kasing. The most popular areas for bear hunting were Chapleau, Kenora, Swastika 

 and Gogama, according to the number of reports received. Americans from as far 

 afield as Texas, Florida and Nebraska participated and two hunters from Switzer- 

 land and Germany also reported to the Department on their hunt. 



The harvest of black bears in the autumn of 1964 was one of the best on 

 record. Very mild weather during the deer season (November 2-14), across the 

 main eastern deer range, along with an abundant acorn crop, kept bears from 

 starting their long winter's sleep, producing excellent opportunities to bag a "bruin". 



It appears that black bears are nearing a peak in abundance and hunting for 

 this species should be good in 1965. 



Upland Game and Waterfowl 



Interest in small game and waterfowl hunting continued apace in 1964. 

 Resident hunting licence sales totalled 361,483. Non-resident small game hunting 

 licence sales increased from 7,685 in 1963 to 7,998 this year, but resident "ground 

 hog licence" sales dropped from 39,219 to 38,038. 



Most of the upland game and waterfowl hunting in Ontario takes place in 

 that portion of the Province located south of the French and Mattawa Rivers. Of 

 the 135 regulated townships in southern Ontario, 80 were situated in the Lake 

 Erie Forest District. This concentration of the bulk of Ontario's hunters in the 

 agricultural south presents special problems. Access to private lands is becoming 

 increasingly difficult and more and more posting of land to prevent trespassing 

 and/or hunting is encountered. Game populations remain in good supply and 

 scarcity of game is not a consideration or problem. 



REGULATED TOWNSHIPS IN ONTARIO 



Small game hunters have a variety of species to pursue in Ontario. These 

 include pheasants, three species of grouse, cottontail rabbits, both the European 

 and varying hares, foxes, raccoons, bobwhite quail and squirrels. Many of these 

 are abundant on farm lands and the agricultural "edge," attracting hunters and 

 adding to the situation described above. High hunter densities result in some 

 instances in restrictive municipal by-laws banning the discharge of firearms. Means 

 must be found to retain as much available farm land as possible open to hunting 

 and to stem the tide of often deteriorating hunter-landowner relations. 



Articles and timely editorials appearing in the Fish and Wildlife Review and 

 in various Departmental news releases have advocated good manners on the part 

 of hunters. These stories, stressing the need for mutual co-operation and under- 

 standing between landowners and sportsmen have been widely read and circulated. 

 Every opportunity presented by meetings, hunter training courses and lecture tours 

 has been utilized in impressing those gathered with this vital message. 



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