Back again for my annual big woods deer hunting recap from north of the border - this is the 2024 edition. I hunt on large tracts of public land in Eastern/Central Ontario. This is classic big woods country - thick lowland conifers, plentiful swamps/creeks, mixed hardwood ridges, rough terrain - and very little in the way of roads/trails. I focus on several thousand acres that has very little trail/road access. My hunts involve either early morning ATV rides to long bushwhacking hikes in or backpacking in for multi-day hunts. Our bow season opens October 1 (and closes December 15), rifle season runs roughly first two weeks of November, and then first week of December is muzzleloader season.
I run about 25 trail cams throughout this area. I don't run cell cams as cell coverage is spotty and I honestly don't like the ethics of them (just my opinion).
This area has its share of backcountry bruiser bucks. Mature bucks in this area routinely dress out at more than 200 lbs and the local "heaviest buck" contest is usually won by a buck in the 230- 250 lb range. I get trail cam photos of legitimate bruisers every year (and on occasion a true monster).
The Ontario big woods are a very different environment than most whitetail scenarios. Deer densities are low between harsh winters and plenty of predators. This season I went most hunting days with literally zero deer sightings. The thick cover means visibility typically doesn't exceed 50 meters and hiking is challenging at the best of times.
This year was a definite struggle. The two giant bucks (The King and Arnold) I had been hunting since 2020 were "no shows". This is the King from his prime in 2021. After coming within 30 meters of the King snow tracking in December 2023, it appears my chase for him is over. I suspect Father Time caught up to him in the previous winter through cold, wolves, etc.
My best chances this season came in the muzzleloader season in early December. We had perfect tracking snow and in the three days I had available I was able to get on mature bucks each day - two of those days I was literally right behind them even though I never spotted them. This area is often so tight with cover that a deer could be within 50 meters and you would never hear/see it.
Tag Soup this year - but I know this is always likely going to be the outcome trying to hold out for a mature buck in this environment with the time I have available to hunt. There were mature bucks around - just couldn't cross paths. Here's three of the bigger bucks that frequented the area.
That said, another awesome year in the Canadian backcountry - beautiful scenery, big deer, moose, wolves howling, etc. Already looking forward to this fall.
I run about 25 trail cams throughout this area. I don't run cell cams as cell coverage is spotty and I honestly don't like the ethics of them (just my opinion).
This area has its share of backcountry bruiser bucks. Mature bucks in this area routinely dress out at more than 200 lbs and the local "heaviest buck" contest is usually won by a buck in the 230- 250 lb range. I get trail cam photos of legitimate bruisers every year (and on occasion a true monster).
The Ontario big woods are a very different environment than most whitetail scenarios. Deer densities are low between harsh winters and plenty of predators. This season I went most hunting days with literally zero deer sightings. The thick cover means visibility typically doesn't exceed 50 meters and hiking is challenging at the best of times.
This year was a definite struggle. The two giant bucks (The King and Arnold) I had been hunting since 2020 were "no shows". This is the King from his prime in 2021. After coming within 30 meters of the King snow tracking in December 2023, it appears my chase for him is over. I suspect Father Time caught up to him in the previous winter through cold, wolves, etc.
My best chances this season came in the muzzleloader season in early December. We had perfect tracking snow and in the three days I had available I was able to get on mature bucks each day - two of those days I was literally right behind them even though I never spotted them. This area is often so tight with cover that a deer could be within 50 meters and you would never hear/see it.
Tag Soup this year - but I know this is always likely going to be the outcome trying to hold out for a mature buck in this environment with the time I have available to hunt. There were mature bucks around - just couldn't cross paths. Here's three of the bigger bucks that frequented the area.
That said, another awesome year in the Canadian backcountry - beautiful scenery, big deer, moose, wolves howling, etc. Already looking forward to this fall.
