in Ziploc bags and 

frozen to be enjoyed later. 

PICKLED 

RED ONIONS 

Bring the blanching water 

to a boil then add the red 

onions and simmer for 1-2 

minutes. Drain off the water, 

then pour the marinade 

ingredients over the warm 

onions. Set aside at room 

temperature for 2 hours. 

Pickled onions may 

be used the same day or 

refrigerated for 2 weeks. 

RECIPE BY STEVE NICHOLSON

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY STEVE SAVAGE 

When I was asked to write an article about 

the art of call making, I had to let out a little 

chuckle. Thinking back decades to the first calls 

I’d made and the materials I used, it was far 

from being art. Out of necessity (I’d lose and 

break so many calls) I started making calls, if you 

could call them that. I made trough calls out of 

paint paddles and flattened copper tubing, dip 

cans and butter bowls with slate and aluminum 

discs crudely glued on, tinker toy sticks and 

wingbones for strikers. Heck, I even made a call 

out of a business card holder! They were effective 

but ugly. You see at this time in my life I was 

consumed with the “disease” as my good friend 

Dean Redbeard Mundhenke calls it. The disease 

of turkey hunting. Every spring I was in the woods 

at least 5 mornings a week, work or not, and 

the crude calls I made were mere tools with no 

meaning other than helping me get closer to my 

goal of a limit of gobblers. Little did I know that 

those crude calls were the beginning of another 

symptom of my turkey hunting disease. 

Not long after this time I started making 

boxes and scratch boxes, and my feeling for 

what a call should be was changing. I found 

great satisfaction in taking the time to make the 

calls sound and look good, and even greater 

satisfaction when they started pulling gobblers 

in. In fact, that’s all it took. Now, if I wasn’t turkey 

hunting I was making calls and experimenting 

with new designs. Yes sir, I had done found a 

way to extend my passion for turkey hunting to 

312 days a year. Sunday and Christmas, I’m not 

allowed to say, play, call, build, hunt, or even look 

at a turkey! Yes, I’m married. 

I’m a box call maker, that’s what I know. 

I had no wood working experience when I 

started and by some miracle I still have most of 

my fingers. Being bull headed and self taught 

I learned through trial and error about what it 

takes to make a box call work. So many things 

can change the sound, pitch, and rollover (high 

to low pitch of a yelp) on a box. The soundboard 

or soundboards (one sider or double sider) on a 


ox are rubbed by a hinged lid causing friction 

which causes a vibration or noise. The thickness, 

length, and height of the sound boards changes 

the sound. The size of the sound chamber 

(the inside of the box) changes the sound. 

The thickness and length of the lid changes 

the sound. The lids are arched on the contact 

side, this is where some of the roll over comes 

from. It also comes from a slight arch on the 

soundboard. So, changing the arch on either one 

changes the sound. The lid is held on by a screw 

with a spring between the box and lid. The pivot 

or angle of the lid contacting the soundboard 

and the tension of the spring can also change 

the sound! Oh yeah, all the different woods have 

different densities, so when you change woods it 

can change everything. I wonder if I hadn’t been 

lucky on my first box what I’d be doing now. 

My Father-in-law used to have a saying, “a 

farmer can’t count his time son, his reward is in 

the satisfaction of what he’s doing”. Well, that 

applies perfectly to call making. The countless 

hours spent carving, wood burning, painting, 

inlaying, laminating, tuning, sanding, applying 

finish, etc. will never be accurately compensated 

with money. The reward comes when you get a 

message from a hunter you just made a call for, 

and he’s telling you how he called that gobbler in 

from two counties over, made 

him fly across the river and 

he was in at full strut so fast 

there was sparks shoot’n off 

his wing tips. 

There is another reward 

also. With this new invention 

of the Internet and what 

they call social media I have 

been able to do call trades 

with some of the finest call 

makers and craftsman in 

the turkey world! I’ve got 

boxes from Neal Impson and 

Preacherman Game Calls, 

Wingbones from Uncle Pete, 

Kevin Lynch, Lee Bowles, 

Kevin Rouse, John Morton, Ron Jordan, Shawn 

Irish, and the master Andy Snair! Can you tell I 

like wingbones? Over 30 pot calls including one 

from the Madhatter Dean Redbeard Mundhenke. 

