Wild turkey

Wild turkey hunting is permitted on spring time in all zones of Québec. Wild turkey hunting continues to be prohibited in the fall.

In addition to being the holder of a hunter's certificate, you must hold the attestation issued following the course on hunting wild turkey in order to obtain a wild turkey hunting licence. For more information on the course, you can contact the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs
at 418 878-8999, at 1 888 523-2863 or consult its Web site www.fedecp.qc.ca.

Hunting is permitted from half an hour before sunrise until noon . To hunt this species, a person must have on hand his wild turkey hunting licence and his attestation of the wild turkey hunting course.

The authorized hunting gear include 10, 12, 16 or 20 gauge shotguns using shot cartridges of a diameter of 2.60 to 3.40 millimetres; black powder firearms using shot of a diameter of 2.60 to 3.40 millimetres are also allowed. Number 4, 5 or 6 cartridges are allowed. Crossbows and bows, as well as bolts and arrows with a cutting diameter of 22 mm (7/8 in.) or more are allowed.

Only a turkey with a beard may be hunted and the bag limit is one turkey per year.

A young person may hunt wild turkey under the wild turkey hunting licence of an adult (adult who accompanies him, parent or spouse of the young person); he must then have on hand the certificate corresponding to the weapon used, as well as his wild turkey hunting attestation. If he bags a turkey, he must affix to the bird the transportation coupon from the adult's licence and make sure that the subsequent obligations are met including registering the bird in his name. Neither the young person nor the adult will be able to hunt another turkey that year.

To hunt wild turkey, the holder of an initiation licence is not required to hold the attestation of the wild turkey hunting course, but the person accompanying him must hold said attestation.

A hunter who bags a wild turkey must immediately remove the transportation coupon that is part of his licence and attach it to the bird. Within 8 hours of leaving the hunting area, the hunter who bagged the wild turkey must himself present his licence and have his bird registered with a person, a corporation or an association authorized by the Department. He must state the calibre of the firearm used and the registration plate number of the vehicle used to transport the bird. After registration, the hunter must make sure that this transportation coupon remains attached to the turkey until it is butchered or stored.

Every bagged wild turkey must be transported and submitted in its entirety, whether or not eviscerated, at a registration station.

Every hunter who has bagged a wild turkey must, at the request of a wildlife protection officer, allow him to register it immediately.

During the hunting season, a wild turkey can be registered at the various wildlife registration stations authorized by the Department.

The wearing of a fluorescent orange safety vest is not obligatory to hunt wild turkey .

As wild turkey is not considered small game, the provisions concerning shooting from public roads applicable to big game apply in full to this species even though it does not belong to the big game category.

Using a dog to hunt wild turkey is prohibited. The use of bait to hunt wild turkey is prohibited.

A non-resident cannot obtain a wild turkey hunting licence.

Wild turkey may be kept in captivity without a licence and released in the wild. However, it is forbidden to release wild turkey in zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.