northern ontario hunt camps having hard time deer

[Chuckbuster]

I usually pass-up at least 50 bucks per hunting season and half the time I still have my license in my pocket when the season ends, however; I have many great memories. I don't measure success when an animal is harvested,.........only a safe and joyful experience in the outdoors with nature is good enough for me. Last years harsh winter in Ontario and this seasons mild temperatures could be a contribution to lack of game sign.

Wow! I think many of us here in Ontario don't see that many deer over a lifetime of deer seasons. And, I think being able to at least see something contributes greatly to the experience for most. It does get frustrating to be out long and hard, repeatedly, and yet never see your quarry. Don't get me wrong, there is much to enjoy when afield, but human nature being what it is, having the chance to see, take or even pass up on one's quarry adds greatly to the exhilaration.

 

[Underthegun]

Watched a good 10 point push a doe down my street yesterday. The rut is coming on here in NW Ontario.

Darryl

I've seen some really nice pictures of some of the bucks in your town.

 

[Bigbubba]

Hunted 82-B. Pretty much 4 guys all week. We saw probably 20+ deer in total although some may have been the same ones over again.
Mostly all does - which we were letting go by waiting for bucks.

We did see 1 good Buck, (no shot) and 3 other bucks one of which we shot.

Hunting in shirtsleeves and orange hats, was 20+ degrees most days.

Not much sign of the rut being on either, but the deer are there, just not moving around.
Should be better next week in the ML season.

 

[xeon]

It seems like it's been a fairly steady decline the past couple of years. I'd say predation, two very cold winters, too many antlerless tags, and an unregulated amount of buck tags might have something to do with it.

 

[Runningfool]

5 guys in WMU 55a near barrys bay

nothing at all for the first week of gun season. grouse population seems to be WAY up this year though

Pretty much same deal for me and my group in WMU 50. Plenty of wolf sign though

 

[doublelung]

Bancroft area, deer sightings and sign are way down too. I think there's two reasons:

1. Other species pushing them out. We see WAY more moose, elk, turkey, bear, cougar, and wolf than we ever have before.

2. Streamlining of crops in southern Ontario draws a southerly migration. Fields across southern Ontario that used to be a patchwork of every crop under the sun (and a lot of tobacco), have given way to corn, corn, soy beans, corn and corn. An endless supply of not only food, but also shelter.


We've noticed a real shift in hunters. Opening day used to be crowded highways of everyone towing a quad north from southern Ontario. Now the traffics lighter and you can watch a steady stream of orange coats in pickups driving south instead. That Hunter that got shot in brant county had travelled all the way from timmins.

Seeing lots of cougar are you ??????

 

[galamb]

Seeing lots of cougar are you ??????

If you stop in the local bar during happy hour there are always a couple cougars around.

Although, when you get to be my age you would have to wander an old folks home to find a cougar

 

[thepolinator]

I have not seen any signs of the rut in West Ottawa yet, but it will happen... It just might be during ML season

 

[phishroy]

WMU 46 doe tags have been drastically cut and barely saw any sign. we hunt hard and fast pushing bush and working strategically. we used to fill all our tags in the past.
for the past 2 years filled 2 out of the 5 tags. this year had 1 antlerless and the rest are antlered tags. we consider ourselves lucky to get a buck. we noticed allot less deer sign and a lot more bear and wolf sign.
we keep logs at our hunt camp of deer sightings. noticeable gradual drop in numbers in the past 3 years. 3 years ago it was not uncomen to see around 25 deer a week. this year we saw 9 , 1 buck the rest were does.
on a positive note the does we saw had fawns with them which is good.

 

[kodiakjack]

Seeing lots of cougar are you ??????

Is this a spinster joke? Or is it that rare to see a mountain lion in that area? (Closer to craigsmont)

 

[doublelung]

Is this a spinster joke? Or is it that rare to see a mountain lion in that area? (Closer to craigsmont)

not a joke. so you're saying that you see them? Any pics?

 

[the spank]

I didn't know Bracebridge to Huntsville is "Northern" Ontario...

Numbers fluctuate... down in that area I suppose... up in ours... we are in South-Northern Ontario... many hours North of you.

Hoyt don't you realize northern Ontario starts at the King City exit and that Haliburton and the Muskokas are REMOTE?!!

 

[blasted_saber]

Muskoka is not Northern ON.

Its central ON. North bay is the south end of Northern ON.

Now that that is out of the way, yes, things are down in this area (I hunt in 49). A couple brutal winters in a row will do that.

 

[Raton57]

I usually pass-up at least 50 bucks per hunting season and half the time I still have my license in my pocket when the season ends, however; I have many great memories. I don't measure success when an animal is harvested,.........only a safe and joyful experience in the outdoors with nature is good enough for me. Last years harsh winter in Ontario and this seasons mild temperatures could be a contribution to lack of game sign.

I grew up on a farm just west of Okotoks and the numbers of deer there were pretty high compared to some places. I hunted west of Linden the last few years I lived in Alberta and seen bucks all season.

 

[kodiakjack]

not a joke. so you're saying that you see them? Any pics?

I haven't seen them personally, no. My uncle who lives there says he's seen one twice in the last 5 years. Likely the same one I guess. I have seen tracks though, but not this year.

 

[35Wailin]

Very little sign where I am hunting near espanola. Last week, two days, we found 2 scrapes, 4 or 5 piles of droppings, and one clear track. I normally see many, many tracks and 8-10 scrapes just walking in to my watch. My partner saw a doe on the second day, but couldn't get a shot.

Heading back out for the last two days of the season tomorrow. We'll see if conditions have changed.

 

[oldbill]

I was out near powassan and found a heavily used trail and about 5 scrapes with plenty of tracks. Also heard lots of dogs and gunshots. Saw no deer in the flesh.

 

[track]

I grew up on a farm just west of Okotoks and the numbers of deer there were pretty high compared to some places. I hunted west of Linden the last few years I lived in Alberta and seen bucks all season.

My son went out yesterday afternoon to do some upland bird hunting and he counted 37 bucks while walking the coulees. Believe it or not, deer numbers are down from previous years. We don't hunt around home for whitetail deer, we always go north around Slave Lake.

 

[DVXDUDE]

We had 11 guys at our camp in WMU 49. Hunted hard for 5 days. Did a lot of doggin on land we've hunted for 25 years. Never seen a deer and only cut one track that wasn't fresh. Seen 3 moose and about 5 wolves. Tons of wolf sign. I wont be going back next year for deer, Goin to try my luck at wolves this winter though.

 

[Mauser GDog]

We had 11 guys at our camp in WMU 49. Hunted hard for 5 days. Did a lot of doggin on land we've hunted for 25 years. Never seen a deer and only cut one track that wasn't fresh. Seen 3 moose and about 5 wolves. Tons of wolf sign. I wont be going back next year for deer, Goin to try my luck at wolves this winter though.

Smoke a pack a day DVX!