North Western Ontario Deer Hunting

Pathfinder

Pathfinder

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Im thinking about taking a week to Hunt Deer in North West Ontario next year and probably in the Nestor Falls area (also considering Dryden, Fort Frances / Rainy River etc...) .

Ive never hunted Deer on Crown land before, i was if anybody here has experience in that region that can provide some insight and what is the best timing to go . Ive always wanted to hunt deer with snow on the ground which doesnt' seem possible in WMU's that Ive hunted before (rifle seasons would end too early) so Im kind of leaning for the third Week of November .

On the other side of the coin ive also heard that going up early can also be good as the Deer are not so nervous before most of the Non-residents and other groups come in for the first two weeks of November.
 
Pathfinder said:
Ive always wanted to hunt deer with snow on the ground ...
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Lots of that white stuff on the ground this year, and earlier than usual .
Hard to hunt on crown land with this snow(about 16 inches so far) and no plowed roads, unless by snowmachine.
I have access to about 7 elevated shooting shacks plus at least a couple of ladder stands(all on private property)....with all this snow I'm cut down to two total(no snow machine )
I got stuck twice this morning going across my son's field, and he had snow-plowed it for me yesterday afternoon.
Only saw 8 different deer, today....they don't seem to care much for this snow either.
Lots of deer in all those places that you listed, lots of crown land also .
In Dryden you can buy up to 7 deer tags....first one is a buck tag(unless you were successful in an antlerless tag lottery)...the rest are antlerless tags .
Good luck!
 
Ouch....that's quite a bit, One of the Outfitters I spoke to in Nestor Falls said he had about 2.5 feet of snow !! That's a bit much but I think a inch or two can work out nicely. Weather gets pretty hard to predict in November.

I keep hearing stories about my Great Grandfather tracking bedded bucks in the snow. If the buck sensed anybody he would push on farther and eventually buttonhook a paralel trail back which worked out well because there was always a hunting partner waiting on the backtrail to Ambush the buck when and if he would show up.
 
Pathfinder said:
If the buck sensed anybody he would push on farther and eventually buttonhook a paralel trail back ...
Click to expand...
I have seldom noticed that tactic with deer around these parts...they usually make big circles but it is a very common trait with moose.....but different areas prolly different habits.
Two to six inches of snow makes for good tracking conditions but a foot and a half is brutal, unless you are equipped with a snow machine(mine is under repair)
I stayed home this morning to snowblow the driveway...my son will try to snowplow the road crossing his hayfield this afternoon ,so hopefully will get in the evening hunt....still have two tags to fill
 
I hunted moose in WMU 4 (north of Dryden) in the second week. We regularly saw deer when driving, but few when we actually hunted for them. They were a darker colour than I am used to in southern Ont. I like hunting deer when there is snow on the ground, however up there you can get into bad conditions and tough driving the later in the season you go.
 
the keepa said:
I have seldom noticed that tactic with deer around these parts...they usually make big circles but it is a very common trait with moose.....but different areas prolly different habits.
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I think it was in the Upper laurentians in Quebec...not sure how big or wide the loop/buttonhood was...the story may of varried a bit since he passed away in the 60's but I have no reason not to believe it.

Anyways...good luck getting through that snow....looks like you can use a good pair of snowshoes:p
 
Thanks.When I was younger deep snow was no problem. We (my two brothers and I) used skis, snowshoes or just moccasins to hunt deer . Now that I'm older I prefer to sit in total comfort in an elevated , heated shooting shack and, hopefully to drive right up to them.
A few times, when I was younger,and conditions being right, I ran down a few deer and moose and shot them, but sure can't do that anymore.
See Keepa's Album for pictures of some deer that I've shot and one of my shooting shacks.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35707
 
the keepa said:
Thanks.When I was younger deep snow was no problem. We (my two brothers and I) used skis, snowshoes or just moccasins to hunt deer . Now that I'm older I prefer to sit in total comfort in an elevated , heated shooting shack and, hopefully to drive right up to them.
A few times, when I was younger,and conditions being right, I ran down a few deer and moose and shot them, but sure can't do that anymore.
See Keepa's Album for pictures of some deer that I've shot and one of my shooting shacks.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35707
Click to expand...

I hear ya....I can appreciate how much work it can be to trek miles on snowshoes....Nice Album, some nice ones in there for sure.

Looks like Ill probably heading last week of october since its better timing for couple of my partners work schedule...probably a bit early for full rut but most of the guys just want meat anymals anyways so no big deal.
 
We just got another big dump of snow monday night ...about 8 inches of snow on top of the 15 inches already on the ground.
My son & I spent hours tuesday afternoon trying to ram a snowplow through to my shooting shack(pictured in Keepa's album), but the rolling hills and deep drifts proved too much for his SUV mounted plow.
I don't have very many options left.....maybe dig out the old snowshoes.
The best deer-hunting time for me is usually the first two weeks of November .
 
After I got frozen out of my moose hunting area, I went for deer around ear falls. It's not as good as kenora/dryden/etc., but there are deer around. It was my first time hunting deer, so it took a bit of a learning curve and some blown opportunities, but I eventually got a young buck. I can't wait to eat some, there is going to be some nice tender meat off that one.

I'm really looking forward to next hunting season, I'll try spending the archery season on deer instead of just going for grouse. I'm hooked.

Good luck everyone!
 
Well, if we got a couple of hard winters with deep snow, the deer would suffer a great mortality rate , as they have in the past .
Back in the early 1980's deer season was closed in the Dryden area(WMU 8) for ten years. Right now they are almost treated as vermin there are so many destroying gardens and being involved in automobile accidents .
We are well on the way to a winter of deep snow....Red Lake has had over 75 cms(30 inches). I have 21 inches of snow in my back yard.
 
Anybody else hunted in NWO last year ?. I had a great time and Im going back this year. We did a combined Moose/Dear hunt in the 3rd week of october last year. It was a little quiet for deer since the weather was warm...we lined a good sized bull moose but didnt' have the tag. Going back up for Deer only after non-resident season this year....hoping for a little snow....would love to do a bit of tracking.

From what I can tell and discussed with locals the deer had a very easy winter and that should only help improve numbers this year.
 
Deer numbers were way down on our side of the border last year. Not sure how far into Ontario that spread, but I'd imagine from Kenora west would be similar. Deer had a good winter so there should be a better fawn crop this year but wolves are a huge problem. Eastern Manitoba is overrun with them. Last weekend saw a big timber just about in the town of Rennie during the middle of the day. The logging road I run my bear baits on is covered in wolf scat all the way along it, and one trapper I know said they even took out a denned bear by his place during the winter. Time to start thinning them out or the deer pops will get hit hard next heavy snow winter.
 
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