OUT OF DOORS with BARNEY MOORHOUSE
For Reproduction Rights call Access 1.800.893.5777
Chris Davies PART 2
The WHITE-TAIL DEER population hovers around 400,000 in Ontario. A Kemptville study that tracks both deer and hunters indicates that the deer go to “NO HUNTING” territories once
THE HUNT begins. “The ones that can’t read are shot,” said Davies, tongue in cheek.
As for RABIES Davies said they are 16 months and counting. So far no fox rabies. (Touch wood.) Ditto for raccoon rabies. Now skunks are a concern. However, success means less funding. Rabies funding has declined from $4.2 million to $500,000. “More money for other projects,” said Davies.
There are 3 types of COUGARS in North America: the Florida cougar,
North American and South American. The Florida is a result of someone releasing 12 South American cougars resulting in distinctive genetics. “10% of the reports are cougars,” said Davies. They may be escapees from a zoo, released by owners, or migrants. Davies can recall 2 cougars being shot in Ontario. Last year Bracebridge OPP shot a cougar that wore a collar and had its nails removed and 18 years ago one was shot in
Cochrane bearing the marks of a collar.
As for ELK, due to excellent scientific research, hunting for elk has begun 15-20 years earlier than first thought possible. No other area in
Ontario has attained sustainability as in the North Hastings herd. The Lake
Huron North Shore herd, especially in the Elliot Lake area, is mirroring
North Hastings.
As for determining wildlife harvest numbers the more data available to the MNR the better it can manage sustainability. The positive relationship with the AOO (Algonquins of Ontario) provides some of this vital detail. The

MTO (Ministry of Transportation Ontario) also could be a vital source of road kill information. Numbers of deer and moose for instance could prove valuable.

At this point Davies introduced Tore Buchanan who was present to talk about the
CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) sampling program that will be in WMUs (Wildlife
Management Units) 48, 55A, 55B,58,59,63A and 63B (Mattawa-Pembroke-Renfrew).
“We haven’t surveyed this area since 2008,” said Buchanan. CWD is to wildlife what
Mad Cow is to cattle, Scrapie to sheep and Creutzfeldt-Jakob to humans. He showed a deer in an emaciated state, ribs showing, trying to satisfy its thirst. “They act abnormally, stagger, stumble, are un-coordinated and sickly.” Where CWD exists hunter numbers decline. Buchanan showed data from surrounding areas, U.S. states and Canadian provinces, regarding the disease. In Quebec, for instance, the MNR work with the MTO gathering road kill for testing. No CWD has been discovered to date.
RISK FACTORS
Buchanan pointed out that the following factors are significant to CWD: 1. Game farm locations. 2. Deer densities. 3. Neighbouring outbreaks of CWD. 4. Previous surveillance. 5. Other highly susceptible cervids. 6. Deer yards 7. Soil types - the prions like clay, and 8. Winter severity.
“Anywhere in Ontario you find a sick deer, we’ll test it,” said Buchanan.
To be statistically accurate the ministry needs 460 deer - NO FAWNS. 6 crews will be about collecting brain samples. Freezers will be available for deer heads in
Powassan, Maynooth, Cloyne, Calabogie, Arnprior, Pembroke and Petawawa. They will also be at the Antrim Truck Stop. For more information call Tore at 705.755.2275 to arrange a visit to your camp to collect brain samples of your deer. “We’ll just take the lymph nodes and perhaps the brain stem.”
BIG PAY DAY FOR TRAPPERS?
MacLeans ’ first annual edition of Who Earns What proclaims that a Trapper earns anywhere from $10,000 to $90,000 per season. “I want to join you on the trapping trail,” said an attendee to Robin Horwath, General Manager of the Ontario Fur

Managers Federation. at the Trapper’s Annual Rendezvous in Napanee this past summer.
“I don’t know where he (the writer) got that information,” Horwath told me. Horwath has been trapping for 36 years and said that on average trappers don’t make $10,000.
“Last year I grossed $7000.”
“I can confirm that last year there was an increase of 10% of Ontarians registering for a trapping licence.” With private land and nuisance trapping necessities that 10% is spread throughout the province, “not focused in the north.”
“What other industry can boast 400 years of sustainability? We trap the same animals year after year leaving a light footprint,” he added.
The following was part of an earlier 2013 column.
FUR PRICES UP
Record attendance at the North American Fur Auction (NAFA) in late February saw
100% of the furs sold. Over 700 buyers registered from Turkey, Eastern Europe, North
America, Hong Kong/China, Russia, Greece and Korea. Fisher prices increased 50% to 70% over 2012 prices with an average of $156.67. The Top Lot sold for $350.00.
Over 400,000 raccoon, 100%, sold on average for $31.20 compared to $16.90 in 2012.
The trimming trade significantly influenced raccoon prices. The Top Lot sold for
$240.00. Muskrats averaged $11.51 with the Top Lot selling for $54.00. 160,000 or
100% of the beaver sold for an average of $37.73 (eastern) and $31.03 (western). The
Top Lot sold for $400.00. Otter averaged $112.58; the Top Lot $260.00. Lynx averaged $194.44; Top Lot $525.00. Lynx Cats averaged $589.08; Top Lot $3000.00.
Coyotes averaged $93.98 with the bigger western breed earning premium prices. The
Top Lot sold for $1400.00. Red Fox averaged $65.78; Top Lot $340.00. Grey Fox averaged $45.91; Top Lot $68.00.
NAFA believes that a combination of events contributed to such record sales including a long cold Chinese winter and fur is again in fashion.