Interested in bigger, wilder deer? By Babe Winkelman Did you know there are up to 37 subspecies of whitetail deer? And did you know that the biggest ones belong to the northern subspecies? It only takes one look at the world record Hansen buck from Canada; and the previous world record Jordan buck from Minnesota to realize that. And were you also aware that among the northern subspecies, the biggest-bodied deer prowl the vast wilderness of northwest Ontario? I’ve had the pleasure to hunt whitetail deer across their entire range from east to west, Mexico to Canada. In all those years, the biggest deer I’ve ever seen have been in Ontario. Where else do you see does that would dress out in the high 100s? You’ll spot a huge-bodied buck walking through the brush and based on his size, you get ready to shoot a B&C monster until he steps out carrying his first-ever forkhorn rack. A total juvenile deer with a body bigger than anything you’d find in the southern states! But it’s not just big deer bodies in northwest Ontario. It’s big antlers too! The Ontario record, taken near the town of Dryden, measured a whopping 223 gross typical inches, with a net measurement of 199 7/8. He was breathing on the all-time world record! Sadly, the buck was taken by an unscrupulous shooter who violated some laws to kill this giant. Still, the buck is recognized and honored by the Boone & Crockett club. The shooter is not. So if you’re a deer hunter who not only cares about big antlers, but also big bodies and the purest form of whitetail deer hunting in the world, you owe yourself an Ontario deer tag. What do I mean by “purest form?” Let me explain… When people hunt deer on managed land with carefully placed food plots and pre-set stands on key travel corridors, it’s wonderful deer hunting. But it isn’t the purest form of hunting. The deer become conditioned to knowing where the feed exists and develop fairly predictable travel patterns. The same can be said for hunting deer over feeders in Texas and other states that allow baiting. I’m not knocking these approaches to hunting, believe me. I’ve been on box blind Texas hunts and I personally manage my own hunting land in Minnesota for deer hunting. We’re not allowed to bait in Minnesota, but I have food plots on my acreage and we employ a very strategic method there with ladder stands ready at advantageous ambush sites. In Ontario, baiting is legal and there are many outfitters who work hard to attract and keep big deer on their operations with feed sites. For hunters who enjoy stand hunting over bait, northwest Ontario has you covered. However, if you’re interested the “pure” hunt I mentioned earlier, then look no further than an adventure in the millions of acres of undeveloped wilderness that’s open to public hunting. In northwest Ontario, there is no shortage of Crown Land that’s teeming with deer. Big deer. And lots of them! It’s dense forest hunting, where travel from one spot to the next is best achieved by boat on one of Ontario’s thousands of lakes. I’ve done it and it’s amazing. These are deer that, in some cases, have never seen a man. They wouldn’t know a food plot from a shopping mall. They are the real deal, and they are Wild with a capital “W.” They’re very spooky and have senses honed as sharply as any deer in the world. They need to be sharp. Surviving in life among packs of wolves makes them keen. When you’re in the rugged and incredibly thick country of northwest Ontario, there are three general approaches you can take to harvest a big, mature buck. First, you can organize deer drives on islands and long finger-like points. It works pretty well. A few years back one of our episodes of the TV show “Outdoor Secrets” showed us driving islands with great success. Another great tactic is to locate an inland beaver dam area that affords the hunter a wide field of vision. Set up on a high vantage point with the wind in your face, then sit down and let the deer come to you. Or, if you’re more adventurous and restless, still-hunting is a dynamite approach. There are a lot of high ridges with bald granite tops in northwest Ontario that are perfect for this. Stalk your way along from one ambush point to another, and grunt & rattle at each one. It’s an exciting and rewarding way to hunt. Necessary equipment on an Ontario adventure is a handheld GPS and traditional compass, great optics, a dependable weapon and the right clothing and pack for the job. But the best way to find out what you need to bring and where you want to go is by finding out exactly what Ontario has to offer you. A website that makes it really easy is GoHuntInOntario.com. They make it simple to find an outfitter and hunting experience that’s right for you. One thing that every destination has in common is big deer, high adventure and downhome hospitality. Take a look at the website to learn more, and if you get a jumbo whitetail in Ontario, we want to hear about it on Facebook or Winkelman.com. Until then, I wish you and your family a safe and prosperous hunting season.  Good Hunting! Babe Winkelman