Freelance Ontario

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don novicki

Active member
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?
 
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!
 
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.
 
Kim Ross said:
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.
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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.
 
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.
 
Don,
This is a thread that both interests and saddens me. Saddens: that the open spaces is some parts of Canada are now such a pain to enjoy. Interests: I'm curious if the places such as Long Point, Mitchell's Bay/Walpole Island, and the Bay of Quinte also will no longer welcome hunters.

From 2000-2009 I went to Mitchell's Bay regularly from my home in Farmington Hills, MI. I'd work on Monday, drive over the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit to Windsor and go through customs each Monday night. That 75 mile trip took about 90 minutes, including going through customs. It was a breeze both ways since the area around Windson/Lake St. Clair welcomed US hunters and their $$.

Some years I rented a cabin with a friend, other years I/we just stayed at the Oaks Inn in Wallaceburg. Very inexpensive, they welcomed duck hunters and had breakfast beginning at 3:30 or 4:00. I don't think it is in business anymore or has changed ownership.

Free lancing was relatively easy IF you had the right equipment (minimum 18' boat) and knew the rules about the stake lines, especially near Walpole Island. Some hunts I did well. Some hunts not. But I always saw LOTS of birds. "Duck smoke" we called it.

But I lived only 75 miles away. If I lived four hours away, and was planning a destination hunt in Ontario as you are, I would definitely use a guide.

I also hunted the Bay of Quinte. Never got to Long Point even though it also was frequented by Michigan guys.

If I wanted to free lance a different destination in the US, I would go to Michigan. Research Shiawasse Game Area. Go the end of October. Enter the bingo hunt. Or I would go to the Upper Penninsula. Do your homework. You would enjoy the freelance without the apparent hassle today of crossing the border.

Larry
 
Larry we played out in St Clair for a number of years. Didn't make it to Saginaw but always wanted to. It's a pretty short trip from NW Pa to Detroit. I may have to look into a guided hunt, but I would prefer to do it on my own.
 
We went to St Clair last November, with a guide. Crossing was relatively painless both ways. They only checked our paperwork and not guns/birds.

I’m of the opinion I could do it myself with the equipment I already have, and plan to try it in the near future. There is a ton of pressure in the Mitchell’s Bay Area, but where isn’t there these days.
 
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