White-tailed deer

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White-tailed deer seasons

White-tailed deer season map

The white-tailed deer season map is a new way for you to view the information in the white-tailed deer hunting season tables. To use the map:

1. Select either resident or non-resident of Ontario.
2. Zoom in on, or search for the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) you are interested in (for example "WMU 38").
3. Click on the WMU. The dates of the open season(s) for white-tailed deer hunting will appear as a list and in a calendar. Click on the window title to expand and view the seasons and calendar.

You can save or print these WMU-specific deer season summaries so you can reference them later.

Information contained in this map is available in the tables below.

Note: This map is neither a legal document nor a complete collection of the current regulations. Go to the how to use this Regulation Summary section for more details.

Rifles, shotguns, muzzle-loading guns and bows

Notes:

• footnote 1 ^[1][1] Indicates that rifles are not permitted during the open resident and non-resident seasons
• use of dogs is not permitted in WMUs 5, 8, 10, 43A, 43B, 44, 45, 65, 71, 72A, 73, 75, 82A, 82B, 83A and 84. Landowner’s written permission is required when hunting on private property in WMUs 43A, 43B and 44
• WMUs 82C, 83B, 83C and 93C have unique deer seasons and administration. Please contact the local ministry work centre for more information

Muzzle-loading guns and bows

Note: Use of dogs is not permitted during the muzzle-loading guns and bows seasons, except in WMUs 7A, 18B and 59. Landowner’s written permission is required when hunting on private property in WMUs 43A and 43B.

Bows only

Notes:

• footnote 2 ^[2][2] Excluding parts of WMUs 54, which lie within the boundaries of Algonquin Provincial Park.
• use of dogs is not permitted during the bows only seasons. Landowner’s written permission is required when hunting on private property in WMUs 43A, 43B and 44. WMUs 82C and 93C have unique deer seasons and administration.
• WMU 77A is a federal military base and has unique access permission requirements. Please contact your local ministry work centre for more information

Controlled deer hunt seasons (with hunt codes)

Controlled deer hunt notes:

• Unless otherwise indicated, only shotguns, muzzle-loading guns and bows are permitted in controlled deer hunts.
• footnote 3 ^[1][3] Indicates that rifles, shotguns, muzzle-loading guns and bows are permitted.
• footnote 4 ^[4][4] Indicates that only muzzle-loading guns and bows are permitted.
• footnote 5 ^[5][5] Indicates that only shotguns and muzzle-loading guns are permitted.
• footnote 6 ^[6][6] Indicates that only muzzle-loading guns are permitted.
• The use of dogs is not permitted during controlled deer hunts.
• WMU 77A is a federal military base and has unique access permission requirements. Please contact your local ministry work centre for more information.

Deer hunting requirements

Anyone wishing to hunt deer must have the following:

• Outdoors Card
• deer licence or farmer’s deer licence listed on your licence summary
• deer tag or additional deer tag (validated for the appropriate season/firearm, area and type of deer) or be party hunting with a person who has a valid deer tag or additional deer tag
• proof of firearm accreditation (if you are hunting with a gun)

The deer tag included with the purchase of a deer licence is valid for 1 antlered deer (a deer with at least 1 antler of at least 7.5 centimetres long) in any WMU with an open season. Note: The controlled deer hunt section describes the additional requirements for hunting during a controlled deer hunt season.

Resident hunters wishing to hunt an antlerless deer (deer with no antlers or with both antlers less than 7.5 centimetres long, which generally include adult female deer and fawns of both sexes) should apply to the antlerless deer draw and/or the controlled deer hunt draw, depending on their WMU and season of preference. Note: Hunters may also hunt an antlerless deer by purchasing an additional deer tag valid for antlerless deer or by party hunting with a person who has a deer tag or additional deer tag valid for an antlerless deer.

Resident hunters successful in the antlerless deer draw will be issued a deer tag that identifies the tag as being valid for 1 antlerless deer in a specific WMU or 1 antlered deer in any WMU.

Farmer's deer licence

Farmers (or an immediate relative) whose primary occupation is farming who live upon and till land which they own are eligible to purchase farmer's deer licence. The immediate relatives of a farmer may only purchase this licence if their primary occupation is farming, and they also live upon and till the land.

Note: A farmer's deer licence and deer tag are valid for the geographic area (that is, the county or territorial district) in which the farmer's land is located. Farmers must identify the geographic area in which their land is located and complete an attestation online or in person at a participating ServiceOntario or licence issuer. The geographic area is shown on your licence summary and deer tag.

Farmer’s deer licence holders may apply to the antlerless deer draw and/or the controlled deer hunt draw for a WMU within the geographic area in which their land is located. Farmers intending to hunt deer outside of that geographic area must purchase a deer licence, not a farmer’s deer licence.

