Rookie Ontario deer hunter

Stripes said:
Never even considered this. I've been practicing standing, kneeling and sitting but never from a small seat. Great tip!



Fortunately the place I'll be staying in is right in the thick of where I'll be hunting. I was planning on dressing the deer and dragging it out to a point that I can access with my quad.

I'm not sure on what the social etiquette is about using a quad during deer season though. When I was up there during moose season (picked a bad week the hunt grouse) the trails were alive with the sounds of quads.



Good points on going overkill on the orange. You've also helped ease my worrying about bumping into others and ruining their experience!

Field dressing is the area I'm most uneasy about. Fish and small game and birds are all I've done so far. I've probably watched every video out there on it. But nothing can replace hands on experience. I'm trying to get my buddy that's a butcher to give me some lessons for quartering.

I'm treating this whole thing as a learning experience. I'm excited just to get to spend a week in the woods learning something new. If I even see a deer I'm going to be excited, if I get a deer even better!

I've heard similar things. I've also been told that this wmu has a pretty low success rate period. Do you think going week two would be better for learning even though the odds of success are lower?

Thanks for the pile of info! I wanted to address every point but then this post would be a mile long. I really appreciate it!




No problem man! I knew I couldn't be the only one!


Thanks for all the info and advice guys!
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Quads: Yeah that’s a tough question. You won’t get two identical opinions. Personally, I have a strong dislike for them. I hate getting up hours before sunrise to hike and sneak into some secluded spot, then just as twilight comes on, you hear “braaaaap” crashing through the brush kicking up all the forest life before legal shooting light. Once the sun’s up, it’s less of a big deal, as like mentioned above, the quad may bump a deer, but they tend to often circle back... providing... the driver is puttering along respectively at little more that a walking pace. If the quad (or a fleet of quads) come through like a freight train, you may as well pull your brim down and have a nap. I find it takes a good hour before critters start crittering again.

Our camp has one quad which we use for recovery only. It’s an incredible tool for recovery, but a terrible tool for transportation in my opinion. Actually, on of the niftiest things I’ve seen for transportation, was sitting there quietly in the morning twilight then heat it a couple twigs snap in the distance, then the soft crunching of leaves close by. Through the trees, I was surprised to see six orange hunters riding silently down a narrow trail on an electric golf cart. They all appeared to have taken quite a few trips around the sun than the average hunter, and this was a way to silently get into some better hunting spots that their bones may not have otherwise allowed. Perfect.

Some camps justify heavy use of quads as a means of being able to push further into Crown land and access more “untouched” area. In my own humble opinion, if that’s the goal, I’ve found more success hiking in on the afternoon prior with a small tent, sleeping bag, and backpack full of energy bars. Heck of a lot cheaper than a quad too. Again though, just one man’s opinion.


Week 1/2: Honestly, I think you’ll have the most learning opportunities in week one. It’s busier and more chaotic, but from an exposure and learning standpoint, that’s probably best. In week two, to increase you’re chances, you really need to be pushing deeper into the “untouched” areas. As a solo hunter, and someone who’s not familiar with the area, that’s going to make your life tougher. If I get into a tough situation, I’ve got a half dozen other guys (all family) I can call on to help me get a deer out. (Or ME out, for that matter). But on your own, without much experience yet... I’d think twice about pushing too far off the beaten path. You want this hunt to be memorable, but for the right reasons. A few years down the road when you know the area like the back of your hand and are comfortable with the terrain, then yeah. But the father in me worries about new hunters out there on their own. Don’t forget a good first aid kit (with tourniquet). And look into a SPOT or something similar. Don’t expect to have cell service when you need it. Ok, dad-mode off. Lol.

Have fun!!
 
I've hunted deer in 55A for six years, my whole deer hunting career, and spend a lot of time there all year fishing, bird hunting, riding the MANY logging roads. It is a big unit. Where are you hunting in it? I hunt near the border with WMU 57. The snow always gets the deer moving, and pushes them to their winter yards. Round Lake is a important yarding area, and the bow hunters in Killaloe, Round Lake and Golden Lake get some big bucks during it. There is another yarding area on the Peterson Road and we were lucky to catch them moving there last season during the first week. Whitney had a couple inches of snow mid October and I think that got them moving that way. Second week can be COLD and there is always snow. Quite a bit of snow fell the first week last year. Maybe it just seems colder because it is the first cold weather I see. :) Have also hunted in short sleeves the first week. I always take the first week off, just because that is when my gang hunts.

