Unsuccessful Antlerless Deer Draw...Next Steps?

Hello, hope all is well.

I am a second-year hunter, and like last year I applied for an antlerless deer tag in WMU 81B. I put 81B as both my first and second choice. I was unsuccessful both tries. What do I do now? Is there any way I could hunt in WMU 81B this season? I remember last year when I drew a tag, it said I could hunt a buck anywhere in the province. If I apply and receive an additional dear tag in a different WMU, lets say WMU72B, will it let me hunt for a buck in 81B? I am a bit confused and any clarification would help. Thanks a bunch for your time and help.

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Originally Posted by gino

Hello, hope all is well.

I am a second-year hunter, and like last year I applied for an antlerless deer tag in WMU 81B. I put 81B as both my first and second choice. I was unsuccessful both tries. What do I do now? Is there any way I could hunt in WMU 81B this season? I remember last year when I drew a tag, it said I could hunt a buck anywhere in the province. If I apply and receive an additional dear tag in a different WMU, lets say WMU72B, will it let me hunt for a buck in 81B? I am a bit confused and any clarification would help. Thanks a bunch for your time and help.

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Deer license gives you a buck tag (an opportunity to hunt a buck) in any WMU..
Antlerless and additional tags are specific to a given WMU and given weapon in some cases (ie additional tag in 82a - only during bow season etc...)

To answer you question, you can hunt bucks in 81B and have to pass-on on any doe



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Hey, thanks for your response. So if I have a deer license, I can kill a buck in 81 even if I don't have an antlerless tag in that WMU. Got it.

I would have to print a tag off to kill a buck, though, correct? Where would I find that tag? Is it sufficient just to have my license summary with the deer license on it?

Yes, you need a tag printed and notched on site of the kill, in order to be legal..


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Okay...so the deer license can be printed off as a tag, if I have it correct?

Thanks again for your help...sorry for the annoying questions, just want to have it right.

No worries
Once you print the tag, it all makes sense cause those include the instructions

For example:
Generic tag will say

Valid for 1 antlered deer in any WMU


Antlerless lottery winner will say

Valid for 1 antlerless deer in WMU XXX or 1 antlered deer in any WMU

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Okay, thanks so much, I really appreciate the help. Good luck during the season!

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Originally Posted by gino

Okay...so the deer license can be printed off as a tag, if I have it correct?

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No. Technically tags are different from license.

License give you opportunity to hunt certain species. Tag defines conditions of this hunt (ie number of animals, wmu etc.)
In many southern wmu, the 3rd variable a controlled hunt draw that permits to hunt during gun/muzzleloader seasons, if your application is drawn.

Just when so happens that purchase if deer license includes 1 antlered tag. But you can buy additional tags when you already have a license. or in case of a moose for example, you need moose license to party hunt with someone who has the tag although you yourself don't have a tag etc..


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I may be wrong, but 81 is a controlled area. So unless you have a controlled tag, you are limited to bow hunting bucks only in that wmu.

Maybe someone could explain the controlled hunt as I don't know much about it since I don't hunt those areas.

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Originally Posted by Birdbuff

I may be wrong, but 81 is a controlled area. So unless you have a controlled tag, you are limited to bow hunting bucks only in that wmu.

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You are absolutely right. Just looked it up about wmu 81.


The controlled hunt discussion here:

https://www.oodmag.com/community/showthread.php?102371


You need to apply to controlled hunt draw for this WMU to hunt during the gun and muzzleloader seasons. The draw opened today.



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Okay, so I will have to print out the antlered tag when it becomes available...I will be bowhunting. The whole controlled hunt concept still baffles me...can I hunt during the muzzle/gun season with a bow without applying for the controlled hunt?

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Originally Posted by gino

Okay, so I will have to print out the antlered tag when it becomes available...I will be bowhunting. The whole controlled hunt concept still baffles me...can I hunt during the muzzle/gun season with a bow without applying for the controlled hunt?

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Control hunt WMU are just that, controlled. The MNRF allocates only a certain amount of hunters in that WMU during the controlled hunt days. So in some WMU during the control hunt you can use a shotgun, bow or Muzzleloader to take a deer but you must apply and be successful in the "control" hunt WMU you plan on applying to.
It can be a little confusing so ask more questions for clarification.... So to answer your question, no you cannot hunt with a bow during the control hunt if you weren't successful in the control hunt draw.

