Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
So who's heading up to the island this year ? or has anybody filled an archery tag there already. On my way this Sunday for rifle opener .
Manitoulin Island Deer Hunting
- Thread starter Pathfinder
- Start date
I'll be heading up, from what I have heard the numbers aren't the highest this year. Folks I know haven't seen as many along the highway as normal and our trail cams only have a doe and a fawn on them so far. Of course once the season opens and the deer realize they are being hunted by all of the non-locals for once they are bound to move a bit.
juanvaldez
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sudbury, Ontario
here is one I got in archery on the island
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
That's a nice one,
If i have time and tag out I will be trying out some predator calls I picked up.
How are the Wolf / Coyote populations ?
If i have time and tag out I will be trying out some predator calls I picked up.
How are the Wolf / Coyote populations ?
Does anyone know of anybody on the island that gives out permision? Or does anyone here have a corner of their property you have to hike a kilometer back into, through the worlds thickest cover that you would never bother hunting? PM me if you do, I also like to give out 60's of rye.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Well, I found out the wolf populations are very healthy, I was pretty close to a kill site wolf party on the first nite...first time I heard them go nuts like that. All in all it was a good four days, I got a decent meat buck on the first morning and a partner of mine got a tender buck fawn the first evening. Very warm the rest of the time we were there. I might even go back next year.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Im heading back in on the 14th to get ready for rifle opener.
I heard things are looking better this year as far the amount of deer goes. Hopefully the weather is nice and cool.
Who else is hunting 43b?
I heard things are looking better this year as far the amount of deer goes. Hopefully the weather is nice and cool.
Who else is hunting 43b?
I'm heading up on the 12th. Hopefully get a few days of bowhunting in before rifle opens up. May even carry the bow with me while rifle hunting. Last year I let a nice 8 pointer walk right by at about 15 yards, and let him walk out to 80-90 yards before shooting him. Would have been a nice bow kill. Happens a fair bit up there, close encounters during rifle season. We were up on the Oct 15-17 to check on camp, cut some firewood etc. I seen 14 deer in 2 days, which is way up from the numbers I usually see during our October visits over the last few years. Rifle season however, they are usually all over the place. Usually see 20-30 deer during rifle season, some years even more than that. Low numbers in last years deer check in Espanola, I'm sure is partly the blame of the reduced doe tags this year. We stopped and they had only checked 800 deer, the girl I talked to said that was less than half the number they usually have. Coyote numbers are very high also. I won't be letting any walk past me without giving them a dose of lead poisoning, the high speed type.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Good to hear......I think they were giving out 2000 fewer doe tags than last year for 43b.
Are you on the west end ? We are near Tekhummah (spelling) ?
Are you on the west end ? We are near Tekhummah (spelling) ?
Last edited:
jlovie
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My family has had a cottage just outside of Meldrum Bay (43b) for over 50 years, I've been going there for 31, hunting their for 15 years. This is one of the only years in recent memory I didn't receive a doe tag. I have seen lots of sign around our stands, but haven't seen the deer. The past few years have been slow, 4-5 deer for a group of 12 guys. Granted, we used to dog the bush all day, now I'm the youngest at 31 and we haven't dogged in 4 years, which could be why we aren't seeing as many.
Someone asked about coyotes and wolves. Although I have seen a lot of tracks and heard a lot of calling, I have yet to see either, but I would imagine this is leading to the decline in deer as well as I haven't seen a rabbit the past 2 years where you used to be able to see 15 to 20 a day. But, at the same time, I KNOW there are poachers in our area as it's on the very end of the island.
In all honesty, we go for a holiday. If we really wanted to fill our freezer, we would likely hunt at home. And as for getting permission for a new hunter? Not likely, atleast not on our end. All the land around here used to be paper company land, then it sold and most of it became private.
Someone asked about coyotes and wolves. Although I have seen a lot of tracks and heard a lot of calling, I have yet to see either, but I would imagine this is leading to the decline in deer as well as I haven't seen a rabbit the past 2 years where you used to be able to see 15 to 20 a day. But, at the same time, I KNOW there are poachers in our area as it's on the very end of the island.
In all honesty, we go for a holiday. If we really wanted to fill our freezer, we would likely hunt at home. And as for getting permission for a new hunter? Not likely, atleast not on our end. All the land around here used to be paper company land, then it sold and most of it became private.
Off topic I guess, but this reminded me of something I have not thought about in along time. I used to live on the Island 25 years ago as a kid. Our mom used to dress my brother and I in hunter orange vests and hats to wait for the school bus during deer season as our house was in the bush a bit. Better safe than sorry.
