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There are two types of opportunities for Ontario resident deer hunters that involve computerized random draws for validation tags. They are:
• The Antlerless Deer Draw – deadline June 30, 2010
• The Controlled Deer Hunt Draw – deadline August 31, 2010
The antlerless deer validation tag program was instituted in portions of Ontario in 1980, when deer populations were at a relatively low level. An antlerless deer is defined as a deer that has no antlers, or
has antlers that are less than 7.5 cm (3 inches) in length. The program’s purpose is to ensure the sustainability of the herd. Habitat has a limited ability to support deer; this ability is called the carrying capacity of the habitat. Maintaining a deer population within the carrying capacity of its habitat ensures a healthy population with minimal habitat impacts, which ensures sustainability. The antlerless deer validation tag program is used to limit the number of antlerless tags allocated, which controls the number of antlerless deer harvested. If deer populations are low, then the number of antlerless tags offered will be low, to allow the herd to rebuild. As deer numbers increase, the number of antlerless tags offered will increase to control the growth of the herd. The antlerless deer validation tag program allows any legally licensed hunter to harvest a buck, but an antlerless deer (a doe or fawn) can be harvested only if the hunter or hunting party holds an antlerless deer validation tag.
The term "controlled deer hunt" means that the number of deer hunters hunting in a Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) is controlled or limited. Controlled deer hunts take place in southern and southwestern Ontario. Many hunters refer to these hunts as the "shotgun hunts" because the firearm that is permitted is usually a shotgun or flintlock/percussion cap muzzle-loading gun.
ATTENTION ALL HUNTERS
Starting this year, the deadline for applying to the Antlerless Deer Draw is June 30. The earlier deadline will enhance customer service and ensure timely delivery of deer validation tags to hunters.
Additional Game Seals for Deer
Deer populations in Ontario have flourished in recent years, leading to crop damage and increased deer/vehicle collisions in some areas. When deer populations in certain Wildlife Management Units warrant, hunters may be offered the opportunity to purchase game seals to harvest additional deer. In offering these game seals for sale, limits will apply on both the total number of seals a hunter may purchase and the number of seals a hunter may purchase for any one Hunt Code.
For most WMUs additional game seals will be sold by an automated telephone system only from July 20-August 4, 2009, on a first come, first served basis, at 1-800-288-1155.
In early July, hunters who purchased an additional deer seal in 2008 or 2007 will be mailed a brochure confirming the WMUs that will offer additional deer seals and containing the hunt codes required to use this system. (If you do not receive a brochure, please call the Outdoors Card Centre at 1-800-387-7011 or view it on the MNR website at ontario.ca/hunting.) Cost of the additional deer seal for residents is $38.75 (includes GST). If a WMU has any game seals remaining for sale after August 4, they will be sold at selected ServiceOntario Centres starting August 24. Note that the limits mentioned above remain in effect during this over-the-counter sales period. Additional seals for Controlled Deer Hunts will be sold in October as outlined in the brochure. Hunters must possess a Controlled Deer Hunt Validation Tag along with their additional game seal to hunt with their additional seal during the Controlled Deer Hunt Season. Please refer to the brochure that will be mailed in early July for more information.
NOTE: An additional game seal for deer is NOT a deer licence. An additional game seal for deer is valid only if the hunter possesses a current deer licence and a valid outdoors card.
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