Turkey Contest Rules 2023

Gallery 2022 Turkey Contest

  1. By entering the 2023 Spring Wild Turkey Contest, all participants declare that they have an understanding of all Contest rules and agree to abide by them.
  2. You are responsible for your safety and actions at all times before, during and after the 2023 Spring Wild Turkey Contest.  Each entrant, upon registration to compete in the contest, agrees that he/she will not hold the Sponsors or Hosts liable for any kind of accident that might occur during the 2023 Spring Wild Turkey Contest and will sign a waiver form when registering.
  3. Registration and payment is available on line or accepted in person at the Hunters and Anglers Conservation Centre at the St. Joseph Island Hunters and Anglers General Meeting at 7:30 PM on April 13th or on Saturday, April 23th from 10 am until 4:00 p.m. at the Hunters and Anglers Conservation Centre, 1802 20th SideroadRegistration closes at midnight on April 24, 2023 with no further registrations allowed.
  4. All 2023 Ontario hunting regulations must be abided by or you may be disqualified.
  5. Entries are non-transferable.
  6. The 2023 Spring Wild Turkey Contest will commence at Legal Shooting time on the morning of April 25, 2023 and end at 7:00 pm on May 31st.  No exceptions.
  7. Wild Turkeys must be harvested in WMU 36 or 45 during the 2023 spring wild turkey season.
  8. Youth for the purpose of the contest will be anyone under the age of 18 as of the opening of the Ontario Spring season for Wild turkey.  i.e. April 25, 2023. This includes apprentice hunters.
  9. Photos required:
    1. Beard with measurement
    2. Spurs with measurement
    3. Picture of successful hunter with the tagged turkey
    4. Picture of completed tag showing name, date and time notched
  10. Beards, spurs and tags must be available for judging in person during the contest period and/or on June 3rd at presentation of prizes.
  11. The valid, notched, 2023 Ontario Wild Turkey tag under which the turkey was harvested must be included in all photos submitted to the contest.
  12. All photos must be submitted by noon of the day following the harvest of the Wild Turkey. Email photos to:hunt_turkey@sjiha.ca (hunt_turkey@sjiha.c)
  13. Judges must be able to determine length of spurs and beards from the photo or entry will be disqualified.
  14. Official Measuring:  Once a legal bird is harvested, the participant is responsible for measuring;
    1. The beard from the skin to the tip of the longest length and must be attached to the bird at the time of the picture.  A legible picture must include the entire length of the beard with the ruler used to measure (with zero beginning on the skin). The photo will be used to determine the exact length measured to the nearest millimeter. Judges must be able to determine length from the photo or entry will be disqualified.
    2. The spurs along the outside curvature for the longest length. A legible picture must clearly show the length of the longest spur measured to the nearest millimeter.
  15. In the case of multiple beards or spurs on the turkey, the length of the longest will be used to determine the length for the contest.
  16. Once the photos are taken, please email photos to:hunt_turkey@sjiha.ca with your name and measured length no later than noon the day following the harvest.
  17. A participant may enter up to two turkeys but each turkey can only win one category (Prize).
  18. The first place prize for longest beard will be awarded followed by first place for the longest spur.
  19. Contest updates will be posted regularly on our website www.sjiha.caWild Turkey Contest Leaderboard
  20. In the case of a tie, the first entry received by email or in person, will be the winner.
  21. All decisions of the Contest Officials are final and may not be protested.
  22. Cash prizes will be awarded in each category (beard and spur, youth and adult) based on 70% of the total contest fees.  
  23. Additional mystery prizes will be awarded and recipients will be required to make the appropriate arrangements for pick up.  Only one prize per turkey will be awarded and this includes any cash or mystery prizes.  
  24. Participants whose registration including payments are received by April 16th have a chance to win their individual entry fee back by a random draw.
  25. Registration fee for
    • Adult – $30
    • Youth – $20

Note: If an apprentice wishes to enter the contest, they will be required to hunt with a mentor that has a valid spring wild turkey licence and the apprentice may harvest the bird under the mentor’s licence or purchase their own licence. If the mentor wishes to enter the contest as well, both the mentor and the apprentice will be required to purchase their own wild turkey licences.