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
I think what you are refering to is called a "gator"
northern ontario hunt camps having hard time deer
- Thread starter dogger1
- Start date
I think what you are refering to is called a "gator"
Sounds to me like you are experiencing a combination of overhunting and poor management. Although predation and weather play a large part in wildlife populations, factors that generally account for the most variability these days are human related.
I suggest reading as many articles you can about "quality deer management & trophy deer management". A good source of info is on the Boone & Crockett Clubs website. I personally practice many of these principles on my 470 acres and it is very frustrating when everyone else shoots all the does and fawns, especially at the bottom of a population cycle, which is occurring nation-wide right now.
Important steps hunters can take to improve herd quality and quantity is refrain from shooting fawns, yearlings, and does. Target 3 year old or older bucks. This will ensure you protect breeding females and allow the young to mature and give them a chance to breed. It also ensures the bucks 1 season to breed. I personally would like to see age restrictions on bucks to 4 years or older and lower quotas.
After several years of properly managing wildlife using this model, you will build your populations to proper age structure and numbers. Once populations are higher, you will see more deer. You now will be able to shoot a mature buck every year, as there is proper age structure and if you are not overhunting the land, a doe or a younger one, since there will be many deer.
I suggest reading as many articles you can about "quality deer management & trophy deer management". A good source of info is on the Boone & Crockett Clubs website. I personally practice many of these principles on my 470 acres and it is very frustrating when everyone else shoots all the does and fawns, especially at the bottom of a population cycle, which is occurring nation-wide right now.
Important steps hunters can take to improve herd quality and quantity is refrain from shooting fawns, yearlings, and does. Target 3 year old or older bucks. This will ensure you protect breeding females and allow the young to mature and give them a chance to breed. It also ensures the bucks 1 season to breed. I personally would like to see age restrictions on bucks to 4 years or older and lower quotas.
After several years of properly managing wildlife using this model, you will build your populations to proper age structure and numbers. Once populations are higher, you will see more deer. You now will be able to shoot a mature buck every year, as there is proper age structure and if you are not overhunting the land, a doe or a younger one, since there will be many deer.
bracebridge is central ont northern starts once you cross the French river.
Same thing 15 mins south of huntsville.. no scrapes, not many tracks.. 20 degrees out and lots of sun tanning going on (the deer not the hunters).. Nada this year.
To warm and dry..
To warm and dry..
I thought it wasn't until you've passed Thunder Bay to be honest.
Yeah, like this ^ will ever happen in Ontario...fat chance! Game seasons and limits there are set by folks who are interested only in maximum revenues for the MNR; sell those licences, shoot those moose calves, it's our heritage and tradition, don'cha know?
The people in charge have never set foot in the bush...and probably have never flipped over the Ontario map, and consider Bracebridge and Timmins to be the True North!
patricksbb391
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ottawa & WMU 62
During the first week of rifle in 63A, my 81 year old Father and I saw 10-12 does/yearlings/family groups. He harvested a 2 year old buck on the Wednesday. Then the temps got high and tons of wind. We did not have doe tags, but I was pleased to see that many females. Hunted 3 more days and saw nothing.
Archery and muzzleloader will be the season. We need a week of sustained cool temps and that is not in the forecast.
Cheers.
Archery and muzzleloader will be the season. We need a week of sustained cool temps and that is not in the forecast.
Cheers.
Never had a problem seeing animals but getting antlerless tags is another thing.
Getting a doe tag for wmu 43b on manitoulin used to be a given.
I missed 2 years in a row.
I don't want a buck.
I haven't bone hunted hunted for racks in years as they literally cover my camp walls inside and out.
I'm a meat hunter now.
I always take a small doe or even a large fawn because I'm looking for real tender meat and not too much of it.
Second year I got skunked on the antlerless draw in 43b.
Getting a doe tag for wmu 43b on manitoulin used to be a given.
I missed 2 years in a row.
I don't want a buck.
I haven't bone hunted hunted for racks in years as they literally cover my camp walls inside and out.
I'm a meat hunter now.
I always take a small doe or even a large fawn because I'm looking for real tender meat and not too much of it.
Second year I got skunked on the antlerless draw in 43b.
Was speaking yesterday with the fellas who hunt in WMU 49 Huntsville/Axe Lake area. They had no doe tags. Didn't matter anyways as they seen no deer or tracks for that matter. To mild and the rut was simply not on and the deer not moving about. maybe there wasn't that many deer to move about either.
We are in camp now... saw three bucks chasing does this evening... they are rolling... opening morning is at first light... new Ruger No.1-RSI .257 Roberts is getting the call tomorrow... this one needs some experience... hitting the hay.
Well... I called that one.
Did not see anything in my little corner, but opening morning dawned bright and clear and calm... and not ten seconds went by without a shot or shots at some point on the compass... during the first hour the shots were echoing over one anothwr and it went on from legal light until 9:00 am before it started slowing down... at least 300 shots within hearing distance of my stand... a whole bunch of venison went down this morning.
You gotta be kidding me, 300 shots! In Manitoba I don't think 300 shots were fired in the whole province at legal deer (bucks only)
First Saturday of opener I heard 1 shot.... It was buddy firing at a rock because he was so bored
Yeah, I didn't hear a single shot for the first three days of the season here in the Interlake. One distant shot on the fourth day, and then yesterday I heard a barrage of 7 or 8 shots from fairly nearby. Sounded like two guys standing side by side and firing the same type of gun, or one guy bump-firing at a herd of zombies.
The butcher I use had one buck hanging up when I got there...normally they are wall-to-wall in his cooler. Fingers are all crossed for another mild winter, we really need it.
The butcher I use had one buck hanging up when I got there...normally they are wall-to-wall in his cooler. Fingers are all crossed for another mild winter, we really need it.
