In those days, whitetail deer east of Kenora and north of Minnesota were as scarce as hen's teeth. read more. Gordon Whittington talks with 13-year-old Troy Metzger about the 2016 hunt that landed the young man a monster non-typical buck on this edition of Big Buck Profile. He convinced me that I had something pretty special," Jordy says. It stayed this way until about the mid-1980s. The statement also confirmed the ministry will consider the RM's request in the 2021 mule deer hunting season setting process, other stakeholder interests . 4+ weeks) with shorter bows-only seasons between and after the regular firearm seasons in northeastern, central, and southern Ontario. Requires hunters to enter a draw to receive an antlerless deer validation for a specific. Are there more deer now than 100 years ago? March 22, 2015. updated on November 4, 2021 The white-tailed deer is the most common deer roaming North America. for a property with three hunters permitted, only three stands are permitted. Population: 1,164 members (977 . They've had some tough hunts recently, but they've also had some great trips over the years and know about the area's potential andwhat Northwestern Ontario can offer deer hunters. The cold came early, and stayed well into April. For hunters looking to plan a trip, or those who have been to Sunset Countryin the past and are interested in visiting again, it is still one of the best places in Canada tohunt deer. Then he looked to his right. Deer, Turkey Hunts. There are two types of Caribou: Peary Caribou and Wood Land Caribou. Subscriber Services. As a 22-year-old electrical apprentice living in Blenheim, Jordy had started small-game hunting at age 18. Where is the best deer hunting in Ontario? Jeff Gustafson is a professional angler living in Kenora, Ontario on the shores of Lake of the Woods. He had no way of knowing he was about to shoot a buck big enough to send a shock wave throughout . "It had been so long since they had hunted. The deer ran off. Hunter management party hunting: A licensed hunter may fill the tag of another licensed hunter in their party while hunting together co-operatively. I can remember hearing about the first cases of disoriented moose in the late 1980s, several of which wandered into the city of Thunder Bay, only to be put down. The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most abundant cervid species in Ontario (referred to as deer hereafter). Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. Our hunters report 95% sightings on nice bucks and 50% choose to harvest a buck to brag about. (EBR postings, responses, letters of support, committee involvement), (policies, management plans, regulations, fact sheets, background information), (media releases, announcements, articles, video clips, radio coverage), (becoming an OFAH member, reporting, zone meetings, sharing social media), The VOICE of Anglers and Hunters since 1928, The OFAH Mario Cortellucci Hunting and Fishing Heritage Centre, Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program, National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), OFAH/Fleming College Fish & Wildlife Scholarship, Click here for information on Sustaining Memberships. The recent peak for mule and blacktails was around 1960 . April 12, 2018 By Dan Cole. High levels of browsing by deer can completely remove the shrub and tree seedling layers in a forest. French, Last Updated: March 31, 2021 | RELATED: Of course, that 30 2/8-inch spread isn't all this giant has to offer. The study presents what may be the first documented case of deer-to-human COVID-19 transmission, recorded in Ontario. Deer population objectives should be informed by the broad population management guidance (i.e. When deer populations in certain WMUs warrant, hunters may be offered the opportunity to purchase game seals to harvest . Again, there was nothing. WHITE-TAILED DEER HUNTING IN ONTARIO "We hoped to get a deer or two but even if we didn't, it was going to be fun anyway.". Harvest management strategies should be reviewed and refined periodically as part of an adaptive harvest management planning process as changes occur or new information becomes available. Consistent with the goal of the White-tailed Deer Management Policy for Ontario (2017), deer should be managed for the continuous provision of cultural, economic and social benefits. We have recently developed the White-tailed Deer Management Policy for Ontario (2017) and the White-tailed Deer Population Objective Setting and Harvest Management Guidelines (2019) which provide a detailed description of the provincial white-tailed deer management program. The really big bucks are still present but the overall population of deer is lower. Corrigan expects big things this fall. Those are monsters for anywhere. The country saw 799,728 births in 2022, the lowest number on record and the first ever dip below 800,000, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health on Tuesday. The forestry department