I believe I have enough calls now to last 8 or 10 

years... maybe. 

In conclusion, there is an art to call making, 

but I dare say it can be explained. It’s a passion 

for all things Turkey, and that passion flows thru 

the mind, eyes, ears, and hands of the call maker 

to create masterpieces of turkey lore that can be 

handed down for generations. 


PHOTO BACKROADS WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY 


Have you ever been asked, “Why do you 

hunt”? That’s a hard question to give a simple 

answer to, isn’t it? Usually people ask us this 

because they don’t understand why we would 

take joy from killing. The reflections in this 

article are meant to share with you some of 

the things I’ve learned from my time in the 

woods that have nothing to do with the death 

of an animal. I believe that as ambassadors 

for hunting, we really need to dig deep into 

ourselves and have that answer as it relates to 

us, and why we’ve chosen the role of a hunter in 

our outdoor lifestyle. 

As I get older, my hunting trips take on a 

whole new meaning to me. There was a time 

when I measured the success of a hunt by what 

I brought home in the back of the truck. Don’t 

get me wrong - I think we all agree that there is 

no feeling like when we target an animal and are 

successful on our quest to harvest it. However; 

there are many more definitions for a successful 

hunt when we truly examine our motives for 

being out in the field. 

I find myself taking more joy from the time 

spent in the outdoors, than with the prospect of 

“bagging a bird”. Things I never used to notice 

are now becoming much clearer to me, as I take 

the time to actually enjoy the experience instead 

of going into the woods with my shooting 

blinders on. That magical time of day when the 

sun has not yet crested the horizon, but you 

know it’s coming holds me in an almost trancelike 

state. It’s in that time when I get to see the 

creatures of the night heading to their bedding 

areas and a whole variety of other critters 

greeting the day. They silently pass each other 

as if I am witnessing a shift change at a factory. 

Like workers quietly nodding at each other 

indicating that it’s their turn to go to work. 

Taking the time to immerse ourselves in our 


surroundings actually makes us 

better hunters as well. When 

we are paying attention, we see 

all kinds of signs and signals 

the animals leave us which are 

lost on us when we only focus 

on making the shot. I have 

learned so much about animal 

behaviour by simply watching 

the animals. Now I realize why 

I blew it on hunting trips in the 

past, as I was not watching the 

clues that were being left all 

around me. 

Having been a hunter for 

over thirty years now, I quietly 

reflect on different things 

when I sit in a blind today. I 

reminisce about those first 

hunts as a boy, the people who 

taught me what I know now 

and my thankfulness that they 

took the time to introduce me 

to the sport I love so much. I 

think about my kids and how 

I am trying to model the best 

example for them and I look 

forward to the day when I 

can take my grandkids - who 

aren’t even born yet - on 

their first hunting and fishing 

adventures. 

I have come to a point 

where I do feel satisfaction 

from a hunt where I harvest 

an animal, but have developed 

a love of those same animals 

that I pursue. After decades 

of sharing their environment 

I’ve learned just how amazing 

they are. In fact, as I mature 

as a hunter I want to do more 

to enhance wildlife habitat and 

to ensure that these incredible 

creatures of the wild thrive. 


The true hunter is committed 

to seeing more animals born 

than harvested. This is the 

paradox of the hunter. That’s 

why it is so difficult to explain 

to someone when they ask 

“Why do you hunt?” 

PHOTO BACKROADS WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY 

So, after many years of thought on the subject, I have a simple 

answer when I am asked that question. When someone wants to 

know my motives for hunting my reply is, “The more time I spend 

hunting and learning about nature, the more I learn about who I 

am. More importantly, the man, the father, the husband that I want 

to be. If I never harvest another animal, I will still hunt for the rest 

of my days. The lessons I learn about life are far too valuable to 

stop.” That’s my answer, what’s yours? 


ARTICLE WRITTEN BY JEFF HELSDON 

My anticipation was running high as we 

drove south in the mountains in the pre-dawn 

blackness with Kevin Jacks in quest of a British 

Columbia Merriam’s turkey. 

