WHITEWATER REGION — Before there was mass beef production, venison was a large part of the family diet. According to an article in the Cobden Sun from November 1906, posted on the Cobden of the past Facebook page by Fay’s Geneology, hunting parties like the Cobden deer hunting party used to consist of the town’s men. Now a variety of people hunt for a variety of reasons.
Rules and regulations have been formed and changed since then, like seeing the introduction of mandatory submitted reports and needing a species-specific license to hunt black bear, moose, elk and white-tailed deer. A full list of Ontario’s hunting regulations is available on the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry website.
Listed below are the remaining season dates for residents and non-residents, as well as daily and possession limits, where applicable.
White-tailed Deer Seasons
Rifles, Shotguns, Muzzle-loading Guns and Bows
Resident – Open Season (ROS): November 4 to November 17
Non-Resident – Open Season (NROS): November 4 to November 17
Muzzle-loading Guns and Bows Only
ROS: December 2 to December 8
NROS: December 2 to December 8
Bows Only
ROS: November 18 to December 1, December 9 to December 31
NROS: November 18 to December 1, December 9 to December 31
Fall Wild Turkey Seasons
Shotgun or Bow, both ended October
Wolf and Coyote Seasons
ROS & NROS: All year
Tag Requirement: None
Black Bear Seasons
ROS & NROS: September 1 to November 30
Small Game & Fur Bearing Mammals
Bullfrog Season – ended October
Ruffed Grouse and Spruce Grouse Seasons
ROS& NROS Open Season: September 15 to December 31
*Combined daily limit of 5 and possession limit of 15.
Sharp-tailed Grouse Seasons
ROS& NROS: September 15 to December 31
*Daily limit of 2 and possession limit of 6.
Ring-necked Pheasant Seasons
ROS& NROS: September 15 to December 31
*Daily limit of 10 and possession limit of 10.
Gray (Hungarian) Partridge Seasons
ROS& NROS: September 15 to December 31
*Daily limit of 5 and possession limit of 15.
Cottontail and European Hare Seasons
ROS& NROS: September 15 to March 31
*Daily limits of 5 and possession limits of 15.
Snowshoe (Varying) Hare Seasons
ROS& NROS: September 15 to March 31
*Daily limit of 5 and possession limit of 15.
Gray (Black) and Fox Squirrel Seasons
ROS& NROS: September 15 to December 31
*Combined daily limit of 5 and possession limit of 15.
Raccoon and Opossum Seasons
ROS& NROS: October 5 to January 31
Red Fox and Skunk Seasons
ROS& NROS: All year
Weasel Seasons
ROS& NROS: October 25 to the last day of February
WMU 59 is not permitted to hunt elk, Ptarmigan or Arctic Fox.
Falconry Seasons and Limits
Hunting with Falconry Birds season is from September 1 to March 31 for residents and nonresidents. Falconry involves the use of trained raptors (birds of prey, such as red-tailed hawk) to hunt small game. A falconry licence is required to hunt with raptors native to Ontario, in addition to a valid small game licence. For more information, contact the local Ministry office for WMU 59.
Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse
Combined daily limit of 3 and possession limit of 15
Sharp-tailed Grouse
Daily limit of 2 and possession limit of 6
Ring-necked Pheasant
Daily limit of 2 and possession limit of 10
Gray (Hungarian) Partridge
Daily limit of 2 and possession limit of 15
Cottontail and European Hare
Daily limit of 5 Cottontail and 3 European Hare. Possession limit of 15 of each species.
Snowshoe (Varying) Hare
Daily limit of 3 and possession limit of 15
Gray (Black) and Fox Squirrel
Combined daily limit of 5 and possession limit of 15
