63A Hunt Report from the "Big Woods"

My group of 3 hunted about 700 acres of Crown land west of the Calabogie area last week. Despite hunting very hard (I personally walked 10 - 15 km per day as we tried to locate and hunt fresh sign), we were blanked. I had two deer encounters - heard one crashing away through the woods on Tuesday morning and got a flash of a doe and fawn on Saturday morning. One other hunter saw a flash of deer once and the other guy saw nothing all week.

Sign was very limited and the deer population appears to still be low after the brutal winter of 2007/2008. We have been blanked 3 out of 4 years (usually harvested an average of two deer between the three of us before that) despite scouting very heavily, having trail cameras up, and putting it full days of hunting every day. I took a 20 km tour in my truck on the access roads in the area on the way out to "civilization" and saw very few deer hanging.

What was the experience of others who were in the "big woods"?

That area has really changed since 07. I used to hunt Calabogie and we would limit out every year. The last few years for us in that area was tough going. 13 guys, 2 deer!!

i hunt with my dad on 100 acres of private land near denbeigh and from what im hearing there are more deer in that area so ill see what happens this weekend

My father in law has some property on the calabogie side of burnstown. I have watched the deer poulation plummit there as well. While feeding during the winter on average ten deer would show any given night now its one or two .The rise in coyote numbers cant be helping either. Hopefully things start to turn around.

Attachment 23273 Four does, this buck on our 200acres surrounded by crown land on k&p, 5 people hunting. Seemed very quiet as far as dogs running and shots fired. As the op called it correct "big woods".

we hunt big woods North of Parry Sound. We only saw 3 bucks and 1 doe all week for 5 hunters. we bagged the 3 bucks. Very very little sign around.

Hunted 6 days in the big woods of Calabogie, not much sign seen, we did the best when the property next to us ran the dogs and pushed the deer to us.

Not seeing the same amount we use to.

I'm was hunting in 62, same thing. Hunted the last few days and only one doe spotted (no tag), another deer behind me in my stand weezing at me (never saw it) and that was it. Last year four guys saw nothing. At least this year we had an 8pt on the cam. Doe tag for sure next year.

I hunt in 60 and it was very quiet no dogs. Goin we had 6 guys 4 doe tags and only got one doe

There are a lot of hunters that hunt Calabogie.I meet a guy this past weekend who hunts there and I know several others who have hunted this area.With this being a Crown land type area hunting pressure is probably up and deer numbers down.Its just close enought from the GTA to attract numbers.My experience of the big woods is that there are 1 to 2 deer per 100 acre,s,so lots of territory for them to hide and roam.In that area without hounds and knowing the runs,pretty hard hunting.Actually its pretty hard anywhere in the big woods.

Haven't hunted calabogie, but the crown land in 55b, I am familiar with. I'd say the average is below the 1 per 100 acres (about 6 per sq mile, or where we have the 1000 acre concessions in most of eastern Ontario, less than 10 per concession) - and they are not evenly distributed either. On 500 acres, uou might have 499 acres of nothing and then your 5 deer in a bunch - if there is a good food source, they'll all be near there.

Gilroys statement "so lots of territory for them to hide and roam.In that area without hounds and knowing the runs,pretty hard hunting.Actually its pretty hard anywhere in the big woods" is pretty much how it is - in an extreme way.

And after a winter like this it won't be any easier....numbers will be even lower

Actually the deer around Calabogie seem to be doing alright with the winter. Was up that way for a drive about a month ago and seen plenty of deer that all looked well.

Donnie

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Originally Posted by Donnie7

Actually the deer around Calabogie seem to be doing alright with the winter. Was up that way for a drive about a month ago and seen plenty of deer that all looked well.

Donnie

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Going up tomorrow - my brother bought a place with lots of cedar along the Madawaska - he says its overrun with deer.

This picture was taken about a month ago in Renfrew county.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...128_171804.jpg

Lots of deer running around - saw 20+ or so and that was during a mid day drive. They look in good shape and are wandering around the bush - not confined to trails. Saw a flock of 10+ turkeys too.

The drive I took was around early afternoon. I counted 48 deer on my drive and all seemed to be doing well.

Impact, that is a nice picture what part of Renfrew County was it from?

Donnie