purchasing hunting property in 63A. white lake/ burnstown/ calabogie area.

Hi Folks, Im new to the OOD forums, and what most of you would refer to as a novice hunter. Ive searched all of the forums and reached out to a couple members, just hoping to get some more feedback on the area.

I've got a conditional offer on a beautiful 300 acre parcel of land with a couple of off-grid cabins on a private road in 63A which is basically on the west shore of white lake, south of burnstown, east of calabogie. I'm wondering what the big game hunting is like in that region. Ive been hunting whitetail on friends lands in Gracefield, QC and Montague township for 6 years, and will continue to do so as the hunting is great, but hoping its half decent in this area aswell. I know there is a good amount of crown in the area which attracts a ton of hunters, and from what I hear the whitetail population took a big hit around 2010-2012 (coyotes + brutal winter) and is slowly on uphill climb back to decent numbers. I hear bear is plentiful and I see tons of signs of moose, and a lot of coyote tracks on the property.

Ive been to the property twice in mid October 2019 and walked a good portion of it, for a total of about 10 hours and didn't see much sign of deer.
I have two more "walkthroughs" of the property before closing where I'll drop off some cameras and maybe a salt lick, but I don't expect to see any sign of deer this time of year either as they likely yard-up elsewhere. just hoping to get some feedback from locals or others who know the area.

I'm purchasing the property mostly just to have an off grid retreat for the family, for sledding (its basically on the trail), 4-wheeling and fishing the lake, but it would be nice to be able to take a deer here every couple years when the other properties may be unavailable.

thanks much in advance

So is your property off of 511? We hunted the crown land on the north shore of White Lake off of Wabalac rd for many years. That crown goes North a long way. We always got deer each year but it was a lot of work. We walked in before dawn and walked out after dark. Dragging a deer out from way back was a pile of work even with 4 guys but it was worth it. Sure there were always camps in the area but for the most part gangs tended to stay in their "zones" and not wander through other camp's hunting areas. Hopefully your property has a good variety of terrain along with swamps and evergreens, specially cedar. Good luck

I would access the property from lower spruce hedge rd in burnstown, however if you take the 511 to the power lines on either side of stones lake you can ride 4wheeler along the power lines and access the property from there aswell. definitely closer to burnstown though. terrain is great IMO, couple small ponds, lots of swamps/ mashes around. property is mostly evergreen, with one corner being oaks. very accessible by four wheeler as they have many trails in place so I don't think we would be dragging too too far. very excited to have more property to roam!

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Originally Posted by danbart

I would access the property from lower spruce hedge rd in burnstown, however if you take the 511 to the power lines on either side of stones lake you can ride 4wheeler along the power lines and access the property from there aswell. definitely closer to burnstown though. terrain is great IMO, couple small ponds, lots of swamps/ mashes around. property is mostly evergreen, with one corner being oaks. very accessible by four wheeler as they have many trails in place so I don't think we would be dragging too too far. very excited to have more property to roam!

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Is this the property?

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/2...ore-white-lake

I was looking at it as well since it has been for sale the last couple of years. Poor health made me reconsider.
Looks like a nice property. You should do well there.
Make sure you have deeded access rights as for some reason alarm bells were going off in my head but could be mistaken.

that is the right property , one of the conditions of the sale is written permission from the land owners the private road crosses, which I'm told have been acquired. the land was hit pretty bad by the Tornado in oct 2018, but I can pick away at that mess for the next couple decades I suppose... cabins weren't hit too bad.

Didn't say anything about timber & mineral rights.

We used to ice fish pike at McNulty Lake until an irate landowner confronted us and said the trail we were using was private and not crown. 99 % sure it was crown but he struck me as the type that might slash the truck tires so didn't bother going back. Back then the deer wintered throughout that area along McHugh Road and Lower Spruce Hedge Road so I'm sure you're in a good area especially late season once the snow flies. Hopefully the deal works out for you and as others said just make damn sure you get the access straightened out before you sign on the dotted line.

Now I know where you are, 6.5 Km up the lake from us if that map is correct. Only 500M West from the mouth of Fish Creek. Looking at the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas you're in the middle of a big chunk of private land, so I can't see wandering hunters being an issue at all. There is a small parcel of crown land off the lake shore just south of fish creek but that doesn't even extend across the creek. Couple of guys I knew would sometimes check it out by boat.
http://www.gisapplication.lrc.gov.on...A&locale=en-US

As for deer hunting up there I learned plenty over the years, it's totally different from the scattered rural farmland like where I live just an hour away. Deer densities are way lower, there are no crops to eat. Everything relates to water when it comes down to it, whether creek, swamp, pond or even lake shore. Our best spots and mine too were most always related to small little travels routes around and along them whether it was just a hop over a ditch or a short old beaver dam at a tight spot. Dead of winter can be a good time to explore though, you can wander without getting soakers and hopefully follow deer tracks, that's how I found my little sweet spot. 300 acres is a good chunk to learn, sounds like fun.
We all stayed in cabins or cottages in 3Mile bay and boated across the lake to hunt. Left a truck on the far shore for the week. After the second year hunting the first week with low deer movement except the opening weekend we switched to the second week of the season. There was a very noticeable uptake in deer movement and chasing in the second week, even better when the dates worked out to a later season start. So we just did day trips for opening weekend and then stayed the second week at deer camp.

