Proposal to simplify and align provincial white-tailed deer hunting seasons
https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/019-4637
This consultation was open from:
November 19, 2021
to January 4, 2022
Decision summary
We have made a decision to amend the Open Seasons and Hunting regulations under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 to streamline deer season types and duration across the province.
Decision details
We made a decision to proceed with most of the proposed changes. The amendments will support the continued delivery of a modern and efficient provincial deer harvest management system. No significant impact to deer harvest levels, hunter safety or deer population stability are anticipated because of these changes.
Based on feedback and further consideration we have decided not to proceed with proposed amendment number five – align the rifles, shotguns, muzzle-loading guns and bows season start and end dates and add early and late bows only seasons in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 26 consistent with neighbouring WMUs.
Changes to the Open Seasons regulation were filed by the Registrar of Regulations on March 14, 2022. Most season changes came into effect on filing of the regulation, however changes to the hunting season for WMU 93C will come into effect on January 1, 2023. The ministry is still considering the proposal to repeal the special authorization regulation for WMU 93C and intends to conduct additional local engagement prior to making a decision on this matter.