British Columbia is the only Canadian 

province with a non-resident season for 

Merriam’s turkeys. I was there to attempt a 

Canadian slam, which is harvesting the two 

subspecies of turkeys found in Canada, Easterns 

and Merriam’s. I already harvested two Eastern 

Turkeys in Ontario a year earlier and chose the 

largest as the other half of my slam. 

To turkey hunters, a grand slam is 

harvesting the four subspecies of turkeys found 

in Canada and the United States – Eastern, 

Merriam’s, Rio Grandes and Osceolas. The 

Canadian slam is a more recent addition to the 

five different slam types that can be earned. 

Slam records are managed by the National Wild 

Turkey Federation and one of the neat things 

about a Canadian slam is few people have ever 

completed one. In fact, mine, completed in 2009, 

was only the second one. 

There aren’t too many hunting records out 

there that a hunter can claim to be one of the 

first to complete. There are still less than 10 

people who have registered a Canadian slam. 

After deciding to try for my Canadian slam, 

I contacted Rob Bishop, chairman of the former 

Cranbrook, BC, NWTF chapter. He agreed to help 

me out and was on the road ahead of us in the 

darkness headed towards Creston, where we 

were going to hunt. 

Scouting the day before I‘d seen an 

incredible number of deer and elk, actually more 

than I’d ever seen even in the western national 

parks. I didn’t see any turkeys though. 

Bishop had some of his committee members 

helping me out on my mission and one had a 

friend, Dennis Pal, who lived near Creston, where 

turkeys were regularly seen. We left Cranbrook 

early and the blacks and blues of night were just 


A Canadian Slam is harvesting 

the two subspecies of turkeys 

found in Canada, Easterns 

and Merriam’s.” 

starting to turn into shades of yellow and red that 

signaled daylight wasn’t far off when we arrived 

at Creston. 

Waiting for Pal, we heard the gobbling start. 

We didn’t have too far to travel to a spot partway 

up the mountain where he had a blind set up 

in the red cedars. Behind us were the Purcell 

Mountains, with the peaks still tipped in snow. 

The first bird we heard was to my left. 

Another bird to my right started gobbling, and 

this one was much closer. Pal scratched out a few 

yelps on his slate call. The gobbler answered. I 

added a few of my own on a box call, to be cut 

off again. I heard Merriam’s have a reputation to 

be more vocal than eastern turkeys and these 

birds were proving that true. The bird kept 

answering our calls as it moved closer. 

Then we heard hens yelping. Still the gobbler 

continued to move closer. At one point the bird 

sounded like it was directly behind us, spitting 

and drumming. I only had about 15 yards of 

visibility behind me and couldn’t see it. 

That bird faded away, but gobbling 

continued all around us for an hour. Then, about 

7:30 a.m. we heard a lot of gobbling in front of 

us. Unknown to us until we heard a gun shot, 

there was another hunter in the woods a few 

hundred yards off. Before the report of the shot 


had ceased to echo, a hen ran 

by, coming from the last area 

we heard gobbling. A couple of 

deer went bounding in front of 

us, followed by another hen. 

Then, a third followed about 25 

yards out. 

“It’s got a beard, shoot.” 

Dennis whispered. Seated a 

little lower, I didn’t see the 

bird quite as clearly, but 

swung in front and shot. I 

ended up with a Merriam’s 

gobbler, with an 8.5-inch 

beard and spurs just shy of 

an inch long. 

During breakfast, 

afterwards and on the drive 

back, I talked to Rob about his 

frustrations with the provincial 

government in regards to 

turkey management. Currently 

there isn’t a turkey tag system 

in BC, something Bishop has 

lobbied for. He has difficulty 

even getting the government 

to recognize turkeys as a game 

species. Although the NWTF 

has offered to run a trap and 

transfer program, they have 

been denied permission and 

were told the birds weren’t 

indigenous. “We have the 

training, traps and the money to 

do it.” Rob said. 

I’ve often heard Ontario 

hunters grumbling about turkey 

management here. I learned the 

BC situation is much worse and 

perhaps we should appreciate 

what we have. 

