Turkeynator

STEVE TARDIF AKA THE TURKEYNATOR!

I’ve been hunting almost every species found in Quebec since I was a child. Little did I know that in the early 2000s I would become a turkey hunting enthusiast. This fascinating game soon made me completely obsessed with its hunting and biology. That’s how I decided to stretch my springtime each year, by spending nearly three months travelling across North America on the hunting Over the course of the seasons, my nomadic hunting career has led me to cross paths with a number of seasoned turkey hunters, to rub shoulders with a large number of wily big toms and, above all, to realize the extent to which turkey hunting is one of the most dangerous activities in the world. hunting is mythical and steeped in rich history.

Hunting in the USA Turkeynator

Hunting in the USA has enabled me to achieve no less than 3 grand slams, collecting at least one specimen of each of the 4 major subspecies. In the early 2010s, I founded Club dindon sauvage Montréal, a chapter of the NWTF, to promote wild turkey hunting and conservation. Following the creation of the Canadian wild turkey federation, I held the position of director for some time, further broadening my horizons with regard to wild turkey management. This led me to attend a number of turkey conferences and conventions to learn even more. A veritable reading sponge, I own dozens of books on wild turkeys, as well as hundreds of bird calls of all kinds.

Trainer, lecturer and author of numerous articles

Which I practice on a daily basis. Trainer, lecturer and author of numerous articles on wild turkey, I have given many interviews to various media across the country, including most Quebec media. In 2017 I created the Turkeynators discussion group on Facebook to facilitate exchanges between enthusiasts and pass on even more information and notions about this bird. This passion has also led me to meet some of North America’s finest call makers and craftsmen, and to talk with them about this magnificent game and even participate in the development of certain calls.

Turkeynator: the kings of spring

In 2019, a professional opportunity gave me the chance to live in the southeastern USA for almost 2 years, in the very cradle of turkey hunting ‘s origins. An invaluable experience for the hunter in me. In 2022, after much reflection, I decided to create my podcast “ Turkeynator: the kings of spring” to reach people in a different way, an experience so gratifying, especially thanks to the podcast’s success. For me, wild turkey hunting isn’t just a hunt, it’s a way of life that I live year-round, with more than 4 months of staggered hunting in the spring and fall and another 8 months in which I share my passion with hunters eager to learn more about this magnificent hunt.

Passing on my passion

Almost every day I practice my calls, and not a day goes by when I don’t think about turkeys. I can honestly say that they have changed my life. It’s an honor every year to have the privilege of interacting with them and competing against the kings of spring. It’s for these reasons that I’ve chosen to pass on my passion, so that Quebec hunters can hunt turkeys the way they deserve. I used to be just a hunter, but now I’ve become a nomadic turkey hunter. For me, turkey hunting is a never-ending source of learning and unforgettable moments.