Deer hunting regulations

Hunters are only permitted to harvest the type of deer identified on their deer tag or additional deer tag, except in the following circumstances:

• if party hunting, a hunter may harvest the type of deer identified on the deer tag (or additional deer tag) of a member of their hunting party
• if hunting in a controlled deer hunt, a hunter may only harvest the type of deer identified on their (or their party member’s) controlled deer hunt validation listed on their licence summary or their additional controlled deer tag

Tagging and transporting

Go to the tags section for details on tagging and transporting. Additional information on shipping and exporting can be found in the general regulations section.

Mandatory hunter reporting requirements

Go to the hunter reporting requirements section for details on timelines and how to submit your report.

Firearms

Big game, including deer, may only be hunted with a firearm (includes bows). When hunting deer, you may only use or carry a firearm of the type permitted for hunting deer at that time in that WMU. For example, when hunting deer during a bows-only season, you may only use and carry a bow. Specifications on the firearms, ammunition, arrows and broadheads that are permitted when hunting deer are found in the general regulations section.

Party hunting for deer

Party hunting is permitted during the open season for deer under a set of specific conditions. The list of conditions is listed in the general regulations section.

A person shall not hunt deer in a party during a controlled deer hunt season unless their licence summary has been validated for that specific controlled deer hunt season. The exception is an apprentice hunter who is hunting with a licensed mentor (in which case the mentor must have their licence summary validated for the relevant controlled deer hunt season).

Dogs

The use of dogs is permitted for hunting deer during some seasons (a dog licence is required in these cases) — go to the deer season tables for information on when dogs are not permitted. In areas where the use of dogs is prohibited for hunting, dogs may still be used to track and retrieve a deer that has been wounded during a lawful hunt — go to the general regulations section for more information.

Guides

Non-residents must employ 1 licensed guide for each 2 hunters when hunting deer in the Territorial District of Rainy River. WMUs within the Territorial District of Rainy River are 9B, 10, 11A and parts of 7B and 12B — go to the WMU maps (Southwestern Ontario, Southeastern Ontario and Northern Ontario) sections and deer season tables for more information.

Additional deer tags

When deer populations in certain WMUs warrant, hunters may be offered the opportunity to harvest an additional deer by purchasing additional deer tags or additional controlled deer tags.

Information regarding this year's additional deer tags (WMUs, hunt codes, and sales dates) will be posted online at: Apply for an additional deer tag when available. If you do not have internet access, please contact the Natural Resources Information and Support Centre at 1-800-387-7011.

Additional deer tags are available on a first come, first served basis. Additional deer tags may also be available to non-residents in WMUs with a non-resident deer season. A deer licence is required before you can purchase an additional deer tag.

Note: Additional deer tags are not valid during controlled deer hunt seasons. Additional deer tags may have a geographic restriction and be valid in only the part of the WMU specified online and on the tag. Hunters are responsible to ensure they are hunting in the correct WMU or part of a WMU.

Controlled deer hunt

To hunt in a controlled deer hunt (CDH) season you must be an Ontario resident and have a CDH validation for the CDH season listed on your licence summary.

CDH validations:

• can be applied for in the CDH draw July 1 to 31 , or can be applied for directly by eligible farmers and landowners July 1 until the season ends
• require purchase of a deer licence or farmer’s deer licence before appearing on your licence summary
  • note: A farmer’s deer licence is only valid for the geographic area shown on your licence summary and deer tag
• are not required for apprentice hunters (12 to 14 years old), who may hunt in a CDH season with a mentor who has a CDH validation for that season
• are not a deer tag
  • CDH validation holders must be:
    • hunting on their own valid deer tag or additional controlled deer tag
    • party hunting on the tag(s) of other holders of CDH validations for the same CDH season
• generally specify that an antlerless or an antlered deer can be harvested using the deer tag included with the CDH validation holder’s deer licence or farmer’s deer licence
  • some validations are for antlered deer only in WMUs 76A, 76B, 76C, 76D, 76E, 77B, 77C, 78A, 78B, 81A and 81B to limit the harvest of antlerless deer while maintaining hunting opportunities

Whether a hunter has been successful in the antlerless deer draw is not relevant to the type of deer they can harvest during a CDH season.

Additional controlled deer tags are specific to a CDH season and may only be purchased by a person who holds a CDH validation for that season. In contrast, additional deer tags are specific to the bows only seasons in WMUs with CDH seasons.

Hunters can apply to the CDH draw in a group of up to 4 hunters so that they will be successful if other group members are successful.

For instructions on how to apply to the CDH draw, go to how to apply to hunt big game.