SEASON AND LICENSE 

British Columbia’s spring 

turkey season is April 15 to May 

15, with a one-bird limit. Ontario 

hunters need a non-resident 

Canadian hunting permit ($75) 

and an upland bird hunting 

permit ($50). 

REGISTERING A SLAM 

To register turkeys with 

the National Wild Turkey 

Federation, a hunter must be 

a member. Ontario hunters 

wanting to count an eastern 

towards a Canadian slam can 

simply register a turkey they 

have previously harvested as 

there is not a time limit on 


“I’ve often heard Ontario hunters grumbling 

about turkey management here. I learned the BC 

situation is much worse and perhaps we should 

appreciate what we have.” 

registering. After harvesting 

a turkey in British Columbia, 

ensure you record weight, spur 

length and beard length. With 

both birds, you need another 

NWTF member to sign the form 

as a witness. 

HUNTING TURKEYS IN 

BRITISH COLUMBIA 

Turkeys inhabit the lower 

mainland portion of British 

Columbia between the Alberta 

border and Okanagan valley. 

Birds are mostly found in the 

valleys and foothills. There is 

lots of Crown land in British 

Columbia where turkeys are 

found and Bishop said getting 

permission to hunt turkeys 

on private land shouldn’t be 

an obstacle. Hunting with an 

outfitter is another option. 

EASTERN 

DON’T FORGET OUR 

REGISTRY 

Ontario hunters can 

also register Ontario turkeys 

through the Ontario Wild 

Turkey Registry. This is a good 

way to keep track of your birds 

and then when an Ontario bird 

is needed for a Canadian slam 

you have all the information. 

MERRIAM’S 


ARTICLE WRITTEN BY TADEUSZ B. SPLAWINSKI, PH.D. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, 

widespread unregulated hunting and habitat 

loss led to a steep decline in wild turkey 

populations, reaching critical lows across much 

of North America (McRoberts et al. 2014; MFFP 

2016a) including its extirpation in southern 

Québec and Ontario (Government of Canada 

2014). Due to improved wildlife management 

and restoration activities such as stocking 

Current population distribution of wild turkeys in Québec 

(in blue). Source: MFFP 2016a. Photo: Screen capture. 

and relocation programs, populations have 

significantly increased across its historical 

range (Government of Canada 2014; MFFP 

2016a). As of 2012, the status of the species was 

listed as “Least Concern” by the International 

Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 

and as “Secure” by Wildspecies 2010 (Canada) 

(Government of Canada 2014). 

In the province of Québec, ornithologists 

first reported the presence of Eastern wild 

turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) in 1976, 

one of the five sub-species found in North 

America (Robert et Bannon 1995; MFFP 2016a). 

These observations coincide with its northward 

expansion from Ontario, New York, and 

Vermont, driven in part due to milder winters 

and an increase in suitable habitat (Blanchette et 

Landry 2015; MFFP 2016a). Over the last several 

decades, populations have steadily increased in 

the province. 40 strategic relocation programs 

carried out between 2003 and 2013 involving 

more than 600 captured wild turkeys helped 

boost numbers and expand their range even 

further (MFFP 2016a). 


REGULATED HUNTING 

Between 2005 and 2007, 

an experimental and highly 

restricted spring wild turkey 

hunt was initiated by the 

MFFP (Ministère des Forêts, 

de la Faune et des Parcs) in 

the Montreal region (zone 

8 south). Its goal was to help 

assess the population of wild 

turkeys and to determine the 

potential impact of hunting 

on bird numbers (MFFP 

2016a). The insight gained 

from this trial program led 

to the establishment of a 

regular hunting season in the 

spring of 2008 (Blanchette et 

Landry 2015; MFFP 2016a). 

Since then the popularity of 

this activity has increased 

dramatically, with a record 

14,266 permits purchased and 

5,884 birds harvested in 2016. 

The success rate (at least one 

bird harvested per hunter) was 

recorded at 31%, one of the 

highest observed rates in the 

northeast. Additionally, 10.2% 

of hunters were able to harvest 

a second bird, a record high 

since the introduction of this 

regulation in specific hunting 

zones in 2014. Currently, the 

annual economic contribution 

of this activity is estimated at 

over $ 5 million (MFFP 2016b). 

