2015 Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Guide 2015 | Page 24

Hunting Photo: Jeff Gustafson Big Game & Bird Hunting Sunset Country is an extraordinary hunting destination because of the rugged nature of the terrain and the dense population of big game animals. You won’t be hunting in a farmer’s field or fenced in compound. It’s the Boreal forest, so be prepared! The reward for those who do is a shot at some of the biggest game animals in North America including moose, black bear and whitetail deer. Moose Elusive animals at any time of year, these big animals are extra aware of their surroundings during hunting season so significant skill, and perhaps a little luck is required if you’re going to harvest an animal – and especially a big bull. Non-residents must hunt with a licensed tourist outfitter. www.ontariomoosehunting.ca 24 Whitetail Deer Ontario’s Sunset Country is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the hottest whitetail deer hunting locations in North America. The population of deer in our region has exploded, the result of warmer winters and extensive habitat for the animals to exploit. This means lots of opportunity for the hunter and you’ll be traversing some rugged terrain and spending time in back country areas in a tree stand. However, if you have the patience, it can pay a huge dividend in terms of a gigantic buck. www.ontariodeerhunting.ca Black Bear With a population estimated at close to 75,000 animals, black bear hunting in Sunset Country is nothing short of spectacular! Most outfitters boast a success rate of over 80% so it is very likely you’ll bag an animal and if you’re lucky, that could be a 400 or 500 pound bear! Hunts for non-residents are done through a licensed tourist outfitter who manages a Bear Management Area. All hunts are done over baited stands and you can bring your bow or rifle, the choice is yours. www.ontariobearhunting.ca Upland Birds & Waterfowl While we can’t lay claim to being a wellknown bird hunting destination, those who have hunted here certainly would rank us right up there with better known destinations in both Canada and the USA. It’s not likely you’d be able to find much better grouse hunting than what we offer. The many abandoned logging roads across the region are ideal places to look for these tasty birds. The duck hunting is also good in some of the southerly areas of Sunset Country especially on lakes with native wild rice. www.ontarioduckhunting.ca