Ontario deer hunters.

D

dutchhunter

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
45   0   0
I have a pet pev that I would like to hear your thoughts on.
In Ontario we buy a deer lic.it us good for all of Ontario for male deer with horns with gun or bow.most must apply for doe tags in there units.bow hunters as well..many guys hunt with both gun and bows. Why do we have to share a tag between the two seasons. Why not have a bow tag as well as a gun tag for those who wish to hunt both.i live to hunt and spend many hours and dollars hunting if I fill my tag in early bow hunting I can no longer go out alone in gun season even if I was drawn in the controlled hunt.i understand many don't care about bow hunting and only hint a week or two in gun season. But for those who do love bow hunting why should we have to give up are gun season because we fill a bow tag.yes I know we can join another tag carrying hunter party hunt. But why not have a tag just for bow hunters I would pay for one and I am sure many would. Thy can still use the same draw for doe in the archery s3ason.any thoughts.
 
Is it a reasonable guess that you filled your tag early this year and hunt alone so you couldn't hunt anymore? :)

My thoughts are: Be thankful that it doesn't cost you extra to bow hunt. And, if you could get 2 tags like that, everyone would take up bow hunting and before you know it there would be a draw just to get a buck tag.

Me, I also do both, but this year deer numbers seem to be way down most places in central Ontario and I have yet to fill the one tag I have. If such is not the case where you are, have you looked into buying an extra tag? These are offered (in limited numbers) every year in WMUs where the MNR feels that the deer population is high enough and it changes each year where and how many are available. Sometimes there are conditions too, like bows only, does only. Maybe if not in your usual spot, then another nearby WMU. There is info on this in the regulations and it will tell you where and when they publish the list of extra tags for the year and when they go on sale. You can buy 1 as soon as they go on sale and 2 or 3 weeks later you can buy another if there are any left. But realistically for most WMUs you need to be at your computer on the MNR web site when they go on sale and get one quick because they sell pretty fast. I have taken advantage of this a couple of times since I clued in about it when I remembered to check on time and when they were tags available in a WMU that was a reasonable distance for me.
 
Simply because our MNR is underfunded. The current government has robbed 70 million from the MNR portfolio to balance budgets of other departments. MNR was asked fro $12000 to get an accurate deer count in Middlesex County and the request was denied due to lack of funds BUT the MNR increased tags in the controlled hunts in that area by 300% so that their are hunter everywhere and usually where they don't have permission and this is pissing landowners off bad. Most biologists in Peterborough don't even own a pair of boots but are making decisions based on sunshine and butter flies perhaps and of course US based studies. Shall I go on!!

Other than the fact the MNR as it is could not organize a piss up at the Legion. That and the general state of Ontario government in all capacities. Now I have to stop cause I am depressing myself LOL
 
In a perfect world - yes it would be nice if there was different tags.

I have tagged out twice on October the first (and we haven't had an early bow season for that long really) - and yes, it makes for a "sucky" deer season.

But as mentioned here, if there was two sets of tags then the bowhunter numbers would probably swell and that would mean they probably would start a lottery for buck tags as well.

The bottom line for me is, I would rather have a guaranteed buck tag then maybe no tag if over harvest resulted.

And besides, there are a good number of WMU's with extra tags - some with multiple extra tags - so if you are willing to do some leg work and hunt "another area" or hunt a controlled hunt area there is opportunity out there. Better to remove deer from WMU's that can sustain the harvest than ones that can't.

Continued harvest in unsustainable areas is most probably one of the factors (and I said one, not the main one) that has buggered up our moose tags.
 
We have not seen additional tags in SW Ontario for at least 3 years in the controlled hunts but they increase the number of hunters by 300%. Mismanagement at its best. We hunted three days in the first hunt and not a single day was there NOT someone walk through or in one case climbed in a tree stand 40 yds from our hunts. In 25 years of hunting this week I have never come across more than another hunter or two and always in passing where everyone knows where everyone else is supposed to be. This year it was like hunting in a mall parking lot the humanity I saw in the bush. Keep in mind a lot of the hunting in our neck of the woods can happen on a 50-100 acre farm that is within a mile or so of town.

