That was it for excitement that day . We met Adrian back at the ranch to get ready for the next day when he would hunt with us . He has exclusive permission to hunt on local farm land in return for helping farmers control varmint populations .
He wanted me to use his new Benelli Nova 20-gauge shotgun with full camo and a great Pure Gold turkey choke . He stressed the importance of getting a great pattern up to 45 yards ; this gun was a rock star for patterns but , as I learned , it gave quite a kick .
The following morning Adrian , Bob and I set out in total darkness to get to the good spots before the turkeys flew down from the roost . Although Adrian isn ’ t tall , he walks like he has six-foot legs and we had quite the time just keeping up . When he did stop , he told us to “ sit with your backs against those trees .”
As daylight was just starting to lighten the sky , he started to call . After a few minutes , from the tree right above us , a turkey flew down and landed less than 10 yards away . But Adrian said “ Don ’ t shoot , we didn ’ t really call that one in .” It was just luck and he wanted us to see one come to the call . Amazing . We had just started hunting , we ’ d seen a turkey up close , but no shots fired .
So we got up , and Adrian was moving again on his half-walk , half-run gait , with me wondering how long I could keep up the pace . We ’ d enter a field , listen to him call , nothing would happen , and off we ’ d go again . Finally there was a response . Adrian ran across the field , with us pulling up the rear , and told us to sit down and sit still .
We heard gobble gobble gobble off in the distance and Adrian said , “ Let ’ s go , he ’ s three hills back , but we can close the distance .”
So , over one hill , two hills , then sit . Adrian called and the response was so close the sound seemed to rattle the bush . I was first up as Adrian nodded , went ahead , and called again and the turkey exploded with sound even louder .
Adrian hissed , “ There he is shoot , shoot ,” but I couldn ’ t see what he saw . I gave him a bulging-eyed look that said , “ shoot at what ?” and Adrian realized my angle was bad , and called one last time . The turkey came over the crest and BANG , I got him .
As Adrian went to retrieve the turkey , all I could see was a blur . Yes , I got the turkey , but the 20-gauge got me , right in the eyebrow and nose . It made my eyes water so bad I couldn ’ t see my first turkey , but luckily after a few minutes they cleared up . Later that day Bob and Adrian went out alone and got one for Bob . All in all , a fantastic road trip for two novices . It left us thinking about turkey dinner : juicy with a slight nutty flavour , all dark meat .
LESSONS LEARNED
Sit still and if you want to look , move your eyes not your head , arms or body . Lesson two , know how hard your gun is going to kick .
Lesson three , a little bit of talking , like when Adrian said “ shoot ,” is a lot less disturbing to a turkey than movement .
Adrian was careful to point out that “ run and gun hunting ” for turkeys like this is effective but can be dangerous if there are other hunters around . But on these lands , he was the only person allowed to hunt or lead a hunt .
Full spring bear hunt returns to Ontario
PILOT PROJECT EXTENDED 5 YEARS TO INCLUDE ALL WMU ’ S
By Jeff Morrison
On Feb . 19 the Ontario government announced that all 88 Wildlife Management Units ( WMU ) in the province would have the spring bear season reinstated . The new five-year spring hunt , miroring the long standing fall hunt , will be in place until 2020 . Back in 2014 , the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry pilot project brought a revived spring bear hunt to eight WMUs up north .
Hunters take note that , as with the fall bear hunt , it is still illegal to hunt black bear cubs or females with cubs in Ontario . Licensed hunters will be permitted to harvest one bear per calendar year in either fall or spring seasons . Licensed nonresident hunters are allowed to participate in the newly introduced spring hunt as well .
The Ontario spring bear hunt was abolished in 1999 by the Mike Harris government , much to the chagrin of lodge owners and hunters alike . Now , 17 years later , hunters will again have the option of pursuing the elusive Ursus americanus in either spring or fall , at least for the next five years .
More info at https :// news . ontario . ca / mnr / en / 2016 / 02 / ontario-to-expand-blackbear-hunting-pilot . html
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