Deer numbers

[Marker]

In 87 I am seeing more bucks but fewer groups of does. Also, more hunters in the early part of the season and fewer hunters later on as the season progresses.

[cantgetright]

Just curious on others experience and thoughts on deer numbers this year? My personal opinion is that the numbers are down this year and have been declining for sometime now, that includes sightings during scouting, hunting and trail cameras (WMU84) . I know that the mandatory surveys are to tell us this answer but if I hunted 30 times and seen the same 3 deer over and over again 90 deer in 30 hunts wouldn't be a bad season (depending if were talking fun hunts or buck hunts) however, that would produce a high deer count on my survey even though that may not be true? Any input or clarification would be appreciated.

I also hunt 84 and have been saying the same for last few years. Taking into account rifle season only, I used to see between 15-25 deer for the week but the last 3 years I struggle to get to double digits for the number of deer seen. Another place I hunt in 85B holds some really nice bucks, usually watch 6-8 bucks through spring and summer but I think the number of does is down. As for filling out the report don't make it more difficult than it is. I saw the same buck come past me 4 times Monday morning, chasing does off the field. I warned him that he gets an opening day pass but that's it, don't pull that crap tomorrow. Needless to say he comes strutting out Tuesday morning at 7:30 with a raging boner so it was night night for him.

[huntnmachine]

WMU 49 was about the same as last year. WMU 43B had more sign then previous years

[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

Funny I hunted area 84 about 15 or so years ago. Our spot was spectacular, and we would tag out on the first day. Then the trespassing got real bad with large orange army gangs pushing through right by our stands with no regard for safety. We left and started to hunt 92B. Best decision I ever made...

[DanE]

Both WMU's I hunt seem pretty par for the course.
as a group we made better decisions on stand placement which seemed to pay off

[sabmgb]

my area is on par or up. Im still getting pictures of bucks and Does, and fawns. I'd say 4 Does to each buck.

[ninepointer]

Loring area and the surrounding areas the Loring Yard supported have still not recovered from the 2013, 2014 & 2016 winters.

[crayfish]

93a lots of deer seen Through November (lots of does, few bucks)
Trespassers through my property during Dec controlled hunt, have not seen a deer since

[hunter06]

Loring area and the surrounding areas the Loring Yard supported have still not recovered from the 2013, 2014 & 2016 winters.

Now that area well, sad to see what it’s like now compared to what it was like back in the day. I know lots of old timers who consistently took big bucks there, while the MNR was helping the deer in the winter.

[Sam Menard]

In over 35 years of hunting in Unit 10, this is the first year that we were skunked. To put things into perspective, this unit once boasted the highest success rate in Ontario at 54%. For several years, our group regularly tagged out on bucks. The pendulum has certainly swung the other way.

My trail cams have been showing only single family doe groups e.g. maternal doe, her fawns, and last year’s doe.