Confused about deer hunting in Ontario.. am I guaranteed one deer tag per season?

cerebral_bore

cerebral_bore

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Does my outdoors card guarantee me one deer tag per season?

Do I need to attach a game seal/tag to the deer? If so, where do I get this? I got a plastic Deer License Receipt when my Hunting License was processed, but it clearly says "THIS IS NOT A LICENSE Apply to the draw at..." Does this mean its not a tag, either? I realize its not a license... That's what my outdoors card is, no?

I was under the impression I don't need to apply for a draw to take a deer in the "open season" after bowhunting and muzzle loaders, and that I can hunt in any WMU for that deer in that window.

In general I'm really confused and need someone to get down to brass tacks and explain this for me.. My OHEP instructor did a pretty good job but my hunting partner and I are novice and have differing opinions about what we legally need before we can hunt deer.

I did some searching online and couldn't even find what EXACTLY I need to hunt deer in Ontario.
 
Biggunners said:
Next time don't sleep in the class.

Yes ONE antlered deer, anywhere in Ontario.
Click to expand...

I don't understand what tag I need to attach though.

When I got my Outdoors card I got 4 cards:

1. Outdoors Card ON 2015 w. Small Game 1 Year on back
2. Yellow flimsy Deer License Receipt that says "This is NOT a license". (Okay... then is it a tag? What is it then? Says "Fee: $42.86")
3. Yellow flimsy Small Game License Tag-1 YR
4. Yellow flimsy Temp Outdoors Card

So which one of these do I physically attach to an antlered deer? Or is tagging it even required? I've never hunted before. Go easy on me.
 
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Your original deer license comes with one deer tag/seal which is good for a buck only in any WMU that has an open season. Check the regs that apply to the area (WMU) you plan on hunting on the dates and firearm permitted.

If you want to take a doe with that original deer license then you must apply for a doe tag (antlerless) for that WMU you plan on hunting....
In a nutshell, your original deer license has a deer tag/seal attached to it and is only good for a buck (antlered) deer.
 
fratri said:
Your original deer license comes with one deer tag/seal which is good for a buck only in any WMU that has an open season. Check the regs that apply to the area (WMU) you plan on hunting on the dates and firearm permitted.

If you want to take a doe with that original deer license then you must apply for a doe tag (antlerless) for that WMU you plan on hunting....
In a nutshell, your original deer license has a deer tag/seal attached to it and is only good for a buck (antlered) deer.
Click to expand...

Is my original deer license my Outdoors Card or is it a flimsy piece of yellow plastic? Because I only have one flimsy piece of yellow plastic that says anything about Deer, and it clearly says on it "THIS IS NOT A LICENSE"...
 
Post a picture of what you have. Sounds like the seal that comes with the purchase of the deer license. Your outdoors card is nothing more than proof of your being able to hunt/fish in the province of Ontario. It is proof you are in the system as a hunter having passed the OHE course. With that card you may then purchase the necessary licenses for the species you wish to hunt. When you purchase a deer license a seal/tag is provided along with the purchase. You are automatically allowed one ANTLERED deer in Ont where an open season may occur and if you shoot said ANTLERED deer you afix that seal you were given as per the instructions included with seal or as explained in the Ontario Hunting Regulations synopsis available at any license issuer.
 
They will mail your tag and licence to you later this summer.
The yellow piece of paper is a receipt to prove you paid for it.
Your outdoor card proves you have taken a hunter ed course and can buy a hunting licence.
 
I recommend book marking The Hunting Ontario website which should point you to your answers http://www.ontario.ca/travel-and-recreation/hunting

The licensing info can be found here and also explains about tags and seals. http://www.ontario.ca/travel-and-recreation/hunting-licence-ontario-residents

There is a table which lists the following:
For antlered deer you need - an outdoors card, a license tag each year, a seal
For antlerless deer you need - an outdoors card, a license tag each year, a seal, to have a validation tag from applying to game draw.

If you did not enter into the antlerless deer draw earlier this year, then you will only be able to hunt for an antlered deer.

Hope this helps. There is an ridiculous amount of licenses/paper work but it is the system we find ourselves in. I also suggest you down load the hunting regulations pdf for more info.
 
Your Outdoors Card is not a licence. It's proof you paid the Tax required to be allowed to buy a licence that only anglers and hunters are required to pay. It's basically a licence to buy a licence. Thank Bob Rae for it.
One buck deer in any WMU that has an open season and does not have limited hunter numbers or any other WMU specific restrictions/conditions. You can't buy a second deer tag in/for all WMU's. You apply for a draw to be allowed to buy a doe tag.
Like gunaddict99 says, it's ridiculous, but the civil servants at the MNR need to keep their empire.
 
cerebral_bore said:
Does my outdoors card guarantee me one deer tag per season?

Do I need to attach a game seal/tag to the deer? If so, where do I get this? I got a plastic Deer License Receipt when my Hunting License was processed, but it clearly says "THIS IS NOT A LICENSE Apply to the draw at..." Does this mean its not a tag, either? I realize its not a license... That's what my outdoors card is, no?

I was under the impression I don't need to apply for a draw to take a deer in the "open season" after bowhunting and muzzle loaders, and that I can hunt in any WMU for that deer in that window.

In general I'm really confused and need someone to get down to brass tacks and explain this for me.. My OHEP instructor did a pretty good job but my hunting partner and I are novice and have differing opinions about what we legally need before we can hunt deer.

