Hunting around Midland?

[CLydesdale1812]

Hey all,

I'm trying to help some buddies find some land for a fall turkey hunt/ fishing trip. I've found some areas that are known to have a decent turkey population but one of the guys has a cottage in the Midland area. So my question is: Is it worth trying to find some turkey in the Midland area? They'll probably be in the Simcoe County Forest tracts if they did go. I just want to make sure there is something up there, wither or not they are successful is up to them. As always I will appreciate any tips, tricks, or suggestions as well to give them a good start but I know here in Southern Ontario people tend to be tight lipped about their areas.

On a secondary note, is there anything else up in that area to hunt in addition to wild turkey? Grouse, Rabbit, Squirrel, or whatever else can be taken with a small game license? Regrettably I am unable to go on account of my wife coming down with a severe case of pregnancy so I'm forced to play armchair hunting guide this season.

Once again, thanks to everybody. I always seem to learn something new every time I log on. I always love taking people to meet new gunnies and have them so shocked and surprised that 99.999% of us are above normal in courtesy and friendliness.

 

[mrgoat]

Having resided just south of Midland for 41 yrs. I can answer your questions with a bit of knowledge. I had acreage beside and across the road from Simcoe County forest lands. Turkeys are plentiful but not like they were 10 yrs. ago for some reason. Then there was a lot around my place as I would get flocks of 50 ++ on my front lawn. In fall as I had many mature beech trees they would tear up the back bush eating beech nuts. I retired and moved away several years ago and there did not seem to be as many turkeys around. But they are still there and your friends should do well if they scout out the various Simcoe County forest plots. Keep in mind they are not the only folks that will be doing so, the area gets a lot of hunting pressure from the Toronto crowd. Also a very cottagy area due to Georgian Bay being close at hand so you are also getting a lot of the peta / tree hugger/antigun types that own weekend properties. These a$$holes were starting to become a real issue even for those of us that owned property because when they heard a gun shot they were on the phone to the OPP. My neighbour was hunting geese on his own fields and another neighbour called and gave him proper chit for making noise. The whole situation was just getting ridiculous so when I retired I moved to NW Ont. That's why I don't mind giving you info as I really don't give a rats a$$ what goes on in the Midland area anymore. The area is greatly influenced by the Toronto and that has soured things considerably for those who like hunting and shooting in peace.

As far as rabbits and grouse, they are few and far between and have been for years since the coyote population exploded. I had lots of rabbit and grouse on my property at one time, the last 12-15 years I was there you could not find a single rabbit track and only the occasional grouse. Squirrels are very plentiful as coyotes are terrible tree climbers. Many years ago two of us could shoot 15 -20 ground hogs in a evening with out issue. Now you can not find a ground hog in the Midland area unless it is living under some ones garden shed in town.

You and your buddies need to get a map of Simcoe County which shows all the roads and all the crown land plots, there available from the Simcoe County offices just north of Barrie at Midhurst. Finding a nice piece of private property on which you have sole permission to hunt will be your ultimate goal. There are a lot of deer in the area as well. At one time they were few and far between, now there are quite a few of them.

What ever you decide to do it is going to take some home work as in getting maps, scouting various crown properties and knocking on doors to get permission. And even at that your not going to have game standing there waiting for you, as like I said the area is heavily hunted.

The Elmvale area has good duck and goose hunting in the fields, but you better have permission to hunt or you will have some irate farmer after you ASAP as they are all fed up with trespassers and damage. Again you can thank the Toronto boys for ruining that many years ago. Now with the advent of cell phones with good cameras I know many land owners and farmers in the area that just drive by the trespassers vehicles get pictures and licence # call the OPP and have charges laid. So for private lands I can 't emphasize enough to get prior permission before entering.

Good luck on your endeavours.

 

[birdinator]

I think you must be an OFAH member to hunt in any of the Simcoe County Forest tracts where it is permitted, probably for the liability insurance. And it's not permitted in all of the tracts. Better check into the OFAH membership thing and which tracts permit hunting. The ones that do have signs to that effect but they don't help if you're making plans remotely. I think you can get all that online.