Public Land : Vacancy

[DanO]

I think a lot of guys got discouraged early in the first week of the hunt and when the weather got warmer and warmer they gave up. The deer seemed to move only at night when it was cooler.

[FamilyMan]

I can confirm lack of activity in Marlborough. I hunt property adjoining the forest and heard very little activity or saw anybody this week. Here's hoping week 2 is the same.

[rf2]

I can confirm lack of activity in Marlborough. I hunt property adjoining the forest and heard very little activity or saw anybody this week. Here's hoping week 2 is the same.

I agree. To me, it's not a bad thing at all. I intend to continue to hunt the Marlborough forest for years to come, so if there's a turnover of hunters, that's fine with me. I've had some not-so-pleasant experiences with other hunters over the years on public land, and almost every time, it was with the older generation that seems to believe that they own the place.
I was just surprised that there were no vehicles in the parking lots on a weekend during the gun hunt.

[werner.reiche]

Noticed a lot of extra hunters up on the crown land in 55B this fall. Nothing like it was in the 1980's and early '90's though. But it has been quieter than normal up there the last 20 years or so. Not that the deer pops are booming there, but I suspect hard times in the rest of Ontario makes 55B more attractive when it has remained low but stable.

[line052]

I have a hawkens .50 with cast 250gr REAL and can get consistant 4" groups at 100M. Was in a new area yesterday and found 7 scrapes on a island parcel. Only one way in and huge tree right in center. Gonna build a temp stand this weekend after clearing some coyotes on friends property far west end of Fernbank.

I hunted with my crossbow in there a few times at the beginning of the archery season. I saw deer 2 of the 3 times I was in there, which is more than I saw the entire season (Oct. 1 - Dec. 31) last year across all the properties I hunt, so I would say the deer population is getting better - either that, or my luck was better this year.

By the way, unless you plan to hunt a different WMU later in the season, the muzzleloader season in these parts allows only muzzleloaders and archery equipment - no shotguns.

[line052]

I chased a chicken for 30 minutes...lol. He had me running/stalking in circles..lol