I heard we have permission(which they don't) to many times to count in those three days. Problem is yes they have permission for the farm three down with no timber. Charged on Tuesday back on Thursday and all out of town hunters. Boils down to Wynne and her ilk have thrown open the controlled hunts and intend to do the same with turkey hunting all to soak a few licence dollars out of folks before the province declares bankruptcy.

I have offered to take MNR folks for a drive to prove the Number of deer in the areas that we hunt to prove their numbers are skewed but my offers are declined. Called a CO with regard to a interference in a lawful hunt matter with video. Neighbour walking up and down a fence line firing an SKS in the air for over an hour while we are on the other side and yelling"these are my deer". I received a response that they wanted to investigate 11 month later well after any limitations for charges had expired. My tax dollars at work and I am beginning to wonder why i even buy a tag.
 
Im happy i can use my deer tag for bow hunting this week.

I didnt have any luck finding a deer in wmu 46 during rifle season and i found out this weekend i can use my deer tag if i use a bow.
Now i get to have another adventure in wmu 42 bow hunting deer :)
Will i get one? Probably not, but now the excitment continues :)
 
If I understand your question correctly, you would have the option for harvesting two deer in any given season. For example, harvest a doe with bow, then a buck during gun.

If that's true then that's not sustainable. Doe tags are issued to control harvest based on population estimates, carrying capacity and reproduction rates. In other words, females are more important than males in biology management and require additonal safeguards to protect numbers. That's why bucks with the biggest antler's can mate al the does whereas less dominant bucks can be harvested - a management decision based on sound science.

If I misunderstood your inquiry please disregard.
 
blauber said:
If I understand your question correctly, you would have the option for harvesting two deer in any given season. For example, harvest a doe with bow, then a buck during gun.

If that's true then that's not sustainable. Doe tags are issued to control harvest based on population estimates, carrying capacity and reproduction rates. In other words, females are more important than males in biology management and require additonal safeguards to protect numbers. That's why bucks with the biggest antler's can mate al the does whereas less dominant bucks can be harvested - a management decision based on sound science.

If I misunderstood your inquiry please disregard.
Click to expand...

Not to start an argument but, in order to have any basis for carrying capacity, reproduction rates, buck to doe ratio or herd dynamics you have to have accurate, viable, and current data. Which the Ontario biologists are sadly lacking. It is a total mystery to me how a group can come up with harvest quotas biased on a ridiculous deer hunter survey card they send to some of the hunting population. my opinion is the MNR is way too under funded in this province to have any ideas of the current state of deer populations in Ontario. I see a sad Future for deer hunting in Ontario until someone inside our government recognizes deer hunting as a valuable resource rather than a way to fund other mismanaged government initiates.

One more thing, in order for dominant bucks to breed.....you have to have some. The idea that us hunters only harvest small bucks is unfounded....to have big bucks you have to let small bucks become big bucks. That can only happen with good management practices. Things like antler restrictions or "earn a buck" programs and maybe most importantly habitat management. The science is out there for the biologists to put together far better harvest models and for them to provide quality deer hunting opportunities for the future. It's sad the politicians and economics seem to dictate the quality of our deer hunting opportunities in this province.
 
Last edited:
hunter148 said:
Called a CO with regard to a interference in a lawful hunt matter with video. Neighbour walking up and down a fence line firing an SKS in the air for over an hour while we are on the other side and yelling"these are my deer".
Click to expand...

Shooting a firearm into the air is dangerous and irresponsible unless he was using blanks. Did you call police? Maybe being charged with careless use of a firearm and having them seized would deter the neighbour.
 
birdinator said:
Shooting a firearm into the air is dangerous and irresponsible unless he was using blanks. Did you call police? Maybe being charged with careless use of a firearm and having them seized would deter the neighbour.
Click to expand...