It can be really hit or miss though, we have had two years with nothing out of my six, I hunt with a gang of five. Often more moose sign than deer sign. There is a camp log going back about 30 years and there have always been good and bad years, even when the gang was bigger. They cut different areas every year, so your good spot may be bare next year. I believe ours is on the list within the next five years. For quads, I honestly believe that the deer don't care too much. They hear them all year, so I don't think the first two weeks of November makes a difference. All the gunshots that first week makes more of a difference than a four wheeler.

Most of my favourite spots are somewhere in that WMU, so I am sure you will find one as well. If you get your deer early, make sure you have a shotgun for some partridge. They are partridge up here. And pickerel not walleye.
 
If you can handle cold and snow, second week is almost always better I'm in 55b. Generally fewer hunters too, as all the wuss's stay home :)

It will likely take you a few seasons to iron out which method of hunting is best for you, and your area. I tend to switch when I feel like it, take a few days in the stand, and walk when the stand is not productive or it's too damned cold to sit still.

Best advice I can give you, is to be still. Sitting or walking, minimize movement, and noise. The more anal you are about it the better. Yes, you can go out and shoot deer making noise, hell, I've shot deer while walking through the bush baying like a hound. But you'll have better luck being quiet and motionless.
 
As was mentioned earlier, prepare for company - LOTS of company - during both weeks of the rifle season in any Eastern Ontario WMU on public land.

Not to be negative, but not everyone you bump into will be friendly. There's always "those types" on public ground.

I would echo the advice to either get some distance from access or find the nastiest cover in more accessible areas.
 
kodiakjack said:
Quads: Yeah that’s a tough question. You won’t get two identical opinions. Personally, I have a strong dislike for them. I hate getting up hours before sunrise to hike and sneak into some secluded spot, then just as twilight comes on, you hear “braaaaap” crashing through the brush kicking up all the forest life before legal shooting light. Once the sun’s up, it’s less of a big deal, as like mentioned above, the quad may bump a deer, but they tend to often circle back... providing... the driver is puttering along respectively at little more that a walking pace. If the quad (or a fleet of quads) come through like a freight train, you may as well pull your brim down and have a nap. I find it takes a good hour before critters start crittering again.

Some camps justify heavy use of quads as a means of being able to push further into Crown land and access more “untouched” area. In my own humble opinion, if that’s the goal, I’ve found more success hiking in on the afternoon prior with a small tent, sleeping bag, and backpack full of energy bars. Heck of a lot cheaper than a quad too. Again though, just one man’s opinion.


Week 1/2: Honestly, I think you’ll have the most learning opportunities in week one. It’s busier and more chaotic, but from an exposure and learning standpoint, that’s probably best. In week two, to increase you’re chances, you really need to be pushing deeper into the “untouched” areas. As a solo hunter, and someone who’s not familiar with the area, that’s going to make your life tougher. If I get into a tough situation, I’ve got a half dozen other guys (all family) I can call on to help me get a deer out. (Or ME out, for that matter). But on your own, without much experience yet... I’d think twice about pushing too far off the beaten path. You want this hunt to be memorable, but for the right reasons. A few years down the road when you know the area like the back of your hand and are comfortable with the terrain, then yeah. But the father in me worries about new hunters out there on their own. Don’t forget a good first aid kit (with tourniquet). And look into a SPOT or something similar. Don’t expect to have cell service when you need it. Ok, dad-mode off. Lol.

Have fun!!
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I have a love hate relationship with quads as well. I was trying to use the reaching out to further areas idea as justification to use it. After this weekend scouting trip I think I'm just going to focus on areas closer by to camp as there is just so much land to cover. I think really learning a smaller area will be more beneficial that just grazing over a wider one. The quad will just be a handy scouting tool and used for (hopefully) hauling a deer out.

I really like the camping out overnight idea, gonna try to make that work.

I'll be upgrading my GPS unit to one with an SOS feature. I'm young enough to think I'm invincible, but old enough to know better.

abramh said:
I've hunted deer in 55A for six years, my whole deer hunting career, and spend a lot of time there all year fishing, bird hunting, riding the MANY logging roads. It is a big unit. Where are you hunting in it? I hunt near the border with WMU 57. The snow always gets the deer moving, and pushes them to their winter yards. Round Lake is a important yarding area, and the bow hunters in Killaloe, Round Lake and Golden Lake get some big bucks during it. There is another yarding area on the Peterson Road and we were lucky to catch them moving there last season during the first week. Whitney had a couple inches of snow mid October and I think that got them moving that way. Second week can be COLD and there is always snow. Quite a bit of snow fell the first week last year. Maybe it just seems colder because it is the first cold weather I see. :) Have also hunted in short sleeves the first week. I always take the first week off, just because that is when my gang hunts.

