Beginner Hunting In Southern Ontario

[User With No Name]

What does a beginner have the best chance of encountering in the southern Ontario wild?
I went out searching and spotted some turkey and waterfowl, but didn’t see any small upland game.
Am I out of luck if I want to hunt grouse in Southern Ontario?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Vewdu]

Squirrels, grouse and doves are what you're gonna see mostly and have the best luck with. Find your local county trails that allow hunting and you'll encounter a fair few.

 

[Scoutertracker]

Some Conservation Authorities allow hunting in some of their conservation areas. Other small game species include cottontails and European hares. How far south?

 

[User With No Name]

Some Conservation Authorities allow hunting in some of their conservation areas. Other small game species include cottontails and European hares. How far south?

I’m in the GTA but been spending some time hiking around Muskoka and Simcoe.

 

[1ABNDT]

Coyotes year round

 

[Rcote85]

What does a beginner have the best chance of encountering in the southern Ontario wild?
I went out searching and spotted some turkey and waterfowl, but didn’t see any small upland game.
Am I out of luck if I want to hunt grouse in Southern Ontario?

Thanks in advance.

I too have seen limited grouse in my years in southern Ontario. However, count you blessings about the turkeys. You don’t get that out west.
Good luck buddy

 

[jlovie]

In my area of swo, which is the Grand Bend area, grouse are nadda. Turkey, squirrel, geese, deer and possibly doves if you get lucky. Finding a place to hunt said animals is another thing. The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Area here has several tracks of lands you can hunt on, provided you meet their qualifications, look on their website. Even then, you 3ish hours away. Hopefully there's something similar closer to you. Check out the Mentor section of this forum, you might find some luck there as well.

 

[Scoutertracker]

I’m in the GTA but been spending some time hiking around Muskoka and Simcoe.

There's crown land to hunt in Muskoka. Game is a bit different as well compared to farther south.. Instead of cottontails and European hares, there will be snowshoe hares. Gray squirrels are common. There's also ruffed grouse.

 

[FatCatsDad]

What does a beginner have the best chance of encountering in the southern Ontario wild?
I went out searching and spotted some turkey and waterfowl, but didn’t see any small upland game.
Am I out of luck if I want to hunt grouse in Southern Ontario?

Thanks in advance.

Southern Ontario is a huge area, what major city is closest to you.

I still have a book somewhere around here with all the locations of legal public land I found and hunted on when I lived in ON.

From Flamborough to Norfolk county, Tillsonburg, Alymer etc

I believe there is more deer and better tasting deer in these areas than the northern areas.

There are many small tracts available to hunt and a few hydrocuts available for some fall deer.

Wherever you decide to go check the bylaws for firearm discharge rules.