This fall, people planning to go hiking, jogging, hunting, riding or bird-watching in a forest should take steps to stay safe.
Public lands in Ontario are used for a variety of activities. Everyone in the forest needs to be aware others may be nearby, and stay visible.
Hunting is allowed on most Crown land, on some private properties with the permission of the property owner and in some municipal/county forests. Anyone using the forest should check with the municipality for specific information.
HIKERS AND BIRDWATCHERS
- Be aware of hunting seasons in the area where you are hiking
- Wear a hunter orange vest or jacket and hat, and be especially careful at dawn or dusk, when colours such as red and green appear brown.
- Avoid wearing white, especially mittens or hats. They can resemble a deer’s tail through trees.
- If you take a pet with you, ensure the animal is wearing a brightly coloured blanket or T-shirt.
HORSEBACK RIDERS
- Try to avoid known hunting areas, especially at dawn or dusk.
- Wear a hunter orange vest or jacket, and a brightly coloured helmet cover.
- Use a brightly coloured rump sheet for your horse.
HUNTERS
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- Be aware that you may be sharing the forest with other hunters, as well as hikers, riders and birdwatchers.
- Anyone, including archery hunters, hunting during gun season for deer and moose, must wear solid hunter orange clothing (a minimum of 400 square inches – 2,580 square centimetres above the waist and visible from all sides) and a hunter orange head cover.
- Consult the Hunting Regulations Summary for exceptions.
- Hunters must never shoot unless they are absolutely sure of their target and what is beyond it.
LYME DISEASE
- In some parts of Ontario, deer ticks (blacklegged ticks) carry Lyme disease. These ticks are more commonly found along the north shores of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
- To prevent bites from deer ticks, wear closed footwear and tuck your pants into your socks. Use a bug repellent with "DEET".
- When you return to your camp or home from areas where ticks are common, bathe or shower immediately and conduct a full-body tick check using a mirror to view all parts of your body.
- For more information, contact your local public health unit.
- Additional information is also available on the Ministry of Health & Long Term Care website.
For information about hunting seasons and regulations, please consult the Hunting Regulations Summary which is available from licence issuers, ServiceOntario/Government Information Centres, and on the ministry's website at ontario.ca/hunting.
