Ontarians Only Question

Crossbow Hunting
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Chopper Charlie
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:37 am
Location: Barry's Bay, Ontario, Canada

Ontarians Only Question

Post by Chopper Charlie »

Getting a lot of different answers in regards to permits for crop damage for farmers in Ontario. I know we , as hunters, can buy up to 7 permits for deer in certain areas where crop damage is being caused. The question is this; can farmers charge us a fee for shooting deer on their land if the Ontario government has deemed the land prone to deer damage. If farmers can charge or prevent us from destroying the deer then I don't see why they would qualify for crop damage compensation, which is what I hear they are getting from the government. Is any of this correct or am I hearing wild out rumours. I do know for sure that we can buy the 7 permits, it is the rest that I cannot ascertain, even when I ask the game wardens. I really don't want to write the government and wait forever for an answer, if I don't have to. I have been asked by farmers to destroy the deer but they say I don't need permits. Uncomfortable with that answer!!
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Pydpiper
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Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 4:56 pm
Location: Woodstock, Brantford'ish, ON
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Post by Pydpiper »

The farmer can destroy the deer, so can a member of his immediate family. Both require a specific "nod" from the MNR before it happens, it is nothing like it used to be though.
A third party can be brought in, but that person must be certified by the MNR to act as their agent, they come at no cost to the farmer and in most cases the meat is to left unused. again, this is pre-approved and does not happen very often.
Shooting a deer without a license is poaching regardless of what the farmer is saying, that license is available from our tight a$$ government, and nowhere else.
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A bowhunter with a passion for shooting firearms.
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ecoaster
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Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 8:35 pm
Location: Nova Scotia

Post by ecoaster »

A farmer can charge you a "fee" if he wishes to, but I would think if the reason they are getting the permit is to reduce the number of deer around their farm, then they should welcome hunters with open arms, not with their hand out.
I hunt for memories, the meat's a bonus!
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Galgo
Posts: 663
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 11:39 am
Location: S. Ontario

Post by Galgo »

Spoken to several farmers that say they don't need permits. MNR disagrees. Don't see anything that would prevent a farmer from charging but corp damage compensation and crop damage cull permits are two different issues.

If any of the farmers who's property I hunt on asked me, I would get the permits from the MNR, become an approved agent for the farmer, (the MNR does look into you to make sure you donnot have a history with theor enforcement) then fill the tags.

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beretta96D
Posts: 133
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 10:05 am
Location: chelmsford, ON

Post by beretta96D »

The last couple of years we've been hunting with a friend who lives in Kemptville.

You can buy additional seals there, but typically the farmers have permits of their own and allow the use of their land to help clear out the deer. I believe as well the max # of permits per farmer is 7 and those permits are given out according to the assessment of destruction to your crops.

I have heard of a few farmers charging to hunt their land, but I would say 98% are more than willing to let you hunt for free. Wether they can legally do that with free tags and insurance claims I don't know, but we've never bothered with them.

We stayed at the snowmachine club house, and two of the farmers came over on the eve of the opener and brought us some "cocktails" and were more than happy we were there.

They added as well that we could hunt geese there if we wanted also.
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