asked Ray O'Donnell if he was sure. Details and maps are on page 84 of the 2019 Hunting Regulations Summary. Last Edited. His inside spread is 30 2/8 inches and his outside is 33 0/8! However, for the past several years I have not taken a lot of clients. Deer hunting in those days involved much traipsing around a snow-covered woods, looking for deer sign. Plan ahead and get out there during the right time of day to increase your chances of success. The MNR estimates the Ontario white-tailed deer population to be at 400,000. January 17, 2012. The virus that causes COVID-19 has been detected for the first time in Canada's wild deer population, and nobody really knows what that means. Consistent with the goal of the White-tailed Deer Management Policy for Ontario (2017), deer management should aim to maintain populations within an ecological range where deer fulfill their natural role within the ecosystem. Additional technical and statistical notes can be found in the data sex, age, location). The deer population can only be sustained within the socio-economic range where it occurs within the ecological range. Deer are highly valued and unique members of Ontarios wildlife heritage and are an important component of Ontarios biodiversity. Following the principles for establishing deer harvest management strategies is important to ensure effective, ecologically-based practices that contribute to deer sustainability over the broader landscape. We are from Ontario and hunt just south of Atikokan, Ontario. Note: The tag issued with your deer, moose, bear and elk licence will not be listed on your licence summary. Tell us what you think about our data and how youre using it. landowner tolerance for conflicts, levels of hunter satisfaction. In 1995, the OFAH created the DeerSave program which provides seed funding for emergency winter deer conservation efforts such as trail breaking, browse cutting, and purchase of feed for deer in areas where extreme winter conditions could lead to large-scale starvation in deer yards. Then, slowly, the deer herd along the North Shore of Superior, and particularly around Thunder Bay, started to grow. Deer Lake has limited firefighting equipment to fight local forest fires. In recent years, both the eastern and the northwestern parts of the province have produced their share of record-book bucks. so hunters took out 15% of the population. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. They both agreed to go. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. It was an unbelievable experience, and I'm very thankful they were all there to share it with me!". he says. Another once-isolated population of ticks in northern Wisconsin has also spread . A few of my regular guests who have become greatfriends continue to come year after year. Protecting Ontarios biodiversity while promoting economic opportunities in the resource sector and supporting outdoor recreation opportunities. hunters, landowners) and be easily administered. Court is held on quarterly basis in the community. This winter would have been enough to thin the herd. Resorts and outfitters around the region can set you up with a place to stay, offer full or semi-guided trips, and lead you in the right direction for your hunt of a lifetime. Gun hunting is the most popular type of deer hunting, so it is desirable to provide for these opportunities wherever appropriate. Editor's Note:We'll be asking Jeff for an update and wrap-up for the 2022 Season. Stay tuned! @2020 - northernwilds.com. I was getting real curious by then and thought maybe I had shot something special.". After months of waiting, anticipation finally is replaced with nearly uncontrolled excitement. He sent a text message to Chad, telling him what had just happened. What is the deer population in Ontario? Deer: Balancing Expectations for Small Properties, Get to Know Your Neighbors for Better Deer Herd Management, Big Buck Profile: Reid Crawford Kansas Buck, Choosing Correct Magnification for Rifle Scope, Big Buck Profile: Troy Metzger's East Illinois Giant. In the fall we offer bow hunting for white tail deer from Oct 1st to year end. Time of Day: For whitetail deer the most active times typically occur around dawn and dusk, with periodic increases in activity overnight. But because of the unexpected nature of the sighting, Jordy came unglued. