18.7% in 1964 to 27.0% in 1965. Reasons for improved success are two fold: 

 frequent snowfalls on eleven days of the thirteen day season made tracking and 

 locating concentrations of deer possible coupled with an improvement in the 1965 

 fawn crop. 



Continual forest cutting operations and mild winters in recent years have 

 produced a large herd in the western deer range. The combination of deer aplenty 

 and low hunter densities have provided an opportune hunting situation. Success 

 rates ranging from 28.2% to 49.2% in this region were the highest in the 

 Province. Of 140,000 sportsmen purchasing deer licences in Ontario in 1965, 

 10 per cent hunted in northwestern Ontario. An average of 34% of this segment 

 of the deer hunting fraternity was successful. Fort Frances Forest District had 

 the best hunting success rate in the Province this year at 49.2% (up 3.5% from 

 1964). Success in the Port Arthur Forest District also increased to 32.5% from 

 31.7% and 23.1% in 1964 and 1963, respectively. Slight declines in hunter suc- 

 cess were noted in both Kenora and Sioux Lookout Forest Districts. Generally, 

 the Western Region experienced heavy and continuous snowfalls over much of the 

 winter and fears were expressed that the deer population in this area would suffer. 

 Spring surveys conducted in this region, results of which are unknown at this time, 

 may assuage some of our fears and divulge better survival than was expected. 



In summary, preliminary spring dead deer surveys indicate light winter losses. 

 The effects of a late spring on the fawn crop are vague but reduced fawn survival 

 is not an impossibility. However, an optimistic forecast of fair to good (not 

 excellent) hunting this fall in the western deer range is ventured. In the eastern 

 deer range hunter success rates declined slightly or were similar to 1964 rates. 

 Because of the mild winter, prospects for a better hunt this fall in Central and 

 Eastern Ontario are good. 



HABITAT IMPROVEMENT 



Vegetative ecological succession is continually progressing toward a mature 

 closed-canopy forest in many site locations throughout Ontario. Because a mature 

 forest cannot produce an abundant supply of preferred food for deer beneath its 

 canopy, deer only on occasion frequent these areas during the spring, summer and 

 fall. However during a harsh winter deer seek the shelter of a mature bush 

 provided coniferous cover is available. Protection from wind, snow and cold 

 temperatures may be afforded by the mature forest but food is scarce. This 

 situation becomes critical when snow reaches a depth where deer are confined to 

 runways and food cannot be reached without considerable difficulty and wasted 

 energy. Starvation is the usual end result in a majority of these situations. 



Production of adequate supplies of browse within or in close proximity to 

 the winter concentrations of deer is part of the solution to the problem. As phase 

 one of this operation some of the important deer yards are mapped from the air 

 luring the winter. Inspection of each yard on the ground was found necessary in 

 order to assess whether or not work was needed to improve the area for deer. 



For the past four years a major programme designed to improve winter 

 habitat for deer has been underway. This programme is a co-operative one 

 )etween Timber, and Fish and Wildlife branches. If quality deer hunting is to be 

 maintained proper silviculture practices are necessary on all important winter deer 

 concentration areas by both government and commercial timber operators. A 

 majority of the projects listed in the table below were undertaken specifically for 

 deer habitat improvement. There are many projects under general stand improve- 

 ment funds that are timber-oriented yet benefit the deer population. 



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