next year as a scarcity of 31/2-year-oIds. 



In summary, mild winters have produced good hunting in the western region 

 and future hunting prospects, following a very mild winter in 1962-63, are 

 excellent. 



Along the northern limit of the eastern range, herds were gradually recover- 

 ing. We cannot be too optimistic concerning the 1963 hunt, since the past winter 

 has been very severe, and heavy losses were again incurred particularly in the 

 Sudbury District. 



Across the eastern deer range, south of the French and Mattawa Rivers, 

 weather during the hunt was favourable and hunting was good in 1962. Although 

 snow was deep during the winter just past, it was of light density and impeded 

 deer movements very little. Hunting success next fall in the main eastern deer 

 range will depend in large part on weather during the hunt. If we have normal 

 weather conditions, it is quite possible that as a result of the higher than normal 

 kill in 1962, a decrease in hunter success may be experienced. 



The 1962 Moose Hunt In Ontario 



Moose in Ontario attracted over 46,000 hunters in 1962, and licence sales 

 were the highest on record. There was an indication that the annual large increase 

 in sales was levelling off, however. Total licence sales increased by only 3.1%, 

 compared with a 23.8% increase the previous year. Table No. 1 below shows 

 the trend in licence sales over the past seven years. Since the season was opened 

 jn 1951 after a short period of closure, the number of moose hunters afield has 

 increased over thirtyfold from 1400 in 1951 to the present total of 46,145. 



Table No. I 



MOOSE LICENCES SOLD IN ONTARIO 



For the fourth consecutive year. District Fish and Wildlife staffs collected 

 information on the hunt by obtaining questionnaires from a systematic sample 

 of moose hunters. Names were taken from licence book covers and hunters were 

 contacted by mail, and in some instances, by telephone. Tables number 2 and 3 

 show the results of these surveys by Forest District. 



Over 13,000 moose were harvested in 1962 by resident and non-resident 

 hunters. Hunting success for residents was 25.1%, while non-residents, always 

 somewhat more successful, enjoyed a success rate of 53.4%, For residents, 

 hunting in northern Ontario, hunting success at 24.9% was very similar to last 

 year's 25.4%,. Resident success for southern Ontario is not a true reflection of 

 hunting quality; many deer-moose hunting groups treated the moose licence as 

 a camp licence, and thus hunting success is misleading. The kill in southern 

 Ontario did decline however and there appears to have been fewer moose available 

 to the hunter than in 1961. The total estimated provincial harvest of 13,295 



65 



