As of this month, the National Wild Turkey Federation will no longer have a presence in Canada. After many years raising awareness for the Eastern Wild Turkey, an indigenous species which basically became extinct in Ontario, the NWTF will no longer be supporting conservation efforts north of "their" border.

On January the 3rd, the board of directors in Edgefield South Carolina, in a 12 to 6 decision, voted to indefinitely suspend operations in Canada.

Over the past few decades the NWTF has done some wonderful work in Canada, especially Ontario. By the early decades of the 20th century the Eastern Wild Turkey was extinct in Ontario. Over hunting, agriculture and early urban sprawl eradicated the turkey population. But, through the efforts of the OFAH, the MNR and predominantly the NWTF, the Eastern Wild Turkey has returned and now has a very healthy population. Conservative estimates put the birds' numbers at 75,000. In some places the bird is actually a nuisance!

 

 

Maybe the NWTF has served its purpose in Ontario. The turkeys are back and there is an awareness of their environment. Turkey enthusiasts and hunters are contributing in more ways to society and the turkey's habitat. 

My involvement with the NWTF came about as so many others did. I was looking for folks that would help me get out and find turkeys! I found far more than turkeys though! I found friendship and camaraderie. 

I joined the Durham Region Chapter after a few emails and a group meeting attended by the NWTF regional director. It was a great evening! 

Over the next three years, the Durham chapter of the NWTF held annual banquettes, events at local gun ranges and sportsman shows; these included young people's shoots and calling contests. Most importantly of all though, over the past three years the group has donated more than three-thousand pounds of store bought frozen turkeys to the local food bank!

    

This decision though, to suspend operations in Canada, troubles me on a number of levels.

Two very respectable gentlemen have lost their jobs. Scores of volunteers who dedicated many hours of their spare time have been made to feel their efforts were not worthwhile. Canadian hunters, our conservation efforts and endeavours to better the environment and our standing within society in general, do not seem to be of enough importance to our neighbours to the south. 

Whether this decision was made because of economics, or my fear, for cultural reasons, I do not support it. But, the decision has been made. 

My dilemma though: which group do I dedicate my time and effort to now? I have a few in mind. I'm looking for suggestions though, I'm looking to be wooed! I'm looking for a group that is close knit, socially conscious and loves to hunt and fish! I hate politics! I love open mindedness, compassion and having a good time! Wait, I'm not looking for dating sites! I'm looking for a conservation, hunting, angling group, with a social conscience!

Ideas, folks, let's hear them! 

I will always be thankful for the NWTF! They have done wonders in the rehabilitation of turkey habitat, the population of the bird and for the education of the public in regards to the Eastern Wild Turkey. 

Most of all though, I will always be in debt to the NWTF for the friendships I have made since I joined! 

You all know who you are!

          

Another year has come and gone...







We've come to the end of another year, yet the adventure, my walk, continues. This year I've hiked many miles and driven many more. Flown a few as well.
I've cast many a line, fired quite a bit of ammo and recorded images I'll look at for years to come. My rods and reels, rifles shotgun and cameras have seen much action, and my boots have trekked across many acres.





The year began with ice fishing near North Bay. The lake was Nosbonsing. As would be, it was also the lake that my year's angling adventure would find me reeling in the year's final catch!

Between ice-out in late February and the first week of April there was no fishing, March was a "dry" month! But there was much to be observed in the bush, even in our urban landscape! Migratory birds returning from the south, creatures abandoning the comforts of the herd to find new mates, and even early insect life emerging from their winter sleep!

I did fish for early season trout in Lake Ontario's vast tributaries. A Steelhead run in early spring can quite often be a challenge!

But as spring aproached my plans changed. I would travel north. North to where Eastern Wild Turkeys, White Tailed Deer and large mouth Bass do not exist!

And winter would soon return!  

April found me driving north into winter again! And there was no fishing for another month! As mentioned, I did miss opening day for trout, AND all of turkey season; But the walleye were awesome! As too were the northern pike!

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my... Were Dorothy on my adventure it would have been... Wolves and Moose and Bears, Oh my!

Much to my surprise I only saw one moose my entire time in the north. But the bears were no dissapointment! Almost every spring evening and a good few times in the summer, bears would cross my path. Quite often it would be a sow and her cubs, other times a solitary boar. On one ocassion a mother and her two cubs crossed in front of me only to  be followed by a huge male. Then, five minutes later they all crossed back again.

My most memorable bear encounter was in October. A very large male gorging himself on late season berries allowed me to watch from a safe distance as he stocked up for his hibernation. Caution was key to my thoughts that evening!

Grouse season didn't produce the birds I had hoped for, but each walk in the woods gave me great photographic opportunities. There is much to be harvested in the boreal forests of northern Ontario! 

I missed both spring and autumn turkey seasons in 2013, and the opening of trout season in the south. I also missed the two week rifle season for white tailed deer; 2014 will be different.

What I missed though, was well made up for by the north! 

If anything, this year for me was "The Year of the Walleye!" I caught walleye within an hour of the GTA. Walleye in the middle of the province; and walleye in the far north of the province. There were days when every cast produced a walleye! There were even days when a bag limit could not be filled because the walleye were too large to keep!

They were caught from shore and from boats; on rivers and on lakes, on open water and through the ice.

At times, a twelve inch walleye became bait for a 4 foot pike! A few walleye were smaller than desired, but the damage from a northern's teeth necessitated the pan fryer be kept! Northern pike dine on walleye too, just not sauteed in butter!




If a man's riches are counted by cataloguing his possessions and financial wealth, then I am a poor man. But, if riches accumulated over the years are a sum of places visited and friends made, then I am rich beyond all accountability. And this past year has made me a wealthy man!