Yep local PD was called and they said it was a hunting matter call the MNR and no it was not blanks. This guy was and continues to be a #### but he won as the widow lady that owns the property won't let us hunt the property after 20 years because she is scared of what the neighbour might do in future. The PD also was not very interested in the van load of weed waiting to be processed at the back of the property either as it is still there and filled every fall.
From now on I deal with these matters personally. Didn't work out real well for a fellow this year and made me feel better than I have in years.
 
dutchhunter said:
I have a pet pev that I would like to hear your thoughts on.
In Ontario we buy a deer lic.it us good for all of Ontario for male deer with horns with gun or bow.most must apply for doe tags in there units.bow hunters as well..many guys hunt with both gun and bows. Why do we have to share a tag between the two seasons. Why not have a bow tag as well as a gun tag for those who wish to hunt both.i live to hunt and spend many hours and dollars hunting if I fill my tag in early bow hunting I can no longer go out alone in gun season even if I was drawn in the controlled hunt.i understand many don't care about bow hunting and only hint a week or two in gun season. But for those who do love bow hunting why should we have to give up are gun season because we fill a bow tag.yes I know we can join another tag carrying hunter party hunt. But why not have a tag just for bow hunters I would pay for one and I am sure many would. Thy can still use the same draw for doe in the archery s3ason.any thoughts.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing there are no additional game seals in the area you hunt?

Otherwise, you could buy an additional seal for the WMU of your choice, then keep your original game seal for the controlled hunt - should you be successful in getting your validation tag. Or if you have used your original game seal in the bow season, then attempt to purchase a controlled hunt additional game seal for that WMU.

Neither of those an option? Then you will need to by an additional game seal for a different WMU and try your luck either bow or gun season there.

I'm not sure how a bow season only' seal would be a benefit; unless you are suggesting that everyone gets two game seals with their licence, and that one would be listed as 'bow season only'?

Maybe I'm missing the gist of OP.
 
cdn1canhunt said:
Not to start an argument but, in order to have any basis for carrying capacity, reproduction rates, buck to doe ratio or herd dynamics you have to have accurate, viable, and current data. Which the Ontario biologists are sadly lacking. It is a total mystery to me how a group can come up with harvest quotas biased on a ridiculous deer hunter survey card they send to some of the hunting population. my opinion is the MNR is way too under funded in this province to have any ideas of the current state of deer populations in Ontario. I see a sad Future for deer hunting in Ontario until someone inside our government recognizes deer hunting as a valuable resource rather than a way to fund other mismanaged government initiates.

One more thing, in order for dominant bucks to breed.....you have to have some. The idea that us hunters only harvest small bucks is unfounded....to have big bucks you have to let small bucks become big bucks. That can only happen with good management practices. Things like antler restrictions or "earn a buck" programs and maybe most importantly habitat management. The science is out there for the biologists to put together far better harvest models and for them to provide quality deer hunting opportunities for the future. It's sad the politicians and economics seem to dictate the quality of our deer hunting opportunities in this province.
Click to expand...

There's really nothing to argue here. Without complete knowledge I would lean in the direction of insufficient resources and data to develop quota numbers. And maybe there's some assumptions here-for example, buck to doe ratio, that are taken.

With 100 acre permissions and hunter orange everywhere, I can imagine the uncertainty in any given year on harvesting a trophy buck. If the motivation of a hunter is big buck only (vs antlerless vs meat in freezer) this complicates how a deer population is managed.

I believe motivation is controlled, in that if you want a higher chance of harvesting a buck then a bow is in order. Similarly, if you want a higher chance of harvesting any deer, then its in your interest to apply for the controlled gun hunt.

With all things, you manage with the resources available and this is the politicians budget not the biologists that work there.
 
Last edited:
The controlled hunt is ment to controll the number of hunters. If a guy wants to bow hunt why can he not buy a bow seal . separate from the controlled hunt tag.
 
I have to agree that our MNR could not plan a funeral if they were standing on the body but the deer numbers in our area are way down. I tagged out early and for that I got to dog deer all week in the controlled hunt. Now onto yotes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom