MNR is looking at the guide rules in Rainy River

[Sam Menard]

https://ero.ontario.ca/index.php/notice/019-4970
This won’t matter to most of you. Currently, in the Rainy River District (we don’t have counties up here), non resident deer hunters are required to have a Licenced guide (1 guide/2hunters). Guide licences are $10 and any Ontario Resident can get one. Guides don’t have to be with the hunters… just “contactable”. The hunters don’t even have to lodge with the guides either. It’s a pretty loose system but was intended to cap the number of NR hunters, including day-trippers. It’s not perfect but seemed to do what was intended. The system has been around a long time and the MNR is getting finally reviewing it. I suspect that they will change the system and have NR hunters stay at lodges or have to enter a draw.
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[Buckshot517]

Sam

Ironic I posted the EBR about an hour before u posted this. But if anyone hunts northwestern ontario this will be of interest as other than Rainy River there is no regulation requirement for guiding nr deer hunters. Big impacts across nw ontario

[trimmer21]

Tightening the regulations governing non-resident hunters is long overdue. Use of an outfitter lodge should be a very minimum requirement. Non-residents should be required to use a guide service and be accompanied at all times to ensure regulatory compliance at the very least.

[Sharon]

Absolutely.

[Sam Menard]

As far as I know, non-residents can hunt the rest of Ontario without a guide. Not sure how many do though. Some units, like around Thunder Bay, don’t have open seasons for non-residents.

The guide requirement only applies to the territorial district of Rainy River which, more or less, includes Atikokan, Fort Frances, Sioux Narrows. Non-residents can hunt without guides around Kenora and Dryden without a guide, but there are Crown land camping restrictions which forces them to use motels. Many Americans own property (160+ acre parcels) in proximity to the town of Rainy River. Presently, they can’t hunt their own land without hiring a guide. I can foresee a lot of squawking from them if they are forced to stay at a lodge. Many will be forced to sell their properties, possibly at a loss. Some have built nice camps!

[gbk]

Tightening the regulations governing non-resident hunters is long overdue. Use of an outfitter lodge should be a very minimum requirement. Non-residents should be required to use a guide service and be accompanied at all times to ensure regulatory compliance at the very least.

Agreed

Not being nasty-but the US hunters are likely the majority of the NR hunters.

USA teems with hot deer spots.So-why come to Ontario?

Price,more opportinities for deer to be harvested in a season, affordability, closeness,relax atmosphere,laid back rules-You name it.
Ontario hunters deserve a level of protection ,i would say.

[FishHog]

Tightening the regulations governing non-resident hunters is long overdue. Use of an outfitter lodge should be a very minimum requirement. Non-residents should be required to use a guide service and be accompanied at all times to ensure regulatory compliance at the very least.

I’m a little torn on this. I agree to a point but there should be exceptions for someone hunting with a relative.
My brother born in Ontario moved to Alberta. I would like to be able to have him to my hunt camp. He would have to buy a non resident tag but otherwise I think I should be able to host him

I was able to go hunting in Alberta with him as my hunter host and I’d like to be able to do the same. If that was a extra fee for me that’s ok but he shouldn’t be forced to hire a guide and stay somewhere else

[trimmer21]

I’m a little torn on this. I agree to a point but there should be exceptions for someone hunting with a relative.
My brother born in Ontario moved to Alberta. I would like to be able to have him to my hunt camp. He would have to buy a non resident tag but otherwise I think I should be able to host him

I was able to go hunting in Alberta with him as my hunter host and I’d like to be able to do the same. If that was a extra fee for me that’s ok but he shouldn’t be forced to hire a guide and stay somewhere else

Agreed! That should be the only exception,but,it must be verifiable to prevent abuse.

[rick_iles]

As far as I know, non-residents can hunt the rest of Ontario without a guide. Not sure how many do though. Some units, like around Thunder Bay, don’t have open seasons for non-residents.

The guide requirement only applies to the territorial district of Rainy River which, more or less, includes Atikokan, Fort Frances, Sioux Narrows. Non-residents can hunt without guides around Kenora and Dryden without a guide, but there are Crown land camping restrictions which forces them to use motels. Many Americans own property (160+ acre parcels) in proximity to the town of Rainy River. Presently, they can’t hunt their own land without hiring a guide. I can foresee a lot of squawking from them if they are forced to stay at a lodge. Many will be forced to sell their properties, possibly at a loss. Some have built nice camps!

Makes one wonder if the changes will bring the deer regs in line with the moose regs, where NR hunters are concerned.

[gbk]

I’m a little torn on this. I agree to a point but there should be exceptions for someone hunting with a relative.
My brother born in Ontario moved to Alberta. I would like to be able to have him to my hunt camp. He would have to buy a non resident tag but otherwise I think I should be able to host him

I was able to go hunting in Alberta with him as my hunter host and I’d like to be able to do the same. If that was a extra fee for me that’s ok but he shouldn’t be forced to hire a guide and stay somewhere else

I belive Alberta has 2 levels of NR hunters- NR and NR alien.
NR being Canadian,from another province.NR alien is everyone else-from any country.
Much different rules for the 2 levels.

Hear Ya-Hope Ontario would go same route