It can be really hit or miss though, we have had two years with nothing out of my six, I hunt with a gang of five. Often more moose sign than deer sign. There is a camp log going back about 30 years and there have always been good and bad years, even when the gang was bigger. They cut different areas every year, so your good spot may be bare next year. I believe ours is on the list within the next five years. For quads, I honestly believe that the deer don't care too much. They hear them all year, so I don't think the first two weeks of November makes a difference. All the gunshots that first week makes more of a difference than a four wheeler.

Most of my favourite spots are somewhere in that WMU, so I am sure you will find one as well. If you get your deer early, make sure you have a shotgun for some partridge. They are partridge up here. And pickerel not walleye.
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I'll be northwest of Madawaska, pretty much walking distance to the hydro lines up there.

I can attest to seeing more moose sign, and moose in general. Also I've bumped more partridge this year than I ever have.

It looks like they will be cutting in my area soon. They've been widening a few of the old roads for truck access and clearing areas for equipment. Is there some place to find out where they plan on cutting in the future? Or is it more word of mouth?
John Y Cannuck said:
If you can handle cold and snow, second week is almost always better I'm in 55b. Generally fewer hunters too, as all the wuss's stay home :)

It will likely take you a few seasons to iron out which method of hunting is best for you, and your area. I tend to switch when I feel like it, take a few days in the stand, and walk when the stand is not productive or it's too damned cold to sit still.

Best advice I can give you, is to be still. Sitting or walking, minimize movement, and noise. The more anal you are about it the better. Yes, you can go out and shoot deer making noise, hell, I've shot deer while walking through the bush baying like a hound. But you'll have better luck being quiet and motionless.
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One of my few life skills is being able to completely embrace the suck. Most of my winter involves fixing buses outside by the side of the road so my threshold for cold is pretty high.

Being quiet and motionless is a skill I'll need to work on. But I imagine that'll come with experience.

With all the pros listed for both weeks, I think I'm going to need to pull some strings and take both weeks.

buckchaser said:
As was mentioned earlier, prepare for company - LOTS of company - during both weeks of the rifle season in any Eastern Ontario WMU on public land.

Not to be negative, but not everyone you bump into will be friendly. There's always "those types" on public ground.

I would echo the advice to either get some distance from access or find the nastiest cover in more accessible areas.
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That's what I'm worried about but I'm getting ready to expect lots of company. Fortunately the area around the camp is pretty nasty. I was up in the area by coincidence last year during moose rifle season and noticed that the trains of ATVs just blew right by the area. I'm hoping that pattern repeats in November, but I'm not counting on it.
 
Stripes said:
I have a love hate relationship with quads as well. I was trying to use the reaching out to further areas idea as justification to use it. After this weekend scouting trip I think I'm just going to focus on areas closer by to camp as there is just so much land to cover. I think really learning a smaller area will be more beneficial that just grazing over a wider one. The quad will just be a handy scouting tool and used for (hopefully) hauling a deer out.

I really like the camping out overnight idea, gonna try to make that work.
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It adds a whole new experience to the ordeal. Makes you feel a little more “one with the woods” or whatever. Not my cup of tea for EVERY night, but once or twice a season makes me feel a little more “manly” lol. (And then I go back to the cabin with the fireplace, hunting mags, and lazy boy, lol)

I'll be upgrading my GPS unit to one with an SOS feature. I'm young enough to think I'm invincible, but old enough to know better.


I'll be northwest of Madawaska, pretty much walking distance to the hydro lines up there.

I can attest to seeing more moose sign, and moose in general. Also I've bumped more partridge this year than I ever have.
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By the way, seeing and this is GUNnutz, what shootin’ irons are you taking with you? You mentioned having a background in small game, so I’m sure you’ve got something to take along for bunnies and grouse if you tag out on deer, but do you have anything for getting the wee critters if the opportunity presents itself earlier? Something like a mouse fart or a gamegetter? (Or a sling shot, but I could never master accuracy)

It looks like they will be cutting in my area soon. They've been widening a few of the old roads for truck access and clearing areas for equipment. Is there some place to find out where they plan on cutting in the future? Or is it more word of mouth?

One of my few life skills is being able to completely embrace the suck. Most of my winter involves fixing buses outside by the side of the road so my threshold for cold is pretty high.