PROUD 

SPONSOR 

We offer: 

Pens 

Wearables 

Keychains 

Drinkware 

Bags 

Magnets 

And so much more! 

Annual number of permits sold and wild turkeys 

harvested in Québec between 2008 and 2016. 

Source: MFFP 2016b. 

(902) 

897.7982 


GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES 

The MFFP has launched a wild turkey management plan 

for 2016-2023 in order to ensure a viable future population 

and continued natural expansion of the species. The plan is 

comprised of four broad objectives: species management, species 

sustainability, increased hunting popularity, and coexistence with 

wildlife (MFFP 2016a). Additionally, the provincial government 

has spearheaded the development of spatial statistical models 

aimed at predicting the probability of presence of wild turkeys in 

southern Québec. When implemented, such an approach would 

allow biologists and wildlife managers to anticipate territory use 

by wild turkeys in zones where they are already present, and in 

zones not yet occupied (Blanchette et Landry 2015). 

CONCLUSION 

The future appears very bright for wild turkeys in Québec. 

The continued implementation and improvement of sustainable 

wildlife management practices by the MFFP will help ensure a 

healthy population, which in turn will enhance the provinces rich 

natural history and contribute to the economic prosperity of many 

local communities. It will also secure the ongoing pursuit of this 

prized game bird by passionate hunters, thus preserving a timehonored 

Canadian tradition. 

GET YOUR 

DIGITAL 

MAGAZINE 

CWTF.CA 


REFERENCES: 

Blanchette, P., et Landry, F. 2015. Modèle de répartition spatiale 

du dindon sauvage au Québec: présentation d’une méthode et de 

son application, Direction de la faune terrestre et de l’avifaune, 

Direction générale de l’expertise sur la faune et ses habitats, 

Secteur de la faune et des Parcs, ministère des Forêts, de la Faune 

et des Parcs, 58 p. 

Government of Canada. 2014. Status of birds in Canada - wild turkey. 

Accessed January 3, 2017, from: 

http://www.ec.gc.ca/soc-sbc/oiseau-bird-eng.aspx?sY=2014&sL=e& 

sM=p1&sB=WITU 

McRoberts, J.T., Wallace, M.C., and Eaton, S.W. 2014. Wild Turkey 

(Meleagris gallopavo), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, 

Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. 

Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP). 2016a. 

Plan de gestion du dindon sauvage au Québec 2016-2023. 

Gouvernement du Québec, 16 p. 

Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP). 2016b. Bilan 

de la chasse au dindon sauvage 2016. Gouvernement du Québec, 

4 p. 

Robert, M., et Bannon, P. 1995. Dindon sauvage. Page 1295 dans 

J. Gauthier et Y. Aubry, éditeurs. Les oiseaux nicheurs du Québec 

: Atlas des oiseaux nicheurs du Québec méridional. Association 

québécoise des groupes d’ornithologues, Société québécoise 

de protection des oiseaux, Service canadien de la faune, 

Environnement Canada, région du Québec, Montréal. 


PHOTO CHRIS PALMER 

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY MARIO BERTRAND 

Entering the spring turkey woods for the 

first time is an exciting experience for a new 

hunter; now add the thundering gobble of a boss 

tom sounding off at day break. It’s a sound that 

will send adrenalin racing through your veins 

and just like that, you are hooked for life. 

Success starts long before you sit down and 

fire that first call on opening day. I have been 

hunting turkeys in our great province since the 

early 90’s, but if we were to look at my photo 

album you would see my success as a turkey 

hunter did not start until well into the late 90’s. 

This was surly not from a lack of trying, more of 

a lack of not knowing what to look for or what 

to do with it when I found it. I could probably 

write a small novel about what I have seen and 

learned over my turkey hunting career, but for 

now I would like to provide you with insight I 

wish I had in the early years. Hopefully this will 

bring you some early success. 

GETTING STARTED 

WELCOME TO THE CLUB 

As a past Guide and long time Pro Staffer 

for Gobble Stalker Turkey Calls, I have met and 

spoke with hundreds of people over the years. 

