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Parts of hunting season underway
Wednesday, 24 September 2008 - 1:35pm
Deer populations are high across all Wildlife Management Units in the area (7B, 8, 9A, 9B, 10, 11A, and 12B), which the Ministry of Natural Resources is attributing to the recent string of mild winters with relatively low snow depths.
Obviously this has resulted in low over-winter deer mortality, and hunting prospects for deer are very good across the district (especially WMU 10).
The deer hunting seasons for residents are Sept. 1-Oct. 3 (archery), Oct. 4-10 (archery/muzzleloader), and Oct. 11-Dec. 15 (gun/muzzleloader/archery) in most local WMUs, except for 8 and 10.
For information on those two WMUs, as well as for non-resident hunting seasons, the MNR urges hunters to refer to the 2008 Hunting Regulations Summary, which can be picked up at an MNR office or licence issuer.
Meanwhile, moose numbers aren’t doing as well, with numbers stable or declining in WMUs 9A, 9B, and 12B, stable or increasing in 11A, and stable in 12A.
According to the MNR, moose numbers in WMU 11A, east of Fort Frances, have increased by 30 percent.
“This is encouraging because that’s been a strong deer area,” Ted Armstrong, the MNR’s Northwest regional biologist, told Ontario Out of Doors magazine in its annual hunting forecast.
Local area biologist Darryl McLeod and biologist intern Alyson Rob wrote in their report that the concern with moose populations stems from a variety of factors, including the expansion of white-tailed deer, parasites such as brainworm, liver fluke, and winter tick, the effects of climate change, and predation.
Low calf production over the past two-three years also has played a part, although recent MNR and hunter observations found calf numbers appear to be improving.
Hunting prospects for moose still are considered quite good, except in WMUs 7A and 7B where deer numbers are high.
The moose hunting seasons for residents are Sept. 20-Oct. 10 (archery) and Oct. 11-Dec. 15 (gun/muzzleloader).
The MNR said bear populations also are stable to increasing in all local WMUs, and subsequently hunting prospects are in good shape.
Bear season runs from Aug. 15-Oct. 31.
Upland game birds, notably ruffed grouse, are on decline and past the peak of their normal population cycle, according to the MNR, though numbers in the Fort Frances area are still quite good after excellent seasons the past two years.
The MNR attributed the wet, cool spring as contributing to reduced recruitment and late hatches, but hunting prospects are fair to good, with the season running from Sept. 15-Dec. 15.
On the other hand, higher water levels in wetlands and beaver ponds this year produced good habitat and breeding conditions for waterfowl. Despite the cool spring, waterfowl brood survival appears to be better than expected (especially for mallards and wood ducks).
The MNR noted local hunters often benefit from fall flights of birds from western Canada and Northern Ontario, but said conditions on the Prairies are reported to be poor this year.
Surveys by the Canadian Wildlife Service found lower pond numbers, and also discovered the duck population is down overall from 2007. Despite that, there are higher numbers of redheads, teal, and scaup although the production of mallards, pintails, and canvasbacks is down.
Canada geese numbers continue to expand throughout the Fort Frances area.
Despite the late spring and snowstorms affecting their breeding on the Hudson’s Bay lowlands to about one-third of normal production, the number of birds observed still is in a good range, reported MNR waterfowl research biologist Ken Abraham.
The waterfowl season is open in the Northern District from Sept. 1-Dec. 15 for Canada geese, Sept. 10- Dec. 15 for ducks and other geese, and Sept. 15-Dec. 15 for woodcock.
Migratory bird seasons and bag limits are the responsibility of the federal government. For more information, contact the CWS at 1-905-336-6410.
By Mitch Calvert, Staff writer
It’s that time of year again.
Time to dust off the weaponry and squeeze into that camo gear because hunting in the district is back in full swing, with plenty of your favourite game in good shape for the 2008 season.
Obviously this has resulted in low over-winter deer mortality, and hunting prospects for deer are very good across the district (especially WMU 10).
The deer hunting seasons for residents are Sept. 1-Oct. 3 (archery), Oct. 4-10 (archery/muzzleloader), and Oct. 11-Dec. 15 (gun/muzzleloader/archery) in most local WMUs, except for 8 and 10.
For information on those two WMUs, as well as for non-resident hunting seasons, the MNR urges hunters to refer to the 2008 Hunting Regulations Summary, which can be picked up at an MNR office or licence issuer.
Meanwhile, moose numbers aren’t doing as well, with numbers stable or declining in WMUs 9A, 9B, and 12B, stable or increasing in 11A, and stable in 12A.
According to the MNR, moose numbers in WMU 11A, east of Fort Frances, have increased by 30 percent.
“This is encouraging because that’s been a strong deer area,” Ted Armstrong, the MNR’s Northwest regional biologist, told Ontario Out of Doors magazine in its annual hunting forecast.
Local area biologist Darryl McLeod and biologist intern Alyson Rob wrote in their report that the concern with moose populations stems from a variety of factors, including the expansion of white-tailed deer, parasites such as brainworm, liver fluke, and winter tick, the effects of climate change, and predation.
Low calf production over the past two-three years also has played a part, although recent MNR and hunter observations found calf numbers appear to be improving.
Hunting prospects for moose still are considered quite good, except in WMUs 7A and 7B where deer numbers are high.
The moose hunting seasons for residents are Sept. 20-Oct. 10 (archery) and Oct. 11-Dec. 15 (gun/muzzleloader).
The MNR said bear populations also are stable to increasing in all local WMUs, and subsequently hunting prospects are in good shape.
Bear season runs from Aug. 15-Oct. 31.
Upland game birds, notably ruffed grouse, are on decline and past the peak of their normal population cycle, according to the MNR, though numbers in the Fort Frances area are still quite good after excellent seasons the past two years.
The MNR attributed the wet, cool spring as contributing to reduced recruitment and late hatches, but hunting prospects are fair to good, with the season running from Sept. 15-Dec. 15.
On the other hand, higher water levels in wetlands and beaver ponds this year produced good habitat and breeding conditions for waterfowl. Despite the cool spring, waterfowl brood survival appears to be better than expected (especially for mallards and wood ducks).
The MNR noted local hunters often benefit from fall flights of birds from western Canada and Northern Ontario, but said conditions on the Prairies are reported to be poor this year.
Surveys by the Canadian Wildlife Service found lower pond numbers, and also discovered the duck population is down overall from 2007. Despite that, there are higher numbers of redheads, teal, and scaup although the production of mallards, pintails, and canvasbacks is down.
Canada geese numbers continue to expand throughout the Fort Frances area.
Despite the late spring and snowstorms affecting their breeding on the Hudson’s Bay lowlands to about one-third of normal production, the number of birds observed still is in a good range, reported MNR waterfowl research biologist Ken Abraham.
The waterfowl season is open in the Northern District from Sept. 1-Dec. 15 for Canada geese, Sept. 10- Dec. 15 for ducks and other geese, and Sept. 15-Dec. 15 for woodcock.
Migratory bird seasons and bag limits are the responsibility of the federal government. For more information, contact the CWS at 1-905-336-6410.
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