Being quiet and motionless is a skill I'll need to work on. But I imagine that'll come with experience.

With all the pros listed for both weeks,
I think I'm going to need to pull some strings and take both weeks.
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Yes! Attaboy :)





That's what I'm worried about but I'm getting ready to expect lots of company. Fortunately the area around the camp is pretty nasty. I was up in the area by coincidence last year during moose rifle season and noticed that the trains of ATVs just blew right by the area. I'm hoping that pattern repeats in November, but I'm not counting on it.
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kodiakjack said:
It adds a whole new experience to the ordeal. Makes you feel a little more “one with the woods” or whatever. Not my cup of tea for EVERY night, but once or twice a season makes me feel a little more “manly” lol. (And then I go back to the cabin with the fireplace, hunting mags, and lazy boy, lol)



By the way, seeing and this is GUNnutz, what shootin’ irons are you taking with you? You mentioned having a background in small game, so I’m sure you’ve got something to take along for bunnies and grouse if you tag out on deer, but do you have anything for getting the wee critters if the opportunity presents itself earlier? Something like a mouse fart or a gamegetter? (Or a sling shot, but I could never master accuracy)



Yes! Attaboy :)
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The primary shooting iron is a Tikka T3x battue in .308 wearing a leupold 1.5-4x20. I've got it pretty dialed in with Nosler 150gr ballistic tips over a healthy dose of IMR4895. The back up is an old Husqvarna M96 in 8x57 with a Burris 3-9x40. Was working on a load for it but Varget has become unobtainable, fortunately it likes the S&B Spce stuff. The back ups back up is a Marlin 1895 trapper catapulting 300gr hollowpoints over a case full of 4198

One of my buddies is loaning me his little badger, but I'm thinking of picking up a Cooey 39. I like my 75s but they are just slightly too bulky. The slingshot idea isn't bad, I wonder if I still have the skill that I did in my youth!
 
Stripes said:
The primary shooting iron is a Tikka T3x battue in .308 wearing a leupold 1.5-4x20. I've got it pretty dialed in with Nosler 150gr ballistic tips over a healthy dose of IMR4895. The back up is an old Husqvarna M96 in 8x57 with a Burris 3-9x40. Was working on a load for it but Varget has become unobtainable, fortunately it likes the S&B Spce stuff. The back ups back up is a Marlin 1895 trapper catapulting 300gr hollowpoints over a case full of 4198

One of my buddies is loaning me his little badger, but I'm thinking of picking up a Cooey 39. I like my 75s but they are just slightly too bulky. The slingshot idea isn't bad, I wonder if I still have the skill that I did in my youth!
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Oh man, I’d be tempted to make the Trapper my numero uno! I’ve never hunted 55, but I know in 57, you’d seldom get an opportunity to shoot further than the 1895 can handle. You should at least make it your “overnight camp out” gun. Perfect tool for around camp. (And small enough to snuggle with in the tent when every twig-snap at 2am becomes a 600 pound black bear in your head lol)

As a reloader, you might want to look at making up some mouse farts to throw in a pocket: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1335340-Mouse-fart-recipes

There’s recipes for 308 and 45-70 in there. They’ve been a silver lining on a few hunts. Nice to put some wild game in the pan, even if it’s not a venison back strap :p Grouse schnitzel makes a fine supper. I tried hasenpfeffer this year at deer camp too (been waiting to try it since watching Bugs Bunny as a kid). Lotta work for one rabbit. Good though. Different, but good.
 
kodiakjack said:
Oh man, I’d be tempted to make the Trapper my numero uno! I’ve never hunted 55, but I know in 57, you’d seldom get an opportunity to shoot further than the 1895 can handle. You should at least make it your “overnight camp out” gun. Perfect tool for around camp. (And small enough to snuggle with in the tent when every twig-snap at 2am becomes a 600 pound black bear in your head lol)

As a reloader, you might want to look at making up some mouse farts to throw in a pocket: https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1335340-Mouse-fart-recipes

There’s recipes for 308 and 45-70 in there. They’ve been a silver lining on a few hunts. Nice to put some wild game in the pan, even if it’s not a venison back strap :p Grouse schnitzel makes a fine supper. I tried hasenpfeffer this year at deer camp too (been waiting to try it since watching Bugs Bunny as a kid). Lotta work for one rabbit. Good though. Different, but good.
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I actually bought the trapper for this very purpose! But due to having a seriously hard time finding the components I wanted to load with I haven't had nearly enough trigger time with it. So the tikka is getting the call up, I've got a lot of confidence with that thing. With the odds stacked against me already, I'll take this one little edge. At this point in the year I think I'd be better off spending more time in the woods and less time at the range. Next year however it's coming with me, 45-70 is my favorite caliber

So that's what you meant by mousefart loads. That's not a bad idea. I've got a pile of trail boss sitting around from when I had an 1886 that sounds like it would be ideal for this in 45-70.
 
Stripes said:
Sounds like sitting and waiting is getting the popular vote so I'm going to plan around that.

I'll be hunting public land so a blind that I can pack in and out would be ideal. Or something I can make cheaply out there and leave for the season.

For dragging the deer out I'll have my quad and the quads god gave me. Been practicing dragging 150lbs of deadweight behind me but I can see being in the woods doing it will be harder than a flat driveway.

Good advice on where to look. I've secured some decent topo maps of the area and I'll brush up on my use of a compass. I've got a good GPS unit and the iHunter app that I've been using to tag points of interest. But I try to avoid relying to heavily on them.

Going to grab a few trail cameras before the weekend and set them up when I get back out there. Should I go for quantity over quality here? There's a lot of ground to cover

Really appreciate the advice so far guys!
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If you are ground hunting in a blind, other hunters cannot see the orange you are wearing. A good idea to hang a blaze orange t-shirt on a branch above your blind.
 
Time for an update! (For anyone still interested)

I've been doing as much scouting as time allows. But even spending a modest amount of time out there I feel like I've picked up on a few things. I've found quite a few transition areas, feeding areas and deer trails.

I picked up a cheap amazon camera and laid it out in a nearby spot that looks promising. Likely too close to the atv trails to actually hunt but I didn't want to hike it out 5 miles only to get 4000 pictures of a bush moving since I'm still playing with the settings. Holy smokes, I must have laid it along a doe highway. Seeing two groups of does regularly pass through was a big motivational boost, along with tonnes of other wildlife (including a few bears). No bucks though! Grabbed a few more of the cameras as they were cheap and surprisingly good quality. Going to set them up this weekend.

I could use some gear recommendations though. My usual small game apparel of carhartts and denim might not cut it. The idea of sitting out in November wearing wet cotton isn't too appealing. With the how wildly the weather can swing and the glut of hunting clothing out there I'm really scratching my head. What do you guys use? I'm contemplating getting a cheap quiet outer layer from cabelas/bass pro and wearing some serious long John's underneath. I'd like to have the flexibility to sit in a blind or go for a walk without burning up or freezing.

I'm also in the market for a new pack and boots. I've pretty much worn the soles off my last pair of Redhead brand boots and would like something that'll last longer than one season. Any recommendations would be great!
 
Where there are Does, the bucks won't be far behind come November, pending on the weather an water proof outer shell to cover your layers will work, shed off layers as it warms up, leave the water proof shell in the pack if its dry and warm, etc, there's not really one be all end all, its more of a whatever the weather is, in my humble opinion,

Good luck and have fun!
 
Merino wool base layers are the best if you ask me. But there is no option that will allow you to sit and walk without adding or removing layers as needed.
 
Can you hike/ stalk deer with any colour backpack? (probably not camo, but like a plain black bag?)

or does it have to be hunter orange? Not even sure if i have seen hunter orange bags
 
alltieear said:
Can you hike/ stalk deer with any colour backpack? (probably not camo, but like a plain black bag?)

or does it have to be hunter orange? Not even sure if i have seen hunter orange bags
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I think you have to have a certain amount of the orange vest visable from all sides, that is why they make orange backpacks and backpack covers as just regular packs will cover too much of the orange vest.

From the regs:

A hunter orange garment and head cover must be worn. The hunter orange garment must cover a minimum of 2,580 square centimetres (400 square inches) above the waist and be visible from all sides. Open mesh or camouflage hunter orange must not be part of the 2,580 square centimetres (400 square inches). A hunting coat or vest generally meets this requirement. The hunter orange head cover may have: open mesh, a peak or brim colour other than hunter orange, and a crest or logo which does not completely cover the hunter orange on the side where it is affixed. The head cover must not contain camouflage material.
 
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alltieear said:
Can you hike/ stalk deer with any colour backpack? (probably not camo, but like a plain black bag?)

or does it have to be hunter orange? Not even sure if i have seen hunter orange bags
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I stitched a cheap dollar store orange vest into to top pocket of my backpack, and rolled it up inside. If I’m rifle hunting with it on, I just open the top pocket and unfurl it over the back. Last CO I ran into commented on it positively.
 
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