Closest area to London for the deer rifle hunt

I know where the boundaries are but where would the closest place be beyond that. I only have 1 day so im kind winging it and hoping I might get lucky. A day in the woods is better than any day at work! :)
 
Check out properties owned by the SVCA. Two that come to mind are Bell's Lake (2500 acres) and Greenoch Swamp (12,000 acres). Both public and totally free. Be warned they are a challenge to hunt - not so much because of pressure but they are both crazy thick wooded swamps that hold mythical monster bucks.

Bell's is in 82a west of Markdale and Greenoch is either in 84 or 85 (can't remember) not too far from Walkerton.
 
Cintax said:
Those are controlled hunt areas...
Click to expand...

You might want to check the regs. Greenoch is in 84 and and Bells is in 82a. Both those units have rifle seasons that open on Monday. No controlled in either. Perhaps you are thinking of 85 as I said I couldn't remember if Greenoch was in 84 or 85 but knew it was rifle. I just checked it and it is in 84 - no controlled.
 
I tried finding out more info on Greenoch but there isnt very much out there online that I could find. What are the boundaries 9f the area and are there trails and parking lots?
 
If its like the conservation authorities by me, perimeter will be signed, and parking lots marked. I realise you'd have to show up and figure it out, it would surprise me if they didn't have maps online.

Simply looking at the map they provide with google maps- the south perimeter is the river, bisecting road is concession 6 and the east side is hwy 20!
 
I have used my canoe for access via the Teeswater river in the past. There is/used to be a small parking area on the west side of the bridge on concession road 2. Heading north on the river from conc. 2 you will get to the SW part of the conservation land after about 150 yards. From this point on the land on your right is private and the land on the left is conservation. It stays this way for about the next mile or so. No trail maps exist that I know of and it was typically bush whack once out of the canoe. Hunting this way I looked for runs, fresh track and active scrapes and hunted those. Bring a compass and GPS as it is easy as hell to get turned around in there. Lots of times there are also trees down across the river so be prepared to get out and drag around. Good idea to throw a bow saw, hatchet/axe, pruning shears and a machete in the canoe as well. Lever gun with open sights will serve well.

Good luck. Been a lot of years since I hunted in there but it is a pretty cool place that seems like an island of wilderness in an otherwise largely agricultural area.

Alternatively you could try the Carrick Forest a few clicks south of Mildmay. It is a forest management unit owned by the SVCA. I have never been there but understand it is easier to hunt/access with more trails. As with anything, easier access means more pressure. It is also quite a bit smaller in size - guessing 400 or 500 acres. It is probably 20 or 30 minutes closer to London as well.
 
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