Deer Hunting WMU 47

STR8 Shot

STR8 Shot

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Somewhere in Ontario
So....it is my first crack at hunting.

I have applied for an antlerless tag for WMU 47, fingers crossed I get drawn. Any tips for that WMU? I would like to hear others experience, anyone trying for this area this year?

I am not looking for locations as that is the fun part. I am likely going to try tracking as opposed to driving the deer out. Looking forward to patterning this spring and summer.
 
Are you by yourself? Or in a group?

Pushes are the way to go in central Ontario for the most part, but that obviously cant happen if you're alone.

A slow walk would be my next step. Pick a gun you can shoulder quickly, and practice free hand shooting. You could realistically spend a whole week sitting on a game trail in central Ontario and not see a thing. Deer density arent high like in some places.
 
I'm trying round up a few people, my brother is waiting for his PAL and still has to get his sh¡t together. I'm hoping not to go it alone. I'll be doing some camping up at Grundy with the kids this summer, so it may be another chance to do some glassing.
 
Keep in mind most fields/open areas you'll find will be private property, so you'll have to do some door knocking.

If you find a field that has deer and you can get permission, that would absolutely be the place to go if you're solo.
 
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I used to hunt WMU 47 years ago. We used to go into a camp called Clear Lake Camp over by Restoule Provincial Park. Usually 20 guys in camp plus the camp owners and a couple doggers. Usually fill all the tags in camp. Worst year we only tagged 15.
The camp was sold and the new owners jacked up the price 400%, never went back.
 
Plenty of crown in the area, and the hunting will be tough but lots of room to explore and that is half the fun. You can pretty much forget about "glassing". Don't be picky, any deer will be a success.
 
I appreciate the replies folks, thanks!

I was planning to hunt crown land, as there looks to be an abundance of it. It seems as though I forgot how the terrain was when I was up at Grundy last year, the area was pretty much all forest. And rock. :)
I suppose that does not give me the "glassing" opportunities I was looking for. Oh well...I'm sure I'll have a good time.
 
Try and find some choke points to hunt. Using google maps look for some ponds. Scout these ponds out and try and find one with a ridge that runs parallel to it that will force the deer where you want them. One of my favorite watches is this exact setup. Big pond, steep rock ridge with about 30m in between them. The deer funnel down it an have to go right by you.

And keep in mind that you might run into other people using the Crown. That is an area which gets lots of hunters, and likely has some long time established hunt camps hunting the area.
 
I hunted the area your speaking of down past Grundy Lake PP towards Lost Chanel for many years. Rough country, thick bush, rock, beaver ponds with swamps. Be aware, although there is a lot of crown land there is also dozens of old established hunt camps in the area. They are very protective and set in there ways on long established hunting territories on crown land. Generally each camp knows where the other hunts and stays clear of it out of courtesy and respect. Your not going to know who's who at the zoo so you are going to step on toes. Since it is crown land you have the same right as anyone else. Just don't be surprised if some folks you meet are not overly welcoming. Almost all hunting is done by making runs, a lot of camps have dogs.

Where do you plan on staying? The Lost Chanel Inn has some cabins to rent to deer hunters. A nasty time of year to be camping. The Inn is down the road past Grundy (15miles +)you will come to a big power line that crosses the road, past that is Coles Lake on the left, the Lost Chanel Inn road should be there about's on the right. You best call them ASAP to make a reservation. Nice clean place, our old camp was just 10 min up the road so we got fresh milk and bread there. Another option is to see if any camps in the area are willing to take you on. This would take some preseason investigation on your part. Also if you look in the back of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters magazine come closer to fall there is often camps advertising for new camp members, but not necessarily in area 47. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the tips Blasted_saber and MrGoat.

I'm planning on roughing it, I don't know yet if I'll be using a tent or building a temporary shelter. Either way, I don't want to rent a cabin, nothing wrong with it, but I feel it takes away from the hunting experience. :D

How can I find out if there are established camps where I want to hunt, is there any documentation stating so and so runs this particular camp? Or a map of where these camps are located so I know where not to go?
 
