DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISHERIES No. 9 



BEAR: — These animals are both hunted and trapped but not verj' extensively, 

 though there is an indication that increasing numbers of non-resident hunters are 

 becoming interested in the spring hunt which has been provided during the months 

 of April and May. They are available in varying numbers throughout the entire 

 northern portion of the Province and are reported to be quite plentiful in many 

 sections, and to a lesser extent in Parry Sound, Muskoka, Haliburton, Renfrew and 

 the northern part of Hastings County. 



RABBITS: — Rabbits continue to provide many opportunities which are favour- 

 able from the sportsman's point of view, and more particularly is this so in the 

 southern counties. In this section of the Province cotton-tail rabbits are available 

 in satisfactory numbers, while the jack rabbit (European Hare) is pretty well 

 confined to the western counties though this species is slowly extending its numbers 

 to the east and north. In northern Ontario snow shoe rabbits are the prevailing 

 species and although they are reported to be quite scarce there are indications of 

 improvement in some districts. 



Rabbit hunting is a favourable activity of Ontario sportsmen during the 

 fall and winter months. The "jack" is probably the most popular of the species 

 because of its size and the open country it inhabits. Its long and powerful legs 

 propel it at tremendous speed and the difficulty of hitting such a fast moving target 

 intensifies the pleasure of the hunt. The "jack" does not readily capitulate. It has 

 power and stamina which provide an excellent defense against all but the most 

 experienced. The varying hare or snowshoe rabbit on the other hand has quite a 

 burst of speed, but lacks the reserve power and physical courage of the "jack". 

 It succumbs readily. 



The cotton tail and the hare are in about the same class from the sporting 

 standpoint, although the former provides a measure of additional sport to those who 

 enjoy hunting with ferrets. 



Hunters should realize that there is just as much danger of exterminating 

 the rabbit through needless waste as any other species of game. This is particularly 

 true in the more populous areas, where hunting is heavy and habitat restricted. Game 

 which provides such healthy outdoor recreation at a minimum of expense is worth 

 conserving. 



SQUIRREL (Black and Grey): — These animals are quite numerous in the 

 southern counties and particularly is this applicable to the western portion. They 

 were afforded the protection of an entire close season which in all probability con- 

 tributed largely to the improvement evident in the numbers of these varieties of 

 squirrel. 



PARTRIDGE: — Conditions as they applied to the various species of this 

 desirable game bird were not sufficiently favourable to justify any action along 

 the lines of an open season. 



The sharp-tailed grouse or prairie chicken is found only in the northwestern 

 districts and while scarce they showed signs of some increase. 



As far as ruffed grouse are concerned, these birds exist throughout the 

 Province, though their numbers are, of course, quite limited in the more settled 

 sections. However, as previously stated in no section were they in any way numerous 

 though reports received by the Department advised that improvement was noticeable 

 principally in Northern Ontario and the northern districts and eastern counties of 

 the southern part of the Province. 



QUAIL: — These birds are found principally in the counties of Essex, Kent, 

 Lambton and Middlesex, and in counties immediately adjacent to the eastern 

 boundaries thereof, and in which section they are fairly plentiful. Scattered bevies 

 of quail are reported also in some eastern counties, that is Stormont, Dundas and 

 Glengarry. 



