Birds and harsh winters?
 

I live in Southern Ontario but I have family in the North Bay area and I do some partridge, bear, deer, and moose hunting there. I was speaking with some family who said a neighbour heard a gobble one morning behind thier house in the bush for the first time ever. It got us talking about the re-introduction of turkey around more northern areas of Ontario and whether there has been or will be any success with this.

We got thinking that there is areas south of North bay that actually experience some pretty harsh winter conditions, particularily with snow accumulation and yet have open seasons with good turkey populations. Any body in any areas like this have experience with how turkeys do in harsh winter conditions? What is your guess on the eventual opening of hunts in more Northern areas?

I was thinking that natural predators may be a larger factor than weather. There is a lot more fishers, wolves, martins, etc etc than we have in our farm areas of Southern Ontario that would probably have a lot of fun with turkey nests, poults, and even mature birds.

RE: Birds and harsh winters?
 

OE, The boys in the Freach River area, released birds a number of years back , that population has climbed over the years. I just taked to one of the fello's behind that release last Fall in Toronto, and he had told me the birds are doing very well. I've seen places in the US with just as bad of Winters and still have a huntable population. I'm sure in time there will be a hunt in the North Bay Areas...BT

RE: Birds and harsh winters?
 

I live in the northern part of WI.The birds here have been expanding their range to the north every year.They also released some on the south shore of lake superior this winter.