Bring a tent and a lots of tarps. You dont want to deal with anything more temporary then that. Its hard enough getting gear dried out in a camp, you're going to want all the help you can get to make yourself warm and comfortable. Keep in mind its often minus temperatures, and not uncommon to hit -10C that time of year. And if its not -10 and clear, its probably +3 and pissing rain. Or snowing.

I myself hunt in 49, not all that far away.

You're going to need a stout rope for hanging your deer if you're successful. A small pulley might be of use in that regard. Canadian Tire around here sells a folding gambrel and pulley with rope included, that might be a good bet.
 
Every once in a while new fellas like yourselves come up and camp, but you never "ever" see them back for a second time. Two reasons the weather is usually bad with rain and snow, thus they are cold miserable and wet, second the established camps make life miserable for them as I will almost guarantee you, you will be camping in some ones claimed territory of runs.

The MNR knows where ever camp is as 98% of them are on land lease. They may or may not share this info. Some you can see from the road, others are way back in and are only ATV/walking access. The Ontario Hunt Camps Association may be of help. Camps do not have to belong but many do. The camp I belonged to in the area did. And I registered our new camp with them when we built it.

I realize and understand you want the whole hunting experience of camping in the bush, cooking over an open fire, etc. it is all very romantic just like our fore fathers did. They only did it because they had no other choice until they got a proper cabin built. Why do you think all these camps got built in the first place??? Because it was to dam cold wet and miserable hunting out of a tent and wearing wet cloths for a week that you never really get dried out. Then there's sleeping in a wet and damp sleeping bag. Many of these camps were established back in the 1920's when hunters got off the train and hiked in. Our camp for example and several others were established far before that and had a 99yr. lease's on the land and those leases ran out about 15yrs ago and were renewed on short term 20 yr. leases. by the MNR. My old camp is actually on it's 3rd cabin.
Like all of us have done, you will have to do what you have to do, go on the romantic hunt and be cold wet and miserable, get that experience under your belt and move on to a hunt camp that has a woodstove that is always to hot and a bed with mice, an out house with a cold seat and lots of greasy fried food and drink to much beer playing cards and swapping stories at night.

Take some good experienced advice, join a hunt camp and save your self a lot of BS and aggravation. All camps need young members with strong backs to do the chores and dogging etc. it is all part of earning your stripes at the camp. This is male bonding at it's best.

I know you will not take the advice, and that you will have to try the camping thing just to say you did it!!!
 
Again, I thank you all for your input.

I have been camping since I was too young to remember, and have only had the luxury of a "cottage" the last few years. The "cottage" is more along the lines of a house, which is why I take my youngins camping every year. I am also an avid ice fisherman, so cold/wet weather does not scare me much, unless I'm submerged in it. However, I do appreciate your concerns.
 
blasted_saber said:
Just preparing you for what you're up against.
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Please don't get me wrong, I am not in any way trying to discredit any of the above advice. Matter of fact, it's all been quite helpful.

When I go, I want to go out and "be one with nature" if you will. Albeit, maybe "one with nature-freezing my a$$ off!" :)
That is partly the reason I took interest in hunting, I don't know if it is the "romanticism" of it all, but I feel that it is the outright natural beast instinct that compels me to do so. Besides, the key to cold/wet weather is to be prepared, as best you can.
 
STR8 Shot said:
Please don't get me wrong, I am not in any way trying to discredit any of the above advice. Matter of fact, it's all been quite helpful.

When I go, I want to go out and "be one with nature" if you will. Albeit, maybe "one with nature-freezing my a$$ off!" :)
That is partly the reason I took interest in hunting, I don't know if it is the "romanticism" of it all, but I feel that it is the outright natural beast instinct that compels me to do so. Besides, the key to cold/wet weather is to be prepared, as best you can.
Click to expand...

I applaud you and wish you luck. Keep us posted on how it goes!
 
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