Snowball turkeys safe until next spring

                                                                                                                                                                                 Photo by Barry Wallace

Pictured above is part of a group of 30 Wild Turkeys my wife and I spotted on Boxing Day, just east of the hamlet of Snowball, at the Aurora Sideroad and Dufferin Street.   They appeared to be gleaning post-harvest, remnant grain seeds in a farm field, close to nearby woods.   King Township is part of Ontario hunting zone 78C, which also includes Aurora, Newmarket, Whitchurch-Stouffville and northern Richmond Hill (Oak Ridges/Wilcox Lake).   The spring season in zone 78c lasted for 37 days in 2014, between April 25 and May 31.   The fall season lasted only 13 days, between October 14 and 26.   Last year, in zone 78c, 8,272 turkeys were reported taken in the spring season, while 240 turkeys were taken in the fall season.   The spring season allowed a maximum of two birds to be taken and just one bird in the fall season.   It really doesn't show in the photo above, but these lucky survivor birds looked sleek, handsome and healthy, as they warily strutted about. 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace