Controlled hunts vs. Regular hunts for Deer in Ontario?

[USP]

Can somebody explain the differences here? I applied for a tag for 87E and 89B but it looks like I cant shotgun hunt there and its bows only. Now it seems if I want to apply for Muzzloader or shotgun in these same wmus I need a seperate tag for controlled hunts?

Why the two different versions? Whats the rationale behind it? Do you guys just get the controlled hunt tags and not the regular anterless draw tags?

I already have a yellow Buck tag and sent in my draw for 87E or 89B for the doe tag.

Now it seems I have royally ####ed it all up. We dont even want to talk about how hard my hunting buddy is gonna choke the life out of me when he finds out about this....

 

[Ontario Gunner]

I havent lived in ontario for 4 years,, but when I was there this is how it worked.


antlerless draw tags are usually for archery hunting only in those wmu's.

Controlled hunts are for the gun hunts. It controls hunter numbers in that specific unit during a specified week.

You need to draw a tag validation too hunt that specific week with a firearm. You use your general whitetail(buck) lic too hunt in those units if drawn. If drawn you will also be given validation for buck only or either ###.

 

[USP]

Can you explain it alittle more cleary, I am abit slow. So this means I need to apply for Controlled hunt on top of the regular hunt? They are seperate right? I saw the forms in the book all about party hunting and stuff. So the draw I have entered for the regular anterless draw for a doe tag is totally different and doesnt apply to controlled hunts does it?

I have read the regs a few times. Its sort of confusing on this.

 

[Hussar_ca]

Can you explain it alittle more cleary, I am abit slow. So this means I need to apply for Controlled hunt on top of the regular hunt? They are seperate right? I saw the forms in the book all about party hunting and stuff. So the draw I have entered for the regular anterless draw for a doe tag is totally different and doesnt apply to controlled hunts does it?

I have read the regs a few times. Its sort of confusing on this.

I explained this just a few days ago in another thread but here it comes again.

A controlled hunt WMU is an WMU that is in Southern Ontario, and has the number of hunters controlled within it. This allows only a certain number to hunt during the "controlled hunt" season.

The anterless tag system covers all of the northern WMU's and the bow seasons out side of "controlled hunt" seasons.

So you have purchased your license that comes with a "seal" ( this is what you attach to the dead deer). Then you applied for a doe tag in those 2 WMU's. One as first choice and one as second choice. These are for the anterless bow season. You will be chosen for one area and they will send you a "validation sticker" saying you can hunt an anterless deer with that sticker. This is carried with your License.
Now you still can apply for a "controlled hunt" validation sticker in those WMU's. This will get you another sticker with will state you can hunt antlered/anterless deer during the one week "controlled" hunt that you apply to.
Now this is the big thing to know. You are only given one "GAME SEAL" with your license. If you use it during the bow season, you cannot reuse it in the controlled season. And vise versa. Getting two different validation stickers does not mean you can shoot 2 deer. Note: Additional bow only seals can be purchased in those WMU's for buck only in late July.

One other note. If you party hunt, you can hunt the season without a "seal"as long as you have vaild "seals" (meaning guys with validation stickers for the season). And that you do not shoot more deer then "seals". So 6 guys can hunt if there are 4 seals, and can shoot 4 deer.

 

[Hussar_ca]

So for you to hunt WMU 87E, your hunt season could look like this.

Oct. 1 to Nov. 6 (anterless validation sticker needed, bow only)

Nov. 7 to Nov. 13 (controlled hunt validation sticker needed, SG/ML only)

Nov. 14 to Dec. 4 (anterless validation sticker needed, bow only)

Dec. 5 to Dec. 11 (controlled hunt validation sticker needed, SG/ML only)

Dec. 12 to Dec. 31 (anterless validation sticker needed, bow only)

So you would be carrying,
1. Your License
2. Your game seal (only one unless you buy additonal ones when available)
3. Anterless Validation sticker for bow only, good for the 3 seasons of the WMU you are drawn in
4. Controlled hunt validation sticker for SG/ML. And only good for one of the two weeks.

 

[USP]

Many thanks Hussar

So to clarify

I have my yellow game seal (which also works for a Buck anywhere in Ontario). I have applied for a Doe tag in a WMU that is bow only? If I want to shoot a gun there I have to apply for a controlled hunt sticker that I would use and affix to my yellow seal?

Do I have to put the sticker from the controlled hunt or doe draw on the seal when I get one of them? Or do I just put the sticker on the seal only if I actually get the appropriate deer at the right time dependent upon what hunt I am doing?