I did some searching online and couldn't even find what EXACTLY I need to hunt deer in Ontario.
Click to expand...

1) you must have your outdoors card hunting version ( this allows you the opportunity to purchase a deer tag good for one antlered deer in all WMU's that permit deer hunting " not all WMU's do" you can buy this licence online, telephone or in person at a sporting good store.

2) when you buy your licence you will have an opportunity to apply to a draw(lottery) for an antlerless tag providing your WMU provides these tags ( WMU usually has excess doe or deer population) and you do it before the draw date. Typically before June 30th in Ontario.

3) you will receive a yellow tag either via mail if you entered the antlerless draw . If you were successful in the draw it will say valid for and antlerless deer in what ever WMU you chose. If not it is a valid tag for an antlered deer in any WMU with and open season matching the weapons you are allowed to hunt with in that WMU during the time frame you are hunting.

4) the yellow tag has 2 parts one portion is your licence ( do not toss it ) the other portion is your game seal. The game seal is to be affixed to the animal at time of harvest. Typically for bucks it is around the antler and does in the back leg. ( used to be through the nostril) get yourself a zip tie you'll need it to affix the tag.

5) you need to look carefully at your regulations for the WMU you hunt for all details Regarding time/length of season, firearms allowed, dogs allowed etc.

6) some WMU have controlled hunts ( limited number of hunters) and you can enter a draw for that hunt in August and take possibly a second deer. If the WMU allows.

This is how it works for me each year
1) buy tag over the phone or online apply for the antlerless draw in my WMU of choice (it has been hi percentage to get a doe tag for years. Season is first 2 weeks of Nov.

2) tag comes in mail in September.

3) this tag still allows me to bow hunt in most WMU but only for antlered deer I start October 1 and hunt until season closes in Nov for gun season then again it reopens for archery

4) in August I applied for the controlled hunt in my WMU ..... if lucky I get another tag to hunt in the controlled WMU for either antlered or unantlered deer the first week in December.

After that back to the bow until dec 31 or until snow falls or I give up and start to hunt coyotes......to hell with stitting in the freezing cold 20' in a tree waiting to kill a stupid deer with an arrow.

I know clear as mud right .....if you don't understand all the rules call your closest MNR office ask the CO for help. Do not hunt until you are clear on all the regulations.
 
Read Post #13 which makes everything quite explicit .....

For Whitetail Deer hunting - please refer to MNR Regs on the following ... one may be able to harvest more than one deer during a given season.

- Antlerless Deer hunt application
- Application for additional game seals (for deer)
- Controlled Deer hunt application

cerebral_bore said:
I don't understand what tag I need to attach though.

When I got my Outdoors card I got 4 cards:

1. Outdoors Card ON 2015 w. Small Game 1 Year on back ..... This is the green colored credit card size plastic outdoors card that says "Ontario Hunting Outdoors Card" and displays particular info details about you. This card, depending on whether it's designated H1 or H2 will enable you to purchase requisite hunting licences and use specific tools for hunting (firearms and/or bows - please refer to regulations). The green outdoors card itself will be valid for 3 years. When applying for a new outdoors card it is possible to have either an option of 1 or 3 year Small Game and/or a combination of Small Game/Fishing licence permanently stamped on the back of the card. In your case, the Small Game license is valid for a year only. Therefore, when you renew that next year, you will then be issued a yellow flimsy paper (for Small Game) for another year that you need to carry with you throughout the season in addition to the outdoors card. Unfortunately, MNR no longer issues the tiny license stickers (for both small and big game) that used to be attached to the back of the plastic outdoors card.

2. Yellow flimsy Deer License Receipt that says "This is NOT a license". (Okay... then is it a tag? What is it then? Says "Fee: $42.86") .... This you need to carry along with your green outdoors card as proof of purchase of your deer license for the season. A portion of that paper should be the tag (containing requisite info details) that will need to be separated and attached to the harvested animal. When one applies for "Antlerless Deer" - the license (flimsy yellow paper including the tag) is mailed to the applicant. If you paid for the "license" at a store, it may well be the license/tag may be enroute to you.

3. Yellow flimsy Small Game License Tag-1 YR ....... ......This is redundant/invalid now that you already have in your possession the Green plastic outdoors card with the requisite small game license indicating the year of validity permanently stamped at the back.

4. Yellow flimsy Temp Outdoors Card ...... ..... This is redundant/invalid now that you already have in your possession the Green plastic outdoors card.

So which one of these do I physically attach to an antlered deer? Or is tagging it even required? I've never hunted before. Go easy on me.
Click to expand...
 
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Also do not confuse the words tag, seal validation and license. When you purchase a license it comes with one seal to affix to antlered deer. If you want to hunt antlerless deer you need to apply for the draw to receive validation for your seal. Controlled hunts work the same way. They are just validations and not extra tags or seals. If you want to seal more than one deer, you have to purchase additional seals if they are available for the specific WMU you want. Also, once you fill your seal you can still party hunt with a group as long as there is an open season, seals still available to fill and you have any validations required (controlled hunt...).
 
when you buy your deer lic you are aloud to shoot one deer with antlers ,with a bow in all of Ontario and with a gun in places that do not have a draw or controlled numbers of hunters ,,most likely the yellow paper you got can be cut in two pieces with the bottom piece being the tag it self that goes on the buck .Dutch
 
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