I get asked many questions related to turkey 

calling; “What is the best turkey sound to make?”, 

“How often should I call?” These are all great 

questions, but in my opinion calling is only a 

small part of being a successful turkey hunter. 

Before you can ever think about chasing 

that elusive long beard, first you need to locate 

a parcel of land that has a few of the right 

elements and holds a small population of birds. 

It’s hard to hunt what you don’t have, so this is 

where we are going to start. 

To achieve this, you may need to knock on a 

number of doors to get permission to hunt and 

with a little luck this shouldn’t be a big project. 

If you find yourself struggling with this, there 

are a number of crown lands parcels and public 

forests around the province that hold good 


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ird populations, but keep in 

mind it also holds large hunter 

populations as well. Always 

keep safety in mind when 

entering into public hunting 

areas. Everyone needs to get 

home to tell the great stories 

after each turkey hunt. Some 

new turkey hunters choose 

to cut their teeth in the sport 

by contacting any number 

of the good guides located 

throughout the province. 

QUICK TIP When determining 

where to start looking, I have 

found that working cattle farms 

are great to target. Be on the 

lookout for freshly turned over, 

dried out cow patties. 

LAY OF THE LAND 

Now that the hardest part 

is taken care of let’s get onto 

the good stuff! The first time 

setting foot on a new turkey 

property is almost as exciting 

to me as the opening day. I 

look at it this way, being able 

to see the battle ground well 

before the battle. 

The modern day computer 

and Google Earth can save a 

little leg work. It allows you to 

see the lay of the land and rule 

out areas you will not need to 

scout, allowing your time to be 

better spent in key areas. Of 

course this does not replace 

the need to put on your boots 

and hit the ground walking and 

investigating these properties. 

During these scouting missions, 

you are looking for a number 

of things; the lay of the land 

from a ground perspective, 

where are good roosting trees, 

how hilly is the terrain, what is 

the food source, is there easy 

access to roads or trails, and is 

there any page wire or cedar 

rail fences. Trust me, fences 

are to a turkey hunter, like 

kryptonite is to Superman. 

Take note of other land 

features that might stop an 

advancing gobbler, such as 

ponds and creeks or very thick 

brushy zones. Much like deer, 

the turkeys will take advantage 

of the path of least resistance 

and they prefer to walk tractor 

paths or logging roads when 

responding to your call. This 

makes gate entries to fields or 

woods a great ambush spot. 

PRIMARY LOCATION 

During your scouting, 

look for a primary set up spot 

otherwise known as Plan A. 

This will be your primary early 

morning setup to attempt to 

call in the big gobbler. Plans 

will vary from hunter to hunter, 

depending on your individual 

hunting style. Some hunters 

prefer to setup under or near 

the roost for the fly down, but 

that requires an early start. 

On the other hand, some like 

to setup on the edge of a food 

source, drawing in birds as 

they enter the field looking for 

hens. 

Myself, I prefer to 

setup well away from both, 

attempting to call to toms 

and bring them back into 

the woods as they make the 

transition from roost to early 

morning fields. The advantage 

of being in the woods, forces 

the boss Hen or gobblers to 

search for me, reducing the 

likelihood of a “hung up” bird. 

There is a bonus to this setup. 

If you are unsuccessful in 

cutting them off on the way to 

the fields early, as the morning 

goes on, sub-dominant and 

satellite gobblers that have 

been chased off by the boss 

gobbler start to disperse in 

search of other hens. 

“WHAT IF SPOT” 

LOCATION 

When scouting, I am 

constantly looking for that 

“what if spot”. I look at it like 

this; if I were to call right here 

right now and have a gobbler 

hammer back nearby, where 

would my setup be? If you 

don’t have a plan when this 

happens, you will find yourself 

bobbing and weaving looking 

for place to hide, which never 

works, trust me! If I find a good 


setup location, I will take a 

few minutes to prep the spot 

by clearing shooting lanes or 

adding some brush for cover. 

If I think this area may present 

a Plan A setup morning or 

afternoon I will place a pop up 

blind in that location. 