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Opening morning finally came, and it didn't disappoint. Populations and harvest are assessed through: Figure 2: Ontarios white-tailed deer quota response decision tree to support deer managers in determining the appropriate quota response (increase, status quo, decrease) to direct a deer population toward the population objective range or to maintain it within it. That means well see more defined high points of scrape visitations and intense lockdowns when bucks are locked on the doe(s) they want to breed. After a couple of good winters for our deer, the numbers are coming back, especially in little pockets across the region. The MNR estimates that Ontario, Canada has a deer population of 400,000 - just in that territory alone. Deer populations are adaptively managed in Ontario through a process of establishing population objectives, implementing appropriate harvest management strategies ( e.g. Predators for white-tailed deer are wolves and humans, although coyotes will prey on sick and young deer. The average white-tailed buck weighs 140 to 250 pounds (63 to 114 k), while Ontario bucks can top 300 pounds (136 kg). Thus the sleepless eve of opening morning. The requirement to receive written landowner permission to use their property for deer hunting and related activities. Using a 20-gauge shotgun his Grandpa had loaned him, Jordy set out to post on the edge of the woodlot. The socio-economic population range can also be considered through input from local stakeholders, the public and other interested parties. Most WMUs in Ontario currently have a lengthy early bows-only season (e.g. Nothing there. The mid-1980s was also when winters began to moderate and snow depths decreased. Ontario Whitetail Deer hosts the second largest population of white tail deer in all of Canada! Valerius Geist. While deer hunting is not quite back to where it was in the mid-2000s, it is beginningto rebound after a couple of tough winters that devastated deer populations in 2011 and 2013. Southern Ontario resident Jordy Hope carried no preconceived ideas into the 2016 deer season. Enables an individual hunter to hold more than one deer tag. Her deer is already in the trophy room at Cabela's. The racks gross score was 190 . The Southern Region, which supports about 75 per cent of the provinces deer, typically escapes the worst of winter. Expert on Camera: Participation in deer hunting is trending downward nationwide. Many large bucks died that winter and the survivors were notably thin and weak that spring. Share. For many, deer hunting in Ontario is a time honored tradition that brings people together, while contributing to conservation and wildlife management. Ontario's whitetails are monitored closely by the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry (MNRF), the agency responsible for setting seasons and bag limits. Due to a couple of harsh winters and an over-population of wolves the whitetail deer population has been compromised. Note that a city's metropolitan area in colloquial or administrative terms may be different from its . Where is the most deer in Ontario? The white-tailed deer's spotted, wobbly legged fawns, weighing 2 to 4 kg at birth, are born in late spring. They are considered to be grazers, feasting on woody vegetation, lichen, grasses, tree bark and green plants. Once Jordy had reseated himself, he looked to his left. These guidelines fit under and follow from the overarching policy. The OFAH has developed a landowner permission form to help landowners and hunters outline the details of their agreement. municipality, township, etc.) . Options should be explored for simplification, broader consistency and alignment of the controlled deer hunt and other harvest management strategies. Despite that downturn in deer, the population has made a rather quick rebound. There were some very large bucks taken in the northwest between 2001-2012, and the region becamea real contender for some world record racks. There needs to be public/ community support of the harvest management strategies. But the super-wide buck still stood there long enough for the startled hunter to get off two shots. ! He insisted I get it measured for the Ontario record book. Most of the mature bucks disappeared, and only the youngest, healthiest animals made the cut. "It's still unbelievable to me!" Every Canadian province with a forest experiences a sighting of moose except for Nunavut - and being that they are the largest of the deer family, they are hard not to see! Recent estimates of the state's pre-fawning (spring) population have exceeded 600,000 deer, with fall estimates reaching as high as 1 million deer (MNDNR 1990). The huge herds that had been found around Dryden, Vermilion Bay, Emo and Kenora took it especially hard. Only one deer may be harvested for each tag, but any party member with the appropriate credentials can fill the tag. This double whammy really took the stuffing out of the herd. There are many different perspectives on deer management and finding a balance between managing for a healthy deer population and meeting the diverse interests of all Ontarians is always a challenge. Elk tend to stay in open areas rather than woody areas. The dense population adds to the thrill of excitement for the sportsman. Adults stand 1.5-2.3 m from hoof to shoulder. Is Ontario Changing Time This Spring 2022? However, the unexpected side effect of more deer was the introduction of a fatal parasite to moose called brain worm. Jordy sat back down in the lawn chair and tried to compose himself. That alone made the season special for me. Environment and Climate . With the highest concentration of this species in the province, Indian Point Camp is located right in the middle of Dryden and Ignace, aka the Whitetail Triangle. However, it is unknown if or to what extent the disease may be . Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. All our hunts are in WMU 9A and WMU 8. The news that Omicron had breached white-tailed deer populations was not unexpected, experts said. All Right Reserved. With the highest concentration of this species in the province, Indian Point Camp is located right in the middle of Dryden and Ignace, aka the Whitetail Triangle. 5 key items (both new and classic) for every season in Ontario's Sunset Country. How Far Is California From Ontario By Plane? 3 min read. The main cause is lack of predators. Where once a deer sighting was a novelty, it quickly became a regular occurrence. This will help to determine whether population objectives are being achieved and/or are still relevant to the current circumstances. After experiencing the adrenaline rush of shooting his first deer, a young doe, he was eager to go again in '16. "Deer hunting is the best thing I've ever tried. [Learn more] [See the licence for how you're allowed to use this data. In the summer, elk surround mountainous pastures and in the winter, can be found in dense forests. Not so this past winter, however, notably in WMUs 46 to 61; only the more southerly WMUs escaped the harsh elements. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. Theyre found all across the province, although in very low densities near the human-populated centres of the southwest. Even in unhunted herds, wild deer rarely live past 15 years. The Bancroft/North Hastings population is strong enough to support a limited hunter harvest, but hunter demand for the available tags is high. In Ontario, deer yards can be as small as a few hectares or as large as tens of square kilometres. In the wild, a healthy deer herd would number fewer than 35 deer per square mile of habitat. "It had been several decades since my grandpa had gone deer hunting, and I don't remember my dad ever going. Ontario has a large number of black bears, estimated at nearly 100,000. It was absolutely amazing how many deer were on the landscape. Although birth may take place from late March to early August, most fawns are born during the last week of May or the first week of June. Ontario is also the nation's wealthiest province, having a substantial share of the country's natural resources and its most mature and diversified industrial economy. Their rumps have a large patch of white by the short black-tipped tail. The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most abundant member of the deer family in Ontario. The tract featured a 30-acre woodlot in the middle of open farmland. However, most fawns are born late May-early June. Currently, controlled deer hunt validations are generally valid for only a portion of the area that the overlapping (bows-only) antlerless validation tags are valid for. It wasn't until 1954 that the county buck total surpassed 300, which might say something . That was the only excitement Jordy had experienced to that point of the day, and the lack of other action was beginning to wear on him. Raising their tail means that danger is near, or so they think. Some regions will also continue to assess population trends by groundbased surveys in Additional Deer Seals . In some of the best areas, though, bear populations appear to be trending down. Deer harvest management planning involves: It is important to review the following harvest considerations to make well-informed and adaptive decisions related to selecting the most appropriate harvest management strategies to achieve and maintain deer populations within the objective range. White-tailed Deer Management Policy for Ontario Learn about how White-tailed Deer are managed in Ontario. A tough, snowy winter can wipe out about 40 per cent of a herd through starvation, he said in an interview. Can you hunt deer over a bait pile in Ontario? Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. (Photo courtesy of Jordy Hope). It was a special day for two good friends, and congratulatory high-fives were given and the respective stories shared. The province's best non-typicals also can hold their own. The requirement to employ a licensed guide for deer hunting in a specific management area. However, cuts that were made down the North Shore of Superior, and along the Minnesota border, seemed to fill up with deer. But the party wasn't looking for mature bucks; their hope was any legal whitetail, no matter the size or age. Archery: Resident Sept 1, Non-Resident of Ontario Oct 2 Muzzleloader: Resident Oct 16, Non-Resident of Ontario oct 16 the proportion of hunters who harvested a deer); and (4) hunter effort (i.e. Freshwater fishing, forest hiking, and sunset views await in this pristine paradise, Six Beaches for your summer "bucket