Freelance Ontario

[don novicki]

The entire world knows about Sask, AB, MB, but has anyone here ever free lanced Ontario? I've thought about it since it's a heck of a lot closer, and I'm sure they have public land, but has anyone hunted private property there and if you did how easy was the access?

 

[Clinton John]

Have you ever been to Canada?

If not your in for a shock when you try to cross the border.

 

[Kim Ross]

Access to private land in Southern Ontario has become challenging enough for residents unless they have local connections. Not sure what reception an American hunter will get seeking permission nowadays, given the tensions that have unfortunately boiled up. For a first trip you may want to consider a guide or outfitter rather than freelancing, such as for Lake St. Clair or Long Point.

There are digital hunting phone apps that map out private and Crown lands. You will need to research the Ontario and Federal hunting and migratory bird regs as well. IMHO the process for bringing your guns & ammo into Canada is less cumbersome than for us bringing ours into the USA. However please don't try to bring a handgun with you across the border!

 

[don novicki]

Thanks for the response. I have been to Canada many times for pleasure and once for hunting, but that was long before the situation we are in now. Getting firearms in wasn't a problem, and I actually had more problems coming back into the U.S. than entering Canada. I'd consider a guide but usually it's only myself going so most places don't want just 1 guy. Anyway I'll have to think it over. Ontario is only 4 hours away vs 28 hrs heading out West, that is why I'm interested.

 

[Eric Patterson]

For a first trip you may want to consider a guide or outfitter rather than freelancing, such as for Lake St. Clair or Long Point.

Canada is becoming a place to book a guided hunt. Freelance hunting is getting harder to do, especially for non-citizens. For example MB no longer allows freelancing to anyone. A non-citizen must enter a limited lottery for a seven day permit, but anyone can book with an outfitter until they run out of licenses. Seems like guide services are really gaining a lot of control through leasing lands and having the advantage of a lottery system that limits non-citizen freelancing. To my knowledge there are no hunting restrictions to Canadian citizens hunting in the US other than ones US citizens are also subject to.

 

[Ed L.]

I'm hearing and reading more problems with crossing not only into Canada but as well as coming back to the US. My son traveled to Canada for his job and has said even before Trump was elected it was getting harder with crossing into Canada. I was born in Canada to US citizens but have a Canadian birth certificate. I have been wanting to hunt and fish there for years so I recently applied for my Canadian Citizenship Certificate. With that I can apply for a Canadian passport so with a US passport and a Canadian passport I'm hoping I don't have the problems I keep reading about. It also opens the door for my boys to appy for their citizenship.