Any idea when the controlled hunt draw deadline is? So I would reapply in that for say 87E all over again?

So if I have one Yellow seal for deer, I can use it for the following

1. Buck anywhere in Ontario, gun or bow dependent on where or when?
2. Buck anywhere in Ontario with Bow
3. Doe if I win doe tag for 87E? But because 87E is bow only (outside of controlled hunt) I can use a bow only for doe?
4. Apply for controlled hunt sticker and use it for doe or buck during limited time period in that wmu?

Am I missing anything? I take it you cant just apply for controlled hunt can you? Do you need the base yellow tag and then you apply for either the doe sticker or the controlled hunt sticker that you put on it?

Is this right?

 

[Hussar_ca]

Many thanks Hussar

So to clarify

I have my yellow game seal (which also works for a Buck anywhere in Ontario). I have applied for a Doe tag in a WMU that is bow only? If I want to shoot a gun there I have to apply for a controlled hunt sticker that I would use and affix to my yellow seal?

Yes you are correct. But I have never actually attached the sticker from a controlled hunt to the seal. You just have to carry the sticker with you while you hunt.

Do I have to put the sticker from the controlled hunt or doe draw on the seal when I get one of them? Or do I just put the sticker on the seal only if I actually get the appropriate deer at the right time dependent upon what hunt I am doing??

You will have to apply the anterless sticker to your seal before you hunt. See above about the controlled hunt.

Any idea when the controlled hunt draw deadline is? So I would reapply in that for say 87E all over again??

Deadline is the end of August. You have plenty of time. You can just use the phone system once it opens up for controlled applications at the beginning of August.

So if I have one Yellow seal for deer, I can use it for the following

1. Buck anywhere in Ontario, gun or bow dependent on where or when?
2. Buck anywhere in Ontario with Bow
3. Doe if I win doe tag for 87E? But because 87E is bow only (outside of controlled hunt) I can use a bow only for doe?
4. Apply for controlled hunt sticker and use it for doe or buck during limited time period in that wmu?

1. You can shoot a buck with a rifle only in WMU's that are not controlled during the rifle seasons.
2. Yes
3. Buck or doe in 87E with a bow if you are drawn for an anterless sticker
4. If you get drawn for a controlled hunt sticker, you can shoot buck or doe in that season. Controlled hunts are usually for anterled and anterless deer.

Am I missing anything? I take it you cant just apply for controlled hunt can you? Do you need the base yellow tag and then you apply for either the doe sticker or the controlled hunt sticker that you put on it??

Yes you could have just applied for a controlled hunt. Just that you could only hunt bucks in the other non controlled WMU's with rifle or bow.

Is this right?[/QUOTE]

Your getting it now

 

[Hussar_ca]

USP

The WMU's you applied to (87E and 89B), are bow only during the bow only seasons. Those WMU's for the controlled hunt are "Shotgun and Muzzle Loading guns" only. You cannot hunt those WMU's with a bow during the controlled hunt. Thats just to Clarify for you. In my second post I listed the different bow and controlled seasons.

 

[USP]

Thanks Hussar, I dont get why they break it down so much and make it sort of confusing. I have only been hunting for about a year and so far just done lots of bird, small game and Turkey.

 

[Hussar_ca]

Thanks Hussar, I dont get why they break it down so much and make it sort of confusing. I have only been hunting for about a year and so far just done lots of bird, small game and Turkey.

Controlled hunts were brought in because some areas had way too many hunters in it. And they wanted to limit the distance you could shoot. Most of southern Ontario is built up. So the distance you can shoot is limited. Using shotgun and muzzle loaders, has limited the distance you can shoot at a deer. And they limited the number of hunters so that maximum number of hunters hunting in that area.

 

[Tim H]

Antlerless tag?

I'm a little confused by part of your post Hussar.

Namely, you stated that you must possess an antlerless validation tag in order to bow hunt in a controlled hunt WMU, outside of the controlled hunt dates. I cannot find any evidence of this. I believe that you may hunt for a buck during the archery only season even if you do not possess a controlled hunt validation tag or an antlerless validation tag.

 

[USP]

I'm a little confused by part of your post Hussar.

Namely, you stated that you must possess an antlerless validation tag in order to bow hunt in a controlled hunt WMU, outside of the controlled hunt dates. I cannot find any evidence of this. I believe that you may hunt for a buck during the archery only season even if you do not possess a controlled hunt validation tag or an antlerless validation tag.

I think the regular hunt is closed during the limited time periods the controlled hunt is open.