hunting in Ontario

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rkr

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I'm moving provinces and not very familiar with the rules in Ontario. Besides PAL what else one need to legally hunt? In my province we need a "hunter safety education" and a hunting tag of course.
And btw, how's hunting comparing to western Canada?
 
I know that not all Hunter safety courses from out of province are recognized in Ontario. As for how the hunting is it will depend on where you are moving to and what you are hunting. Lots of private land in Southern Ontario so you'll be doing some door knocking if you move there.
 
Very extensive question. Yes, you have to pass the Hunters Safety program to get your Ontario out of doors card and apply for licenses. Deer hunting (whitetail) is still pretty good, depending on the WMU (Wildlife Management Unit) in which you hunt. Moose hunting sucks. Not enough animals and very hard to get a tag unless you've been a long time applicant. Bear tags? No problem! Same goes for wolf, but most areas have open season on coyote or coywolf. Some areas are shotgun/muzzle loader only and others are controlled hunt. A copy of the Ontario regs is available online and it covers seasons, bag limits, licensing, etc. Compared to western Canada, and again, depending on which province and area, you'll find less game as a rule and in some ways, more challenging.
 
mcpiper said:
I know that not all Hunter safety courses from out of province are recognized in Ontario. As for how the hunting is it will depend on where you are moving to and what you are hunting. Lots of private land in Southern Ontario so you'll be doing some door knocking if you move there.
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I'll be in Ottawa area. I don't expect the best hunting but it's the job who's bringing me there. I have had very good hunting opportunities in SK and probably I'll miss it.
 
rkr said:
I'll be in Ottawa area. I don't expect the best hunting but it's the job who's bringing me there. I have had very good hunting opportunities in SK and probably I'll miss it.
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Ottawa is a nice area, I've never lived or hunted in the area though so I can't comment on the hunting opportunities. Welcome to Ontario.
 
Brutus said:
Forget about the Marlborough Forest.
Think Cobden minimum travel to hunt.
Petawawa National Forestry too congested.
Closer you get to Mattawa the better.
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Mattawa or Cobden doesn't seem too bad as it's less than 2 hrs. I currently drive 3 hours to get to my hunting spot. No forest whatsoever around where I live, just farmland.
 
Black Bay Road, the end of it past the Petawawa Municipal Airport, across Hgway 17 is a nice walk too but I can't recommend it has too much cottages and dog walkers.
Some guys used to spring for a Quebec small game license and take a boat across the river to crown land. But even back then was $100.
 
If you have a old hunting licence from another province, you are usually good to go with a license in Ontario. Before you jump into a hunter safety course, check out whether you need it.
 
This might be old outdated info, When I moved from Sask to Ontario in 2001, I had to do the hunter safety test and show proof from hunter safety in Sask.
 
The Ontario Hunting Regulations summary document will have some info for you, with phone numbers to inquire about details, and website info.
You can download the PDF from here: https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-hunting-regulations-summary

Note on page 16 it states:
"Hunter Accreditation Requirements: You must have successfully completed Ontario’s Hunter Education Course or an Ontario-recognized equivalent requirement (e.g. existing accreditation on record or documentation from a recognized jurisdiction) to be eligible to purchase hunting licenses and hunt in Ontario."

As others have mentioned, your old province's / territory's license requirements may be recognized here to obtain your Ontario Outdoors Card. The above document will get you started in the process research.

Good luck, and welcome to Ontario!
 
Can't speak for Ottawa but the deer hunting is great in southern Ontario. Thousands of surplus tags available every year, you can get up to 6 tags across 3+ WMUs if you use a bow. Moose hunting up in unit 17 and adjacent is real good, long drive though. If your old hunting licence doesn't qualify for Ontario's you can do your training online as of this year.
 
Biologist said:
The Ontario Hunting Regulations summary document will have some info for you, with phone numbers to inquire about details, and website info.
You can download the PDF from here: https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-hunting-regulations-summary

Note on page 16 it states:
"Hunter Accreditation Requirements: You must have successfully completed Ontario’s Hunter Education Course or an Ontario-recognized equivalent requirement (e.g. existing accreditation on record or documentation from a recognized jurisdiction) to be eligible to purchase hunting licenses and hunt in Ontario."

As others have mentioned, your old province's / territory's license requirements may be recognized here to obtain your Ontario Outdoors Card. The above document will get you started in the process research.

Good luck, and welcome to Ontario!
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The outdoors card for fishing doesn't require anything except $8 and change. The "hunting" outdoors card requires proof of training. A few years ago, I was told that an old licence from another province was acceptable. I think it has something to do with the age of the applicant as well. Sadly, in a lot of cases laws and rules get changed for the worse ...... for no good reason.
 
When I came from Nova Scotia several years ago, they would not accept the NS hunting license or proof of having taken the course. Had to redo it. Perhaps it is different now.
 
memaquay said:
When I came from Nova Scotia several years ago, they would not accept the NS hunting license or proof of having taken the course. Had to redo it. Perhaps it is different now.
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I was told has alot to do with game recognition content (lack thereof) in the NS course.
I took it in Saskatchewan and wild game recognition was well covered.
Saskatchewan (and several other provinces) based thier training on the earlier Wisconsin model.
 
Hardly any crown land South and east of Ottawa and what little is available has become more and more unusable lately. The Larose forest for example I figure is going to be a complete write-off pretty soon with the direction things have been going in lately. Deer are in pretty good numbers out here and it's turkeys galore everywhere you look. Grouse has been very scarce for a while now, hare seems to be making a bit of a comeback but personally I don't target either species out here simply of their low numbers. Just have to get permission from landowners. The further west and north you go the more land you'll find that isn't privately owned, so so deer populations and good bear numbers. Targeting moose around here is basically a waste of time, you have to go north quite a bit for that.

If you get your licence in order and want to come out for geese in the fall or coyote in the winter (coyote we generally only hunt weekdays though) give me a shout. Mostly hunt E and SE of Ottawa.
 
Lots of deer but very hard to get access to good land unless you know someone. If you do get access, most shots will be under 150 yards so that might be a change for you?

Its a lot easier to get access to land access for turkey or geese. most WMU have both spring and fall turkey seasons now
Knock on farmers doors. Depending where in town you live there may even be farms as close as 15 min

Partridge/Grouse is here but not in big numbers. and they are skittish. Look in crown land west of the city. Renfrew/Lanark counties
 
Lot's of place to hunt around Ottawa, for deer hunting in Ottawa we are a shotgun only zone (WMU 65), Lot's of Private and Crown just have to know where it is. Nothing wrong with Marlborough Forest either
 
lucky07 said:
Hardly any crown land South and east of Ottawa and what little is available has become more and more unusable lately. The Larose forest for example I figure is going to be a complete write-off pretty soon with the direction things have been going in lately. Deer are in pretty good numbers out here and it's turkeys galore everywhere you look. Grouse has been very scarce for a while now, hare seems to be making a bit of a comeback but personally I don't target either species out here simply of their low numbers. Just have to get permission from landowners. The further west and north you go the more land you'll find that isn't privately owned, so so deer populations and good bear numbers. Targeting moose around here is basically a waste of time, you have to go north quite a bit for that.

If you get your licence in order and want to come out for geese in the fall or coyote in the winter (coyote we generally only hunt weekdays though) give me a shout. Mostly hunt E and SE of Ottawa.
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I'll get in touch with you for sure. I consider myself an ethical hunter and safe if my middle name. Lately I've been hunting alone just so I don't get in trouble. Pouching is an issue around here, shooting after dark and from the truck. Not what I consider hunting.
 
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