Now, add this spot to your 

memory bank to use if the 

situation arises. I use my “what 

if spots” a lot, over the course 

of the season, when looking 

for mid-day birds as they move 

around in search of hens. Why 

all this prep you ask? The 

benefit to pre-planning your 

locations is that at any time of 

day you can walk into one of 

your turkey woods, fire a crow 

locator call or hammer out the 

cutting sounds of an excited 

hen and when that boss tom 

thunders back, like a ping on a 

GPS you can instantly pinpoint 

his position and know how to 

make your approach. 

TAKING INVENTORY 

for the coming season. This 

also gives me the opportunity 

to locate target birds from the 

season prior. 

If time and weather 

permit, I try to beat the early 

dawn and be on each of my 

properties at least once in the 

weeks leading up to the season 

opener. I want to hear the early 

morning gobble well before 

the fly down. This tells me two 

things: the location the birds 

have chosen to roost, and how 

many possible gobblers I have. 

Take advantage of the low light 

as well on these mornings, 

to work your way close to 

the gobblers as they sound 

off giving up their location. 

After you get into position 

to watch the fly down, take 

inventory of that particular 

flock. I make sure to never 

get too close as I watch for 

the direction the birds take as 

they leave the roosting area. 

This is the number one piece 

of information you use when 

setting your PLAN A location. 

As the dawn begins to 

break the horizon earlier and 

earlier each day, turkey hunters 

everywhere, including me, 

become increasingly excited 

about opening day - hoping all 

their hard work will allow them 

to wrap a tag around the leg of 

that spring gobbler. Regardless 

of the outcome of any turkey 

season, every year I take home 

memories of the gobbles that 

answered my lovesick hen calls, 

the cutting battles with those 

vocal boss hens, and most of 

all the memories afield with 

family and friends. 

As we roll into the first 

couple weeks of April, most 

birds should have broke from 

the big flocks and reached the 

spring breeding and nest areas 

from their winter yards. 

With more and more birds 

now frequenting the open 

fields, this allows me to glass 

birds from the truck as the 

bachelor groups start to mesh 

with the groups of hens - so 

exciting! This is my favorite 

scouting time and allows me 

to take inventory of my birds 


WOMEN LIKE US 

CWTF’s Women Like Us programs will 

give opportunity to like minded women 

in the sport of hunting and fishing. They 

will be encouraged and educated by 

experienced outreach mentors of the 

CWTF, through our many programs and 

sponsored events. 

“Through the WLU program I got 

to go on my first turkey hunt 

with my friend Melissa. I bagged 

a bird, but sitting in the blind 

listening to the gobbles as the 

sun came up is what really got 

me hooked. Thanks CWTF!” 

CHRISTINE FLEET - CWTF MEMBER 

KIDS LIKE US 

CWTF’s Kids Like Us programs are 

gaining momentum quite fast across 

Canada. The many sponsored events such 

as the Hoot and Shoot and the Tree Rat 

Classic have many of our youth members 

going out and enjoying the great 

outdoors. 

“When I went turkey hunting with 

the HOOT & SHOOT - l’ve never 

had so much fun. I never felt so 

happy until that day. Turkey or 

no turkey the whole experience 

was my #1 memory and I went to 

Disneyland!” 

KIRK SHEBIB - AGE 10 


TRAP AND RELEASE 

The CWTF chapters in Manitoba have had 

the opportunity to take part in multiple trap 

and transfer releases, organized by Manitoba 

Sustainable Development and local Game and 

Fish Clubs. Nuisance Wild Turkeys are trapped 

either from a town or farmer’s property, and 

relocated into areas where the populations 

will thrive and spread out in the proper 

habitat. Avoiding population demise, property 

damage and human-animal conflict. 

CWTF chapters The Muddy Water 

Longbeards (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and The 

Southwest Strutters (Brandon, Manitoba) are 

excited to further involve themselves in the 

program by assisting with costs and volunteer 

time. They are working to host a fundraising 

event for animal grade transfer boxes to 

support the sustainable development of Wild 

Turkey populations. 

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2015-09-02 8:22 PM

CWTF 2017 Inaugural Member's Edition Magazine

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