Message from the Minister
Ontario is a vast and beautiful province, with an abundance of natural resources.
This offers a unique experience for hunters to spend some time away from everyday responsibilities and to connect with nature.
Hunting is a deep-rooted tradition in Ontario. It provides food, brings friends and family together, and strengthens bonds across generations. It also boosts our economy and is a significant part of culture for many.
Spending time in nature has also been shown to provide strong benefits to our physical and mental wellbeing.
Hunters are good stewards of the land, recognizing the importance of protecting our natural resources for generations to come.
That’s a shared responsibility. Our ministry works closely with hunters and hunting organizations to ensure regulations are followed, helping to maintain biodiversity, sustain healthy wildlife populations, and preserve Ontario’s hunting heritage.
While big game hunting is a passion for many, hunting birds and small game provides an accessible entry point for new hunters. It also offers frequent opportunities, more locations, and a great way to build skills.
For those who hunt big game, our ministry is committed to ensuring these species continue to thrive and provide hunting opportunities for future generations. One of the biggest threats to Ontario’s deer, elk, and moose populations is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a fatal disease that affects the brain of cervids. It’s been found in all surrounding provinces and U.S. states. Thankfully we have not detected CWD in Ontario wild cervids, but it remains a very real threat to cervids across the province and we must be vigilant.
Our ministry plays an important role in controlling the movement of live captive cervids and prohibiting the import of high-risk cervids and their parts to help keep CWD out of Ontario. Our researchers are also tracking white-tailed deer with GPS collars to get a better understanding of how CWD could spread if it were to enter the province.
With the help of deer hunters, we actively monitor for CWD across the province to ensure early detection of the disease. We are prepared for a rapid, aggressive response if CWD is ever detected here, with the goal of preventing its spread and hopefully eliminating it.
Another way we manage wildlife is through mandatory hunter reporting. This provides our ministry with vital information that helps shape decisions about future hunting opportunities. I’d like to thank all of the hunters who took the time to report last year and for reporting later this year.
Acting in accordance with Ontario’s hunting regulations is the single most important thing hunters can do to ensure sustainable wildlife populations for the future. So, I encourage you to make sure that you have the necessary licences and tags, and that you’re following the regulations.
Your commitment helps protect both our natural resources and Ontario’s hunting tradition.
Enjoy the hunt and stay safe!
The Honourable Graydon Smith
Minister of Natural Resources