list". Currently some gun hunting seasons in southern Ontario are controlled deer hunt seasons, giving deer managers the ability to limit the number of validations available to control hunter density. Home Ontario Are Deer Overpopulated In Ontario? Subscribe to updates to this dataset using RSS. On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, SciLine interviewed: Dr. Lincoln Larson, an associate professor of parks, recreation, and tourism management at North Carolina State University. We had no idea what a trophy buck was. high, moderate and low) identified in the CEF. The state . Caribou are the only members of the deer family that have antlers on both genders. They're found all across the province, although in very low densities near the human-populated centres of the southwest. hunting seasons) and evaluating success in achieving the population objectives (Figure 1). Bulls are larger than cows: males range from 2.5-3.2 m in total length, females from 2.4-3.1 m, and males weigh from 360-600 kg and females from 270-400 kg. Meet all controlled deer hunt validation demand if resulting hunter density is expected to be socially acceptable. Many aspects of a whitetail rack can be considered "world class." All seasons end on Dec. 15th below are the opening day dates: 2021 dates usually come available in February or early March. The MNR estimates that Ontario, Canada has a deer population of 400,000- just in that territory alone. And that's as big as they get anywhere else in the world. WHITE-TAILED DEER HUNTING IN ONTARIO Debatably the best deer-hunting destination in Canada, Dryden is the place to go for white-tailed deer in Ontario. Snow depths were serious and this impacted deer survival. Well for one, it has potential for the next world record muskie! Studies on white-tailed deer in Pennsylvania and Ontario offer evidence that the mammals are a reservoir for the coronavirus. The guidelines will help ensure the Ministrys deer management actions are carried out in a transparent and consistent way while considering and integrating a broad range of ecological, social, cultural and economic considerations at appropriate management scales. He stood up to stretch his legs for a few seconds. Strategies should be relatively simple and affordable to implement and enforce. tag draws) are not covered in these guidelines (Figure 1). White-tailed deer have excellent horizontal sight; but they do not see well vertically. Deer harvest management strategies need to work well for managing both the resource (i.e. North American residents may better know Wapiti deer as the 'American Elk.'. The current index status, index trend, and predicted index status relative to the population objective range should direct the intended quota response that will provide the most appropriate balance of socio-economic benefits within the ecologically sustainable limits of the population (Figure 2), where: After determining the appropriate quota response (Figure 2), the following provides deer managers with a sequence of guiding principles to consider when increasing, decreasing or maintaining (status quo) quotas. Continuing management challenges include low calf recruitment, increasing vehicle access and winter ticks. This information can then be further refined by local knowledge and human-deer conflict information where warranted. Hunting events and magazine articles also are bringing a better awareness of habitat and herd management. Another huge change that happened in the 1980s and early 1990s was the arrival of urban deer in Thunder Bay and many small communities. ", "Once I posted that picture, the comments started rolling in about how big he really was," Jordy says. Most deer harvest management strategies are implemented at the WMU scale with fine scale management (e.g. Unfortunately, the winter of 2013-2014 brought more of the same. Toronto, Ontario M9B 1B1, 10 Carlson Crt 500-01, Toronto, Ontario M9W 6L2, 135 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto, Ontario M6R 2L2 and 3300 Highway 7 West Dr W 600-05, Vaughan, Ontario L4L 1A6. Deer managers may consider increasing quota to meet demand of first choice applicants if additional harvest is not expected to decrease the population below the objective range. The coat of a white-tailed deer is tan or reddish-brown with a white ring around the eye. By Jeff Gustafson Jeff Gustafson is a professional angler living in Kenora, Ontario on the shores of Lake of the Woods. About 10:00 a.m., a flock of turkeys made their way down a trail Jordy was watching. Antler ears on a Mule Deer are large in proportion to the head. The researchers found six mutations in deer that are uncommon in people. I set up in a few of the better areas from last season, as well as a couple of new ones. The scientists collected nasal swabs and samples of lymph node tissue from 300 white-tailed deer killed by hunters in Ontario between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2021. www.ontario.ca/page/moose-management-review, Pro