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Originally Posted by gino

Okay, so I will have to print out the antlered tag when it becomes available...I will be bowhunting. The whole controlled hunt concept still baffles me...can I hunt during the muzzle/gun season with a bow without applying for the controlled hunt?

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No…. You have to get a controlled hunt validation through the draw. WMUs with controlled hunts suspend the bow hunts during the period of the controlled hunt. Controlled hunts control hunter numbers.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

Maybe someone could explain the controlled hunt as I don't know much about it since I don't hunt those areas.

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Control hunts are draws/lotteries to hunt in a certain WMU during their open season with whatever firearm the MNRF outlines. The MNRF controls/limits the amount of hunters with firearm hunting deer in certain WMU's. You must apply and be successful for that draw/lottery

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

No…. You have to get a controlled hunt validation through the draw. WMUs with controlled hunts suspend the bow hunts during the period of the controlled hunt. Controlled hunts control hunter numbers.

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Yes mostly ,but not everywhere -some WMUs have controlled deer hunt,where bow is also allowed.

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Originally Posted by gino

Hello, hope all is well.

I remember last year when I drew a tag, it said I could hunt a buck anywhere in the province. If I apply and receive an additional dear tag in a different WMU, lets say WMU72B, will it let me hunt for a buck in 81B? .....Thanks a bunch for your time and help.

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Gino-just to help out-no one draws the MAIN tag.

We buy it.
It is good for buck anywhere,in open season ,for the firearm specified for the WMU/season .For Controlled hunt areas/seasons-see below

You apply for antlerless-only one WMU,in the whole Ontario(where available)season as applicable.
You apply for adittional deer tag-tags,sex and season,as applicable for the WMU-WMUs of your coice.
In Controlled hunt areas-You can apply,if want to hunt the WMU/season allocated-and if succesfull,you can "control deer hunt",with weapons specified,and sex as specified.

To make things totally confusing-in some WMU one needs to apply for Antlerless( which is good ONLY for Archery)yet if succesfull in Controlled deer draw-antlerless deer is allowed for the Controlled hunt time frame .One tag-one deer(either sex)

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Originally Posted by gbk

Yes mostly ,but not everywhere -some WMUs have controlled deer hunt,where bow is also allowed.

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There was a change in the regs this year that allow bows to be used during the controlled season, but you still require a controlled validation.

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

There was a change in the regs this year that allow bows to be used during the controlled season, but you still require a controlled validation.

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Absolutely.
Some WMUs had this clause (bow usage in controlled deer season)for a long time.

If you enter the controlled hunt for the WMU your interested in, in some cases the validation will be good for a buck or a doe. It’s worth putting in as you might receive an either sex tag valid only for the week of the controlled hunt. If your hunting mainly bow, I’d consider the December controlled hunt.

Thanks for all the help lads...I'm no slouch, and I feel comfortable in saying that this system is quite confusing. I have put in a lot of time when it comes to understanding these regulations, and as a new hunter it is quite daunting. I'm going to phone the ministry and try to talk to a CO about some stuff. They should streamline this a bit....anyways. Thanks again.

Along with all of these great answers and knowledge …. Everyone , especially new hunters should be reading and referring to the most up to date version of the hunting regulations year to year to get familiar with the rules and changes that some have eluded to.

I think CF response is the best suggestion in this whole thread, only not just new hunters.

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Originally Posted by C.F.

Along with all of these great answers and knowledge …. Everyone , especially new hunters should be reading and referring to the most up to date version of the hunting regulations year to year to get familiar with the rules and changes that some have eluded to.

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Sometimes, especially for new hunters, the rules require some explanation beyond what can be read in the regs.

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Originally Posted by Marker

Sometimes, especially for new hunters, the rules require some explanation beyond what can be read in the regs.

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Even some guys like me find them a little off at times too :)
Always a good idea to ask when unsure

I agree that the rules can be hard to understand. One has to be careful of some of the answers they get here though.

Sorry if I missed it, but how did you apply for 81"B"?

That was not one of the choices for the antlerless tag draw. For the antlerless draw the only choice is "81" with no "A" or "B" and if successful you would get an antlerless bow tag for all of WMU 81.

The A and B appear only when you are applying for the controlled draw, which comes after the Antlerless draw.

Yeah, I meant to say that I replied to 81...not 81A/B, that's not possible as you alluded to.

Thanks for all the replies, guys, they were quite helpful.

81b is bow only unless control hunt