How many hunters is in Ontario...?

[Marker]

[QUOTE=outdoorlife;1218720]There’s been some significant trend changes in hunter behaviour over the last two decades in particular. There is no question that less people are participating in the controlled deer hunts here in southern Ontario but bow hunting seems to be a rapidly growing pursuit over the same areas. ]

This has been my observation also. I can also see a noticable reduction in the amount of beer cans left in the woods after the controlled hunt. In my opinion, a welcome change.

[DanE]

Not sure if it's just in my neck of the woods or not
but my son and all of his friends are in 100% revolt of all liberalized ways of life and have embraced the country ways. each of them drive a pick up truck of some description, they all chipped in to buy a duck boat, each of them have their hunting licenses and PAL, they all fish regularly. It's actually refreshing to see rather then them playing video games, dying their hair blue and using a litter box to go to the washroom in

[fishfood]

Those charts says active hunters.
Maybe archery is included.

Just tried to look at the deer number and said total number of hunting license holders for 2021 was 180 something thousand. For ontario. Couldn't find a year to year chart.

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[fishfood]

Further investigation 2015 says almost 189 thousand deer licenses sold. From a ofah 2017 pdf file.

2021 says with nearly 189 from stats Canada.

In the 2017 pdf it says this.

"The value of deer hunting should be actively promoted by the mnrf."

But resident license holders seem to be about the same as 2015.

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[wasa]

There is no question that less people are participating in the controlled deer hunts here in southern Ontario

I personally would question this. I believe there are WAY more people participating in the controlled deer hunts in WMU 94, 93, and 92. The number of tags remains constant (if my memory is correct) but the success rate has gone down. This year (2023) was the ONLY year my entire group of 6 did not get a shotgun tag for 93 or a muzzleloader tag in 92. Shocked.

I ended up getting my non-resident Michigan deer licence and ended up harvesting two does with my lever Henry in 45 Colt. Of the 6 of us Ontario hunters, only 3 shot a deer via archery so lots of tag soup.

[trimmer21]

I personally would question this. I believe there are WAY more people participating in the controlled deer hunts in WMU 94, 93, and 92. The number of tags remains constant (if my memory is correct) but the success rate has gone down. This year (2023) was the ONLY year my entire group of 6 did not get a shotgun tag for 93 or a muzzleloader tag in 92. Shocked.

I ended up getting my non-resident Michigan deer licence and ended up harvesting two does with my lever Henry in 45 Colt. Of the 6 of us Ontario hunters, only 3 shot a deer via archery so lots of tag soup.

Congrats on the Michigan deer. Not to hijack this thread,but,what hoops did you need to jump through to bring your meat across the border?

[bush24]

Back in mid 90's, my turkey hunting instructor said; "If you are here to save money by turkey hunting, your in the wrong room."
My previous generations used to hunt because it was economical to do so. Now? $29 for a turkey licence? $50 for a deer tag, plus small game licence, fishing licence etc...

[cantgetright]

I personally would question this. I believe there are WAY more people participating in the controlled deer hunts in WMU 94, 93, and 92. The number of tags remains constant (if my memory is correct) but the success rate has gone down. This year (2023) was the ONLY year my entire group of 6 did not get a shotgun tag for 93 or a muzzleloader tag in 92. Shocked.

I ended up getting my non-resident Michigan deer licence and ended up harvesting two does with my lever Henry in 45 Colt. Of the 6 of us Ontario hunters, only 3 shot a deer via archery so lots of tag soup.

He's probably referring to back in the day when you could buy loads of extra tags for the controlled hunt. Back then I would run into guys at Service Ontario when the extra tags came available and they would have a list of 10 or more outdoor cards and buy an extra tag for each guy. They hunted rifle WMU in November using up their originals and have a whack load of new tags for the controlled hunt once December rolled around.

[wasa]

Congrats on the Michigan deer. Not to hijack this thread,but,what hoops did you need to jump through to bring your meat across the border?

I took the deer to a local processor/butcher, who packaged the meat and labelled it (including their company name and address and that it was venison). I picked it up frozen, and declared it at the border. Was asked if it was processed and if I had the head with me (I did not). I offered them the receipt and my MI licence/tag but CBSA didn't want that and let me go through.

My understanding is no head/brain matter (i.e. no non-taxidermied mounts) and fully butchered and packaged game is fine. I have friends who have taken a butchered moose through the USA (from Sault St. Marie through Michigan to Windsor ON) and they were told the same thing.

[alfoldivandor]

It is interesting that the Moose hunters number down ,
to half as used to be
and still not enough Moose to hunt ....?!