GAME AND FUR MANAGEMENT 

 YEAR I960 

 THE 1960 DEER HUNT IN ONTARIO 



Two factors affected hunting In Ontario In I960. Most Important 

 was the series of severe winters In central Ontario which caused heavy losses 

 of deer and reduced the numbers available to hunters. More wide- spread but 

 less severe In effect was the poor hunting weather which reduced success 

 somewhat across most of the Province. A total of 31,527 hunters checked by 

 Fish and Wildlife Staffs of the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests 

 reported shooting 6,502 deer In 132,87^ hunting days for an overall hunter 

 success of 20.6/^ and 20.^ days per deer shot. The hunter success was down 

 slightly from the 23.7^ reported In 1959 and the days required to shoot a det r 

 rose from the 16. 3 reported In 1959 • 



Northwestern Ontario was fortunate In having another mild winter 

 In 1959-60. As a result, the high success rate that has been normal there 

 in recent years was maintained. Kenora recorded a hunter success of 52.6/^ 

 and Fort Frances reported M^.3/^ successful. The age distribution In these 

 districts Is difficult to Interpret but It seemed similar to the results for 

 the last several years Indicating no marked change. 



The picture was quite the opposite In north-central Ontario. In 

 Sault Ste. Marie District, three of the past five winters have been severe. 

 The results of the losses sustained showed up plainly In the figures from the 

 hunt where ^•2.^- hunter days were required to obtain a deer. Although It was 

 not possible to check many deer, those which were aged showed the effects of 

 the severe 1958-59 winter with a shortage of both yearlings and two-and-one- 

 half year old deer. This shortage first showed up In the 1959 hunt In deer 

 which were then fawns and yearlings. Fortunately, the mild winter of 1959-60 

 In the Sault District gave the deer a good chance to recover. This was 

 Indicated by the high percentage of fawns, ^3*0^, which was the highest In 

 Ontario and promises a swift recovery of the herd If they are favoured with a 

 few more mild winters. 



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