Ontario Elk Hunt this Fall

Millar

Millar

Member
Rating - 100%
5   0   0
Location
Ottawa
I just received this email from OFAH :)

New Year ushers in Ontario's elk hunt
MNR announcement is welcome news to outdoor and agricultural communities
The new year is starting off on a high note with the announcement by Minister of Natural Resources, Linda Jeffrey (see announcement), that there will be an elk hunt this fall. The move comes more than a decade after elk were first transferred from Alberta and released in target areas in Ontario as part of a major restoration effort. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) has made a significant financial and volunteer contribution to the plan, which was led by the MNR, and is pleased that the hard work of all the partners has paid off.

"The Bancroft-North Hastings elk hunt is terrific news, both for hunters and for local agricultural producers who have been dealing with increasing populations of elk on the landscape," said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. "The majestic elk is a part of Ontario’s biodiversity, and a highly valued big game mammal. We welcome this hunt as a sound wildlife management tool that will assist in achieving and maintaining sustainable elk populations."

"This hunt is a result of the successful restoration of elk in the Bancroft-North Hastings area and the first in more than a century. This is an opportunity to help the regions’ economic growth and ensure a healthy elk population in the area for future generations," said Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources.

A limited number of licenses and seals will be available through a random draw process for designated Wildlife Management Units in the Bancroft-North Hastings area. The short season is slated to run from the third Monday in September to the following Sunday, which is September 19 to 25 in 2011.

The suite of Elk Management Plan policy decisions will be posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) Registry. The O.F.A.H. response to Elk Management Plan policy proposals can be found at www.ofah.org/news. More information on the provincial Elk Management Plan is available at www.ontario.ca/hunting.

Quick Facts:
  • The elk hunt will take place in Wildlife Management Units 57, 58, 60, 61, 62 and 63A - some units may be further restricted to certain areas of the unit, known as "Harvest Areas";
  • There is a 3-step application process for the random draw: purchase and submit an application with preferred location and up to 3 hunting partners; draw takes place; successful applicants may purchase a license and one seal/tag;
  • The Bancroft-North Hastings area herd is estimated to be between 400 and 600 animals.
Click to expand...
 
My neighbor's kid pulled a nice 6X6 out of a pond in the spring must have went through the ice.Made a nice European mount out of it.It's good to see that conservation and introduction are working.
 
Congrats to the OFAH and the MNR management group. If the elk program has success anywhere near what the turkey program has had it is another feather in their caps.
And another game animal for people to hunt!
 
I do not want to know how much the tags are going to cost...I heard some 5 digit numbers tossed around last year...Its great that there will finally be a hunt, but I think it will be out of reach for just your average hunter.
 
For those of you who may be interested.... Heres a Few Pics of the transplant to Brancroft I was on in Jan. of 2001 if my memory serves me correctly, when I was a volunteer driver with the R.M.E.F.
Loading the elk at Elk Island

Img00009-1.jpg


Img00007-1.jpg


Feeding and rest stop at Kenora

Img00020.jpg


Img00021.jpg


Release Site near Bancroft Ont.

Img00014.jpg


Img00013.jpg


Jim
 
Anyone who is interested in the zones and specific areas around bancroft that hold elk send me a PM...I can provide details down to the specific atv trail and crown land access where I have seen tons of elk. I also have conncections for accomodations while in the area.

I wont be participating in the draw, not interested in spending the money for a "chance".
 
I have heard 25 tags, bulls only, 6 day season.

All the info and regs are here...except cost and number available. Some WMU's that have a season, are only partially open, so you really need to watch where you are hunting. My guess is they will only have 2 or 3 tags per harvest area, to keep the success rate down.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@fw/documents/document/stdprod_068306.pdf

Each WMU with an open season will contain one or more Harvest Areas.

Each elk licence and seal will not be valid for the entire WMU, but only for the Harvest Area specified.
Click to expand...
 
By the way...There used to be quite a bit of Elk on Ontario in the past....they had suffered just like Turkey and now they are both back.

25 tags...ouch.....Im sure there will be only be a couple thousand applicants !!

I think Ill wait until the heard gets bigger, I think there is another one closer to Sudbury maybe that one will open up for hunting later on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom