of this species throughout the province. High production of walleye in the mid- 

 fifties followed by lower production in the sixties, caused intensification of demands 

 for an end to commercial fishing, to increase hatchery production of walleye, and 

 greater protection. The studies are beginning to show that year class strength in 

 walleye is consistent in many parts of the Province. Factors affecting walleye 

 production may be far more universal than is presently believed. 



With respect to wildlife management, the policy of full use has been continued 

 by the confirmation of longer seasons for big game throughout northern Ontario. 

 In the southern moose range, however, it has been necessary to permit open 

 seasons for moose in alternating years only, since the combination of moose 

 hunting and deer hunting appears to put exceptionally heavy pressure upon moose. 



Of greater significance is the effort being made to extend the relationship of 

 the animal to its environment and in this respect white-tailed deer is a good 

 example. Extensive areas normally occupied by deer during the winter months 

 are being improved since forest success has made them less suitable for carrying 

 many deer through the winter. Suitable cutting practices and the necessary assess- 

 ments of the worth of these practices are underway. 



The development of public hunting grounds continues and their popularity 

 is attested to by the use which is being made of them. However, this touches upon 

 one of the greatest and most difficult problems to solve of the present time which 

 is to provide adequate access to game stocks throughout the southern parts of 

 Ontario which are almost entirely privately owned. 



WILDLIFE SECTION 

 Game Management 



Ontario offers excellent hunting opportunities. Sales of all types of resident 

 hunting licences amounted to 635,071 while non-resident licence sales totalled 

 29,749. Hunting licence sale data are presented in Table 1. 



Table 1 Hunting Licence Sales- 1965 



Type of Licence Numbers Sold 



Resident Moose 60,281 



Resident Deer 118,127 



Camp Deer 259 



Dog 12,683 



Farmers' Deer 12,250 



Regulated Hunting Camp (Lindsay) 82 



Resident Bear 583 



Resident Small Game 381,372 



Groundhog 43,434 



Non-Resident Moose 10,057 



Non-Resident Deer 7,242 



Non-Resident Small Game 9,551 



Non-Resident Spring Bear 2,647 



Non-Resident Wolf 50 



Non-Resident Pheasant Preserve 202 



Licence sales continued to rise and with greater numbers of sportsmen afield 

 the proper management of game resources becomes increasingly important. During 

 1965, field staff comprised of approximately 250 conservation officers and 40 

 biologists, assisted by other Department staff and interested citizens, enforced 

 regulations made under The Game and Fish Act, collected information required 

 for sound management decisions and completed projects designed to maintain or 

 improve wildlife populations. 



The task of managing wildlife populations covers a wide range of activities. 



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