Going tramping through the fields and woods in Ontario is no walk in the park. There can be extreme weather, mud, black flies, mosquitoes, hunting seasons and snowmobile routes to consider. While we live rurally and have several forested areas and walking trails to choose from, the reality is there are a few optimal months a year to get out in the wild, particularly with young children in tow. Here’s some information worth knowing whether you live rurally, are thinking about moving to the country or are daytripping from the city.
Black flies and mosquitoes
I’m from Vancouver and there are no black flies or mosquitoes in the metropolitan Lower Mainland, although they exist in other parts of the province. So I grew up not fully grasping those Labatt’s commercials where the beer-swilling cottage-dwelling party animals freak out at the flying bloodsuckers as darkness falls. I thought it was hyperbole. I know now it’s not. If we’re lucky there’s about a two week stretch of relative dryness between the spring melt/mudbath and the start of black fly/mosquito seasons. So get out in the woods while the getting’s good. Of course these prime weeks may overlap with the opening of the spring wild turkey hunt (see below).
Black fly season begins in May and can run into June, depending on the area. Mosquitoes arrive hot on their heels, ease off late August and peeter out sometime in September. Check out these links if you think I’m being a namby pamby about it. http://www.fodors.com/community/canada/the-black-fly-and-mosquitos-locations.cfm and http://www3.sympatico.ca/bob.bennell/black.htm. Then I’ll blindfold you and drop you in the forest in July and see if you make it out alive.
Hunting season
September and October are the prime season for daily walks in the woods but they can also include the opening of some hunting seasons across the province. There are at least two reasons why you might care about hunting season: 1) It’s a bit intimidating to walk the backwoods alone and run into a gaggle of men with guns; and 2) if you’re building a house, having renovation work done, or otherwise engaging with the trades or related businesses in rural areas, you’ll want to build slack into your schedule. Hunting season is a big deal in the seasonal social and food supply calendar. Many hunters book vacation for these times and, from what I hear, unscheduled (cough) sick days (hack) can make for staffing challenges. The following two sections contain contact information on the various hunting seasons as well as the regulations that govern the permissions required for use of private and crown lands for hunters (permitted passage vs. trespassing).
With the exception of spring wild turkey hunting, most hunting takes place in the Fall months. Spring Wild Turkey season opens April 25th and closes May 31st, 2011 in Ontario. Hunters are permitted to be out 1/2 hour before sunrise until 7:00pm http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@fw/documents/document/291229.pdf
You can click on this link to determine when the different hunting seasons occur in your area http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/291144.html
Note that open season dates can change from year to year, so these dates will act as a general guide until the Fall 2011 season dates are published.
Reporting
2010 Waterfowl Seasons Waterfowl hunting is overseen by the Canadian Wildlife Service. View Ontario open seasons for waterfowl on the Environment Canada website.
If you become aware of a fish or wildlife related infraction, please report it. Call the Natural Resources TIPS Reporting Line at 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667).
If you prefer to make an anonymous report, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Hunting and Trespassing
I’ve always been curious about the regulations governing crown vs. private land permissions. This information, and more, can be found at http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@fw/documents/document/239841.pdf
Trespassing
A person is trespassing if the person enters onto property or carries out an activity on property that the owner has given notice that entry is not allowed. Commonly the owner may give this notice to the general public by placing a fence, sign or symbol on the property, or by verbally telling someone.
A hunting licence does not give hunters the right to enter or cross private property.
ALWAYS ask for permission and obey signs. Signs may be in three formats:
• Red or yellow markings of such a size that a circle of
• 10 cm (4 inches) can be contained wholly within them. Red means no entry is permitted. Yellow markings mean no entry is permitted except for activities that may be allowed.
• Graphic representation of a permitted or prohibited activity.
• A written sign.
If it is not evident what activities are allowed, ask for permission from the landowner. Not all land is signed. Unsigned lands may be private land as well. (For example if the property is fenced, no access is permitted without permission of the landowner.) It is your responsibility to find out who owns the land you wish to hunt on and obtain permission. If unsure, stay out. Positive landowner/hunter relationships are important to the future of hunting in Ontario.
Be sure you are familiar with the Occupiers’ Liability Act and the Trespass to Property Act before entering private land. (You may obtain these two acts from Publications Ontario or online at ontario.ca/e-laws.) You will also be violating the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, if the landowner asks you to leave and you do not do so immediately, or if you do not obey signs prohibiting trespassing, for the purposes of hunting or fishing.
You may not hunt on private land in a party of more than 12 persons without the explicit permission of the landowner/ occupier.
Before hunting on Indian Reserves, ask the permission of the Band Council.
If you wish to hunt deer on Barrie Island, Cockburn Island or Manitoulin Island, you must have with you a valid deer licence and the written consent of the landowner on the form provided by the ministry. If you wish to hunt moose in WMU 65, you must have a moose licence, the appropriate validation tag and written consent of the landowner on the form provided by the ministry.
Crown Lands
In Ontario, travel for recreational purposes on Crown lands and waters is generally free and unrestricted. On most Crown land, camping is allowed free for Canadian residents for up to 21 days at one site. Campers can camp for an additional 21 days on a second site if the second site is located at least 100 metres from the first site. Please note, camping may be prohibited or restricted on some areas of Crown land; these locations are signed and regulated under the authority of the Public Lands Act. As well, some Crown lands may have restricted-travel zones for forest fire prevention, officially closed forest-access roads or specific areas posted with signs to prohibit all or certain kinds of uses or travel.
Non-residents of Canada are prohibited from camping on some specific areas of Crown land in northern Ontario at any time of year. These areas are generally well signed; however, hunters are advised to check with the local ministry office for complete information on areas where non-resident camping is prohibited. Information about restrictions on Crown Land Camping for non-residents of Canada in WMUs 6, 7B, 9A and 9B can be found on page 52.
Some Crown lands may also be posted against hunting and possession of firearms to protect forest workers or other resource users. Contact the local ministry office for the area in which you wish to hunt for further information.
Snowmobiling Season
Some people like the quiet “shoosh” of skies beneath their feet and an easy pace, while others prefer the sound of an engine and a lot more speed. Often winter walkers, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers cross paths with snowmobilers on groomed trails or off.
The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs maintains many groomed trails throughout the province through the collection of permit fees, the cooperation of landowners, and through the work of volunteers. Click here to see an interactive map that identifies designated snowmobile trails by community and districts. District club contact phone numbers are here if you have any questions about what’s happening near you.