Weather conditions during the hunt were slightly unfavourable. 



Kemptville District also escaped the severe winters. Although 

 hunting weather was rather unfavourable, success remained at hO.^%, No 

 shortages were observed in deer age classes. Fawns made up 35*3% of the deer 

 checked while yearlings made up 38.3^ of the deer aged, by far the best 

 percentages of young animals in southern Ontario. 



From these figures, which are summarized in Tables No. 1 and 

 No. 2, it is obvious that differences in hunting success across Ontario were 

 mostly due to differences in the severity of preceding winters. Where winters 

 were mild hunter success stayed high. Where snow depths were great, hunter 

 success dropped. Poor weather during the hunt had an overall depressing 

 influence on hunter success and accentuated the effects of deer shortages, 

 but deep snow was the major factor reducing deer numbers. A few mild winters 

 should soon restore the diminished herds to their previous levels of abundance. 



21 