tips for keeping your hunting bow and arrows in top shape during the off-season, Wingshooting in southern Africa: Everything you need to know, 5 surefire ways to botch your coyote hunt (and how to avoid them), The latest new hunting round isnt always the best choice. Iowa Bowhunter Bags Amazing Non-typical Target Buck While Hunting with Son, Understanding Non-Verbal Whitetail Communication, How to Create an Invisible Fence' Around Your Property to Hold More Bucks, Double Drop-Tined Non-typical Shed Pulled from Snow in Illinois, A Whitetail Hunter's Guide to Ballistic Reticles, Two Brothers' Shed Hunting Strategy Yields Non-Typical Match Set in Missouri, Saskatchewan Hunter Finds Target Sheds After Looking for Multiple Days, Missouri Hunter Shoots 25-point Ozark Giant with Limited Time to Hunt, Adirondack Bowhunter Still-hunts His Way to a New York Giant, Best Gear of 2022 for Whitetail Property Managers, Dr. All Rights Reserved. On Wednesday morning, Oct. 12, Jordy decided to take a lawn chair and sit where that buck had been killed three days earlier. This process is supported by the broader goal and objectives outlined in the White-tailed Deer Management Policy for Ontario (2017). Deer contribute substantial social, economic and ecological benefits to the people of Ontario. Only the bucks have antlers. They must consider population objective ranges, deer population trends, ecological and socio-economic considerations and any other relevant deer issues in the area (e.g. Canadian Whitetail Deer Hunts in Rugged Sunset Country, Northwestern Ontario can offer deer hunters. Ontario Deer Hunting News: Some unusually hard winters in 2012 and 2013 and the over population of wolves has effected the Whitetail Deer population in Northwestern Ontario. By Tonda MacCharles Ottawa Bureau Wed., Dec. 1 . As the voice for anglers and hunters, the OFAH has long-insisted that management decisions are science-based and that governments are held accountable to ensure sustainable deer populations. Fawns are able to walk within minutes of birth. We did well. The socio-economic range for deer in an area is the population level that supports a variety of benefits, while considering potential conflicts, impacts and public tolerance at the local level. Unregulated commercial hunting and subsistence hunting threatened to eliminate the white-tailed deer from much of its range. Tool to increase harvest. Wolf and Deer Populations. To address the uncertainty and considerations, an adaptive deer management process is described that involves establishing population objectives, implementing appropriate harvest management strategies and evaluating success in achieving the population objectives. A wrap-up of Northwest Ontario's Whitetail Season. additional deer tag, second bear tag). ", Jordy was so stunned at the sight of this beast that he literally dropped his shotgun! Published March 3, 2023 2:06 p.m. PST. It is illegal to apply for, purchase or possess more than one tag, unless specifically permitted ( e.g. Hunting spending totalled $5.9 billion in 2018. As a result of such kills, the overall trophy quality available in Ontario is slowly gaining notoriety. ]. We offer an unguided do-it-yourself hunt, which is basically just a cabin rental hunt. The OFAH has also pushed for expanded gun seasons, more bowhunting opportunities and additional deer seals which we continue to enjoy today. The harvest management strategies used in Ontario are outlined in Table 1 and further described in the remainder of this section. People gathered here to trade, share, celebrate, and mourn. Observers record the number, age and sex of species that they detect. After a couple of light winters for our deer, the numbers are coming back, especially in little pockets across the region. deer populations) and for the public (e.g. This will help to ensure that harvest management planning remains responsive to current circumstances. Moose like to eat leaves, bark and pine cones; but they will settle for buds from trees and shrubs as well as aquatic plants. Harvest system additional deer tags: Enables an individual hunter to hold more than one deer tag for specific areas (when available), enabling them to harvest an additional deer for each tag held based on the specifications on the tag (e.g. I can recall driving through some farm fields north of Dryden one November morning. North of highway 11 has many miles of topnotch Whitetail country as well. The Loring-Restoule Region is home to one of the largest herds of white-tailed deer in the province. "There are a couple hundred deer." Considering the island measures a total of 2,300 acres, that is a dense deer population. Deer population abundance can be assessed using an index of population abundance (e.g. The general principles include: Establishing deer population objectives in Ontario is a three-step process involving: Deer are important to healthy functioning ecosystems and are an integral part of Ontarios biodiversity.