There are many regulation changes slated for the 2005 season, most of which are aimed at expanding opportunities for residents and nonresidents alike. See the web at www.mnr.gov.on.ca for details.

Alberta
Buck harvest expected to go up five to 10 percent.
"Due to good survival from a mild winter, the outlook for this fall for both mule deer and whitetails is excellent," says the province's Dave Ealey.

"There were 26,000 whitetail bucks and 9,100 mule deer bucks tagged last year from a population of 245,000 whitetails and 140,000 mule deer. We expect a 5 to 10 percent increase in both total population numbers and the buck take in 2005."

Your odds for any whitetail or mule deer buck are best along the eastern border with Saskatchewan. The biggest mulies however are in the Peace River region, whereas the southern river valleys get the nod for trophy whitetails.

"We are increasing resident hunting opportunities along the Saskatchewan border, and the province is clear of CWD," says Ealey.

Saskatchewan
Numbers low in the southeast, best in the north.
Last autumn, hunters tagged 20,574 whitetails and 5,142 mulies, and this year is expected to be at least as good, according to deer specialist Adam Schmidt. Approximately 450,000 whitetails and 60,000 mule deer live in the province.

"In general, whitetail numbers are still below the long-term average in the southeast due to the severe winters of 2000 and 2001," explains Schmidt. "In contrast, whitetail populations are doing well in the North Parkland, Forest Fringe and Forest Zone areas--where the harvest should be at least as good as last year. These zones also offers hunters their best opportunity at a trophy buck. For any whitetail buck, look anywhere in the province.

"There are no secret hot spots however; they tend to pop up all over the place," Schmidt says.

Mule deer are on a draw for residents only. "They are doing well and are common in the southwest. There will be significant increases in available licenses this fall," says Schmidt.

Manitoba
Centerfire hunters should enjoy a 75 percent success rate.
"Due to a series of mild winters and a population of nearly 200,000 whitetails, the hunting this fall should be excellent," reports Brian Knudsen, population ecologist. "Harvest figures for 2004 will not be tabulated for several months. Nonetheless, success rates for riflemen should top 75 percent in 2005, while muzzleloaders should be near 70 percent. Even bowhunters should enjoy a 45 percent success rate."

For any buck, try active farmland and the agricultural fringe in the southern regions, but your odds for a trophy buck are greatest mid-province, along the western border.

For a sleeper, look to the southeastern region. The brutal winter of 1997 shifted hunters out of the area, and although deer numbers have bounced back, hunters have yet to return.

Quebec
Trophy potential in the province is best on Anticosti Island.
"Better than last year!" That's the deer forecast from game warden Gaston Gayer. "The buck take last year was 36,623, and we expect that number to rise close to 40,000 in 2005, due in part to our recent mild winter."

The mainland holds nearly 200,000 whitetails, with another 100,000 believed to be on Anticosti Island. Your chances for any buck are greatest on Anticosti Island; the Outaouais Region is a good second choice. Anticosti is also your best bet for a trophy buck because of the two-buck limit in certain areas.

A sleeper hot spot for big bucks is the area surrounding Quebec City. Open only three years ago to bow, crossbow and blackpowder, the area has few deer, but they're big ones.