As I am now employed full time, my walks with rod and reel, gun or camera, have diminished greatly. But I still walk. Every day...

Now I travel by train to work. This affords me a few luxuries that the streetcar, bicycle or car cannot. I read a lot more, and the "Quite Zone" encourages self contemplation. Best of all though, it's a great view!

As the train approaches Rouge Hill the view of the lake always takes my breath away! Sometimes the waterfowl are bobbing in the frigid waters of Lake Ontario. It always amazes me that these little, warm-blooded creatures of flight can function, fly and paddle, when even the thought of the water's temperature chills my bones!

Early in the morning, or late in the afternoon, my view from the train will often reward me with a deer or two traversing an open, snow covered field. The doe is swollen with the rewards of last autumn's rut and the buck is without his majestic headgear having recently shed his antlers. But they walk, and sometimes charge, from one thicket to another, or from a frozen swamp to a stand of hardwoods, in search of browse. 

When my train travel is an hour after first light I have the pleasure of seeing the turkeys in the fields and by the edges of the woods. They're still flocked up, Toms, hens and jakes. They're scratching for mast; last year's fallen acorns, soybeans and ears of corn that were missed in the harvest. Soon their foraging and scratching will turn to the emerging exoskeletons. They love centipedes and insect grubs!  

As the weather warms and the days become longer, the turkeys' interests will turn to more pressing matters. Procreation of the species. Their little brains are not wired to think globally or of their importance in the environment; few human brains are even wired that way! The Toms will only be concerned with gathering a harem and fulfilling their urges! This is when the turkey is at its best, its most dramatic; displaying, calling, and exhibiting its most interesting characteristics. This is when I do not want to be traveling by train, viewing them from a car moving at 100km an hour. This is when I want to be in the woods, hearing them, seeing them. Maybe even calling them in for a better view.

The last week of April can't come soon enough!
     

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!

          

Signs...

Spring is just about two weeks away, and the signs are there. I’m not going to dredge up all the metaphors or silly cliches, not all of them, just some of them. Spring is rebirth, new beginnings, the promise new life, a freshness, revitalization. 

A short walk in the woods is all one needs to see this.

This past week was fresh with the signs of spring. The first indicator for me is always the thaw and subsequent run-off. The local streams have opened up and are flowing, all but their shores are free of ice. Soon the only ice and snow remaining will be in the heavily shaded areas of the woods. 

Other signs this week were in the fauna. The first wooly bear caterpillar of the year. All the turkeys in the local flock seem to be hens and jakes. The toms have gone lone-wolf and will soon be gathering their harems. 

This spring though, is significant. This spring brings not only a new beginning, but also a change. In less than a month I’ll be a considerable distance north. Deep in the boreal forests nestled on the Canadian Shield, Aimee and I, and of course the dogs, will start a new life, a new season in our adventures. Instead of seeing deer and wild turkeys on our walks, we will be seeing black bears, moose and spruce grouse. We will be fishing for brook trout instead of bass. 

Spring comes late to where we’re settling. I’ll get to see it arrive twice!             

A Walk in the Woods

A heavy snowfall can bring many things. Delays to some, discoveries to others. Yesterday I went for discoveries. The afternoon gave me an opportunity for a short walk in the woods.

Snow covers up many things. It hides much and conceals that which died and fell in the autumn. Beneath the blanket of snow and ice a rejuvenation is happening. When it eventually melts the brown and grey will be turning green. But before that, the snow obscures this birth of new life.

The snow does not only shroud new life though. It also unveils the existence of creatures that the woods conceal from most eyes.

Yesterday the snow was the circumstantial evidence of the denizens of the forest.