Deer range improvements have been financed through Forest Stand Im- 

 provement Funds of the Timber Branch. ResuUs of the first two years operation 

 are most encouraging. Deer have used the new browse which has been produced 

 subsequent to cutting. In addition staff of both co-operating Branches have 

 gained an insight into the other's work and problems. Many foresters have 

 shown great interest in this type of work and are now in a better position to 

 recommend specific forest treatments in areas important to deer. In many 

 instances commercial timber operators have been persuaded to modify their 

 operations to benefit deer. For instance, hemlock stands which are exceptionally 

 valuable as winter cover have been spared where they occurred within known 

 deer yards. 



The ultimate goal is to place all important winter deer habitat under proper 

 timber management. Only then will the Department be able to influence the 

 number of deer available to hunters, which is a necessity if hunting of reasonable 

 quality is to be maintained. 



DEER TAGGING 



To learn more concerning the annual movements of deer to and from 

 winter yards, 250 automatic tagging devices were made up in the Sault Ste. 

 Marie District. These were used in several districts across the eastern deer range. 

 The tagging devices, or "collars", made of brightly coloured polyethelene rope 

 with attached numbered tag, are designed so that deer "walk through" them 

 while travelling on narrow trails in winter yards. The collars snap around the 

 deer's neck and serve as a permanent marker to provide information on deer 

 movements. Since snowfall was light during the winter deer were not restricted 

 to trails, consequently a large number of deer was not marked. District staff 

 did gain considerable experience in the techniques of using automatic tagging 

 devices. 



OTHER ACTIVITIES 



Field staff in many districts where deer are important conducted surveys 

 to establish the effect of deer on the range and to determine deer densities 

 in some areas. 



Field staff also co-operated with the Ontario Veterinary College and Ontario 

 Research Foundation in their studies of disease and parasites of deer. Informa- 

 tion was also collected from the many deer killed accidentally, most of them 

 by automobiles on busy southern Ontario highways. 



MOOSE MANAGEMENT 



Ontario has a large moose population estimated at about 125,000 animals. 

 In 1963 post season hunter surveys indicate that the kill may have exceeded 

 14,000 animals, the highest on record. Hunters in 1963 continued to enjoy 

 good moose hunting; the resident and non-resident success rate was 26.5 and 

 52.9% respectively. Average success was 30.5% for the 46,951 hunters who 

 participated in the hunt. 



During the past few years Ontario has supported the largest moose herd 

 in the history of the Province. During the past 15 years or so, remarkable 

 changes in the numbers of moose have occurred. Moose have extended their 

 range both to the north and south; this spread, coupled with the very rapid 

 increases in numbers of moose, has produced excellent hunting opportunities. 



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