Farmer and landowner controlled hunt validation

Farmers and landowners (or an immediate relative) may be eligible to receive a CDH validation for 1 CDH season if they meet one of the following criteria:

• they own a parcel of 20 hectares (50 acres) or more of land in a WMU with a controlled hunt
• their occupation is farming and they have an Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Farm Business Registration Number (or letter of exemption from the Farm Organization Accreditation Tribunal) in a WMU with a controlled hunt
• they are the owner or the sole designated representative (president, vice-president, treasurer or secretary) of a company which owns a parcel of land of 20 hectares (50 acres) or more in the WMU with a CDH

Farmers and landowners who meet the eligibility criteria may apply for a CDH validation by completing an attestation statement online or in person at a participating ServiceOntario or licence issuer. An eligible farmer or landowner meeting the above criteria also qualifies to receive a CDH validation for one or more immediate relatives. During the application process, the farmer or landowner will indicate if they wish to add any immediate relatives. A separate application can be made if the immediate relative wants a validation for a different CDH season than the farmer or landowner (must be within the same WMU). The farmer or landowner will require the Outdoors Card number of their immediate relative. An immediate relative is a person’s grandparent, parent, spouse, sibling, child, step-child or grandchild (including equivalent step-family relationships).

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)

CWD is a highly contagious and deadly disease of white-tailed deer, moose, elk and caribou (cervids) that continues to spread across North America. With the help of hunters, the ministry has found no evidence that CWD is present in Ontario, but it's important to remain vigilant. CWD is very difficult to eliminate once established, and provinces with CWD have seen reduced deer populations over time. We are taking action to keep CWD out of Ontario, monitor for it, and prepare for a rapid, aggressive response if it is detected.

For more information please visit: Chronic wasting disease.

Signs

CWD is a progressive disease.  An infected animal may appear normal and continue to spread CWD for several years before signs are noticeable.

Similar signs may be observed in other diseases.

Note: sometimes no visible signs are shown.

Signs may include:

• lack of coordination
• excessive thirst, salivation and urination
• progressive weight loss
• unusual behaviour (such as lack of fear of humans)

How CWD is spread

CWD is very contagious. It can be spread through the saliva, urine, faeces and blood of infected animals, or by exposure to a contaminated environment. There is evidence that the abnormal prions that cause the disease may remain infectious in the environment, such as in soil, for years.

CWD and humans

There have been no reported cases of CWD infection in humans. However, some research suggests it may be possible. Public health agencies recommend that humans and animals do not eat meat or organs from CWD-infected or sick-appearing animals.

Ontario's CWD plan

Ontario’s CWD Prevention and Response Plan is working to minimize the threat posed by CWD and protect the significant benefits provided by cervid species in the province.

Keeping Chronic Wasting Disease out of Ontario

Ontario has a number of laws in place to help prevent CWD from entering Ontario.

Allowed to import:

• packaged and deboned meat
• finished taxidermy mounts
• tanned hides and skins
• cleaned skull plate and antlers with no tissue attached

Illegal to possess or use:

• products (including lures) that contain bodily fluids from cervids for any purpose, including hunting

Most jurisdictions have rules in place governing the transport of cervid carcasses. Contact the jurisdictions where you intend to transport cervid carcasses to avoid inconvenience, potential seizure of game and charges.

Our best defense against CWD is to prevent it from arriving in the first place.

How hunters and the public can help

• Know, follow and tell others about CWD prevention rules.
• Avoid feeding wild cervids to limit the spread of disease.
• Only use synthetic (artificial) or plant-based attractants.
• Only use bait produced in Ontario.
• Practice safe carcass handling procedures (for example, wear rubber or latex gloves when field dressing deer, and minimize contact with eyes, brain, spinal cord, spleen, tonsil, lymph nodes, or bones of the skull and spinal column.
• Report any deer displaying signs of illness by noting the location, taking photos if it is safe to do so, and contacting the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 1-866-673-4781, the Natural Resources Information and Support Centre at 1-800-667-1940, or emailing cwd@ontario.ca.
• Immediately contact cwd@ontario.ca or your local ministry work centre if you become aware of a positive CWD test from an animal that was harvested out-of-province, so that your meat can be safely disposed.
• Take part in the annual CWD Surveillance Program by providing samples of any deer harvested in a surveillance area. Learn more about the program, how to submit a sample and get your results at Chronic wasting disease.

Last year's antlerless deer draw results

Last year's controlled deer hunt validation draw results

Cervid family comparison

Ontario has 4 different wild members of the cervid/deer family. You must have a valid licence and tag for the species you are hunting. There is no open season for caribou and a limited open season for elk, so you must be absolutely certain that the animal you see is the right species, sex and age.

There are differences in the size, shape and colour of moose, white-tailed deer, elk and caribou.