Sounds like a great plan overall, specially with a property already set up for outdoor activities. Good luck with it.

Cheers

Deer out that way see a fair bit of pressure, but they're there.

I routinely am out that way ( My In-laws have a camp up off Black Donald just West of Calabogie.)

Pm'd you.

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Originally Posted by danbart

definitely closer to burnstown though.

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Well if you are fortunate enough to shoot a big buck or bear or whatever I highly recommend Don just up the road from there to take care of your taxidermy. He has done some mounts for me in the past and have always been pleased with his work.

https://www.whitetailtaxidermy.ca/

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Originally Posted by danbart

that is the right property , one of the conditions of the sale is written permission from the land owners the private road crosses, which I'm told have been acquired. the land was hit pretty bad by the Tornado in oct 2018, but I can pick away at that mess for the next couple decades I suppose... cabins weren't hit too bad.

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Be aware if the neighboring property sells in the future you dont want access problems to said property. I would be looking into an easement or why the property doesn't already have one. My neighbor has a landlocked property within his and another neighboring property and have cut off access to the owner over liability reasons. So the property is basically vacant with no access. Something to consider an easement will give you legal right of way regardless who owns or sells the land you have to cross.

I have a trailer on white lake and a friend has an off grid property on the lake as well. Very nice area with great fishing good waterfowl as well. As for deer I am new to hunting myself and have set up some cameras on the crown land in the area around much of the east and south of the lake and certainly have seen some deer. The issue is the crown areas are definitely pressured having seen cars parked where I wanted to go a few times. At least no one has stolen any cameras so far. But with your own property I can't see why you wouldnt have some great success. Maybe even grow your own little crop to get them to come to you.

Thanks for the info everybody. Ive taken a lot of your advice and am now working with the lawyers/ realtors/ sellers and other land owners on an easement. hopefully this isn't too long or painful of an ordeal. time will tell!

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Originally Posted by danbart

Thanks for the info everybody. Ive taken a lot of your advice and am now working with the lawyers/ realtors/ sellers and other land owners on an easement. hopefully this isn't too long or painful of an ordeal. time will tell!

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Looks like you are doing due diligence in purchasing that property which is great.
I would also try to contact the neighbours and see if they hunt deer. There is a reason why that camp was abandoned and may help you to find out why that occurred. Don't take the word of the real estate agent or current property owner. I'm talking from past experience here that neighbouring property owners can make life miserable for your hunting success such as setting up stands on the property line, etc. Some people get upset that your invading "their traditional" hunting territory even though they don't own any of it. You simply don't know what kind of arrangements were in place in past years.

Setting up in the middle of the 300 acres should be good though....lol

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Originally Posted by danbart

Thanks for the info everybody. Ive taken a lot of your advice and am now working with the lawyers/ realtors/ sellers and other land owners on an easement. hopefully this isn't too long or painful of an ordeal. time will tell!

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This Ontario Statute is one that you might find of interest and court decisions.

http://donaldlange.com/road-access-a...urt-of-appeal/

Algonquin land claim?

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Originally Posted by contaucreek

Algonquin land claim?

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If that thing is ever passed into law,it will make all provincial rulings vis-a-vie private property access null and void.

Little confused on location as property posted said windy point road and we seem to talking about a property off the lower spruce hedge road. Those addresses are at completely opposite ends of the lake lol.

I live about 5 km from the spruce hedge road. I can tell you every single property is hunted in that neighbourhood. This property has been on the market a long long time. The deer hunting is decent and a lot of gangs use dogs throughout the area.

Ticks will be your biggest problem as they are lousy with them in that area.

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Originally Posted by DonnieR

Little confused on location as property posted said windy point road and we seem to talking about a property off the lower spruce hedge road. Those addresses are at completely opposite ends of the lake lol.

I live about 5 km from the spruce hedge road. I can tell you every single property is hunted in that neighbourhood. This property has been on the market a long long time. The deer hunting is decent and a lot of gangs use dogs throughout the area.

Ticks will be your biggest problem as they are lousy with them in that area.

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Yea by that address it's just north of Pickerel bay on the others side of the lake. I figure the address is wrong seeing as the OP has been there already.