Hunting Outfitters: Whats the Deal?

ranger_dave

ranger_dave

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I am new to hunting but have great intrest in it as some of my friends do too. We all have our hunting lisences and are excited to get out and go hunting either this year or possibly next year. We are interested in going grouse hunting and deer hunting. I know I need tags for what ever I am hunting and can only hunt in certain areas. I have been searching around on the net for places to hunt in Ontario for etiher deer or grouse and I've found some nice places. Only thing is these outfitters/camp w/e you wanna call them have INSANE prices, and on top of that are listened in american dollars? Why? They have packages like "house keeping" where they prepare your meals, clean your cabins, ect......and these cabins have tvs, heating, full kitchens and all. These prices range form $1,500.00-$10,000.00 for a full guided hunt with bait stands, ect. I am just wanting to go hunting with my buddies either with tents or mabey a pop up trailer......is this even possible anymore? I don't want/need a guide, I don't need a nice cabin with house keeping and my meals made for me, how is that hunting? I wanna hunt like I think most people (Canadian Hunters) hunt, I do not what to be pampered nor can I afford that. If you have any info on how to hunt as I have stated intrests me, where good but affordable places to hunt are (staying away from these "hunting hotels") please share.:)

Cheers, Ranger
 
Getting started can be quite difficult. If you don't have family or friends to mentor you it's tough. I moved into this province over 20 years ago away from my family and essentially had to start from scratch. I still don't have the access to the best areas as those with family connections do.

Most of the work around hunting should be done in the off season. Find out good areas and visit them in the summer to find out costs and such. Check out crown land and camp on your own. You'll also have time to form some relationships with land owners. It can be a long process. A good friend of mine was denied access for the last few years on some land with great moose and elk potential. He built up other relationships in the area and essentially proved to the locals he's not some city idiot. This year he drew a moose tag for the zone and when he asked permission he was given not only permission but also some info on where the bulls had been hanging out. With luck he'll call in a moose next week and fill the freezer. This took years to get to this point.


Enjoy the ride it will be long but you'll have a great time in the process as long as you put in the time and work and above all be respectful to the land owners even if they deny you access because good things can happen. Once you've earned trust very often it will lead to a long term access to some great hunting and also give you leads to other areas as well.
 
Yea I've noticed its not easy lol. I think I am gonna end up having to go next year so I can get some more gear, money, knowledge before i go out. How exactly does a tag draw work? Do I need to do one for deer/grouse/ducks and small game? Sorry for the 1001 questions lol.
 
Find an area you want to hunt, knock on doors to get permission or research the crown land in the area. Talk to the folks at the local Natural Resources they can steer you in the right direction. Remember to be polite and respect the landowners whether they give you permission or not. Join your local Fish & Game club or a club in the area you're going to hunt in local input can be a big help.
 
The only issue I have is I live in London Ontario and nothing to my knowledge is under a 4-5 away drive away that I can hunt the game I am after.
 
4-5 hours away?

Grouse and Waterfowl are everywhere in southern ontario. I am plenty sure there are probably over 50 places you could goto not to far out of London and grab some game.
 
Well, I'd start off by getting the Ontario Hunting Regulations. They can be found here

www.mnr.gov.on.ca

scroll down and click "hunting"

Second, their are plenty of hunting opportunities around London. Deer and geese probaly number more then people, lol. However, (and im not sure, as I dont live their) there is very little crown/public land for hunting use. You will most likely have to ask permission of a landowner.

Third, large game like deer and moose have a tag draw system for specific ###es of animal. You can go and buy a license for deer that will allow you to shoot an antlered deer, or a tag for moose that will allow you to hunt calves. To get a tag to shoot any (doe, fawn, buck) or an adult moose, you have to enter the draws (which are over for this year). So you are restricted to antlered deer or calf moose for this season.

Most other game you just go and buy the license. Grouse is included under small game. Bears are by themselves. Turkeys need a whole other paragraph. Waterfowl require a special stamp (ya, a postal stamp) purchased from the post office.
 
Western Ontario has mostly shotgun, bow or muzzleloader hunting, not much, if any for rifle. As well, some areas are "controlled hunts" which you need a special permit to hunt as well as your deer seal, and you have to apply for that by the end of August. This info is all in the regs...

You can drive to crown land and hunt wherever you want, but the further you go north, the harder it is to find a deer...

Outfitters quote American prices, because not many Ontario residents would use them for deer or moose, mostly Americans...
 
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