Anyone around the Dryden area? We used to hunt out of Bonny bay camp. Last time was about 7 yars ago. Seemed like the quality of the bucks we were seeing was going down hill. Anyone have any insight to what is going on with the deer herd?

We're in the area & do hunt, however we are meat hunters, not trophy hunters !

Only way we shoot a big buck, is if it comes out before a 1.5 - 2.5 year old !

Get great buck pics, on trail cams every year, however they are mostly ghosts, during shooting light.

Bogtrotter,

Everyone seems pretty tight lipped about any deer hunting area advice. Like in all of Ontario you might stumble upon their secret spot. Lmao

I was inquiring about a Ontario hunt in the Kenora area and the outfitter told me the herd is not in good shape due to winter kill.

Dryden may be in a better situation. I've really wanted to hunt Ontario.

Good luck Sir

Kenora and Dryden are not far apart. I’m close to both areas myself. This past winter has been excellent for the deer. Not very cold and little snow. Makes it easy for the deer to avoid the wolves.

We hunted the Kenora area one year, I shot a decent 8 pt. My buddy passed on one he probably should have shot. One of the locals said, they have problem being so close to first nation land. I guess they shoot quite a few for the pot. Beautiful area, and the fishing is second to none!

Sounds like more misinformation. The First Nations people can hunt any land, other than private. Deer in town of Kenora are almost tame.

I've hunted that specific area a handful of times (along 17 to the south and east), the most recent being 2 years ago....dismal would be an understatement.
8-10 years ago it was quite good.

Our deer are bush deer, not Ag deer, so tend towards large body & low (height) racks/antlers.

Some examples;



Same buck, as above - for better size perspective;



Old deer, on the decline;



The 1 I was after that season !!







Caught up, but never got a shot, at the biggest live deer I've ever seen !

Might check out Manitoulin Island. All private property so you need written permission. But, as Paul says, big bodies, decent but not huge racks. I got two 10 pt bucks on the island about 4 years apart. Both dressed over 200lbs, both scored about 130 (seriously, they look like brothers but probably father and son as I got them within a mile of each other).

Left was the first, right the second

Nice Marty !!

OP;

We had a good season, on our place this year - we went 3 / 3 !

Last year - 0 / 3

Previous 2 years 1 / 3

Nice deer, we were seeing some big bucks, right up till the last trip. We weren't seeing any large rack bucks the last few years. I know they run themselves ragged during the rut. Probably leaves them more vulnerable to hard winters and wolves. I would go back just to catch walleyes, we don't have them around here. They're one of my favorite fish, on the plate!

Bonus ;

Doug & a couple of buddies, hit the ice Sunday;





So, fresh walleye, last night !

Holy Crap! That's about as good as it gets.

Nice deer all! Partner and I are considering going back to Maine in 2025 but Ontario sure peaked our interest. Good luck to you all this upcoming season

I got thinking about those two bucks and remembered that the first one was shot during a mid-November snowstorm that dumped 2 feet of snow on the ground and cold AF. I was shivering like a SOB, praying for dark so I could get back to the woodstove at the cabin, until that buck showed up. Shot him with a Rem. 700 Mountain Rifle in 280 Rem.

2nd buck was also shot in mid-November but it was warm enough that I took my coat off to gut it and took pics in short sleeves. That was with a Rem. 722 in 300 H&H. Scored a 54" moose earlier that year with that same gun.

A remington 722 in 300 H&H......You have some class my friend!