Buddy at work invited me to hunt deer this fall...

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...but I'm not quite sure I understand the process for getting a license/tags.

I'm in Ontario (WMU 65) and I already have my outdoors card and small game license so I know that part is covered. Apparently he hunts up around Calabogie so he could be in one of several WMU's depending on where exactly they set up camp.

The regs say:

There are two types of opportunities for Ontario resident
deer hunters that involve computerized random draws for
validation tags. They are:
• The Antlerless Deer Draw – deadline July 2, 2013.
• The Controlled Deer Hunt Draw – deadline September 3, 2013.

He told me when I buy my deer license, it's good for a buck anywhere in the province, and I only have to enter the draw if I want an antlerless deer. The way I'm reading the regs it says you only have the 2 above options...there's no mention of just buying your deer license at Service Ontario and being able to go get a buck during open season. If he's wrong, I've already missed the deadline. If he's right, where does it say so?

Am I missing something or just over-thinking this? I'll be needing a proper hunting rifle if I go (My Mosin and M305 probably not a good idea)and I'd rather put off the expense until next year if this year is already a bust.
 
Don't despair your 305 will work great on deer although abit heavy to carry. Your buddy is correct. First deer tag you purchase in Ont is good for a buck in any regular open season and subject to that particular seasons restrictions. Get out there this year with your 305 and then decide if deer hunting is for you before spending all the cash on a new rifle.
 
In rifle areas tag = buck

Shotgun/black powder areas tag = bow tag for buck.

Must apply for the controlled hunt after or before buying tag to be able to shot buck or doe for shotgun/black powder.
 
Thanks guys.

My big concern with the M305 is how loud it is to chamber a round...got told I'd likely scare away anything I planned on shooting. I don't know if the guy was a Fudd or not, but to him having a round in the chamber with the safety on before you actually saw a deer is strictly verboten. Buddy who invited me doesn't want me to bring my Mosin because his brother had one and they said the safety is just too damn dangerous. I don't completely disagree with this, it truly is a pain in the ass and I wouldn't trust having a round in the chamber myself...but it's far more quiet to put one in the pipe on the Mosin than the M305.
 
As for your license, you'll be restricted to a buck only tag now as you missed the anterless draw. However if you are party hunting with your friend, and he has an anterless tag, you may shoot an anterless deer. He is required to tag it with his tag. Review the section of the regs on "party hunting"

I wouldnt call your friend a fudd, more like paranoid. Sitting on your watch with a round chambered and the safety on is perfectly safe. Literally millions of people do it every single year, without accident.

Im a dogger. I walk around with a round chambered and the safety on. Same way every dogger at my camp has done since its inception some 50 years ago. No accidents. Nothing even close.
 
I don't know about the M305 in particular but I can chamber a round pretty darn quiet in my semi's (rem 7400, ruger mini14 and various shotguns) simply by holding the charging handle and slowly allowing it to chamber a round after releasing the bolt. You just have to remember to give the handle a bump forward with the palm of you hand to ensure its fully chambered and will fire. Could be worth trying at the range a few times to see how it works for you.
Of course a new rifle is always fun.
The no chambered round before seeing game seems funny to me.
 
As for your license, you'll be restricted to a buck only tag now as you missed the anterless draw. However if you are party hunting with your friend, and he has an anterless tag, you may shoot an anterless deer. He is required to tag it with his tag. Review the section of the regs on "party hunting"

Better make that agreement with your buddy ahead of time, lol.
 
Thanks guys.

My big concern with the M305 is how loud it is to chamber a round...got told I'd likely scare away anything I planned on shooting. I don't know if the guy was a Fudd or not, but to him having a round in the chamber with the safety on before you actually saw a deer is strictly verboten. Buddy who invited me doesn't want me to bring my Mosin because his brother had one and they said the safety is just too damn dangerous. I don't completely disagree with this, it truly is a pain in the ass and I wouldn't trust having a round in the chamber myself...but it's far more quiet to put one in the pipe on the Mosin than the M305.

HA HA, nope! I have shot two deer with my M14 & I chambered the round before leaving the vehicle for my stand. No noise at all at my stand, two dead deer... Your M14 will be just fine!

I did get a chuckle out of your buddies fudd rant though!

Cheers
Jay
 
Used to hunt with my Ljungman, no different then the M305. Only time we unloaded was if a few people were walking single file through the woods. First guy was locked and loaded, all guys following were empty.

Looking forward to hunting with my M305.
 
HA HA, nope! I have shot two deer with my M14 & I chambered the round before leaving the vehicle for my stand. No noise at all at my stand, two dead deer... Your M14 will be just fine!

I did get a chuckle out of your buddies fudd rant though!

Cheers
Jay

Well if he IS a Fudd...he's gonna have a fit when I show up with this lol

 
I'd say roll with what you have. You might get a few comments but in the end, the gun will do its job if you do. To me, it doesn't matter if it looks traditional or not.

If you decide to buy something else, you don't necessarily have to spend a fortune on a new hunting rifle. There are plenty of Swedish Mausers in 7x57, 8x57, 30-06, and 6.5x55 for next to nothing that will get the job done.

If you want to go new Tikka, Ruger, Remington and Weatherby all have decent bolt action rifles in the sub $1000 range. A nice older Winchester M70 is also a good choice.
 
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You might need a bit more magnification for that rifle in order to take ethical shots. At the very least, make sure you know your limits in terms of range.
 
Be real careful, its his dance he calls the tune. You might be uninvited or not invited next year

You could buy a savage axis in 308 for $300 including scope, and still buy lots of ammunition for practicing a little
 
No dogs AFAIK. Most of the guys sit in stands all day...which is something else I'm not the keenest on as I'm afraid of heights lol.

Even scoped I probably wouldn't take a shot past 150 yards my first time out. I can hit empty spraypaint cans at 100 yards with the red dot. Would be a little easier if I screwed the 2x magnifier onto the SPARC.

I've been looking at the Axis for a while now...but I'm a bit spoiled by my FCP-K (.223)...not sure I could do without the accutrigger at this point. I don't mind spending a little extra to get exactly what I want, it's just a matter of whether I actually need it.
 
Once you get to your stand, load the rifle nice and quiet. Buddy will never know. I've noticed a lot of Ontario hunters have a real aversion to walking to the stand with a loaded rifle and have seen some get quite ornery about it on the board. I think the paranoia is stupid but maybe after all those years of drinking Liberal and NDP tap water (it's just like the Kool-Aid but more dilute) they've convinced themselves that it's impossible to walk through the woods with a loaded rifle without accidentally shooting a kitten every second step.
 
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