The hunting strategy was simple; get way back off beaten roads and paths and find swampy edges in the thick timber. Once there, we used very aggressive tactics to lure big bucks into range. We rattled and grunted every 15 minutes all day and even set up decoys in certain spots. By day three we had 10 different bucks come into the stand. It was incredible!
Northwestern Ontario is so pristine and un-pressured that buck to doe ratios are very healthy which means intense competition among bucks. Rattling and grunting work extremely well in this area. Numerous bucks came charging in after a rattling sequence with hair bristled and looking for the intruder. We also watched bucks making scrapes and rubs. It was truly the greatest natural whitetail behaviors we had ever seen. It was bucks in their natural form, responding to rattling and grunting and active in daylight hours; every big buck hunters dream!
At 11 am on day four, Paul made another rattling sequence and a massive 9 point big bodied buck charged out of the timber into the beaver meadow. With steam pouring out of his mouth the big buck grunted across the meadow looking for the intruder. Paul was able to steady his rifle and make a perfect 70 yard shot. The big buck only went 20 more yards. We even witnessed two timber wolves feeding on the entrails of Paul`s bucks the next day.
Our Northern Ontario adventure was exciting from start to finish. Ontario has one of the most pristine and unpressured deer herds on the planet and by far the most mature bucks we have seen anywhere!
