At St. Lawrence Outfitters Inc. we are proud to offer our hunters a nearly endless supply of waterfowl hunting opportunities. Due to our unique location, long seasons and a variety of birds, we can offer many different types of waterfowl hunting experiences. The majority of our hunting is done over agricultural fields. However, we also hunt several ditches, inland rivers, and the big water of the St. Lawrence River. It is allowing us to offer world-class hunting for Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Mallards and Goldeneyes.
Season Dates:
Early Season: Opens the Thursday following Labor Day in Sept, and runs for 10 days
Regular Season: Opens the 4th Saturday in Sept, and runs for 97 days
Canada Goose hunting is what we are famous for at St. Lawrence Outfitters. Eastern Ontario is one of the largest staging areas in the world for Canada Geese, with nearly 500,000 birds using the area through the season. While we have 1000’s of resident birds during the summer and early September, the big show starts in mid-late September when an unbelievable number of birds begins to migrate down from the breeding grounds in Northern Quebec.
They stage in our area until late November/early December before continuing on their way to the winter grounds. Even after the masses leave, we still hold thousands of birds that stay until the bitter end, providing excellent hunting until after Christmas.
The majority of our goose hunting is done on agricultural land. We have access to an endless number of fields over a vast area.
We hunt a mix of feeder fields and traffic fields. We scout every morning and evening, feeder fields will have large numbers of birds using them, and traffic fields will have a large number of birds going over them.
Our main goal is to put every group of hunters onto a great hunting experience while managing the birds and hunting pressure in any given area. Our season is very long, and we take a lot of hunters, we want the hunts to be consistent from the beginning of the season until the end.
We also offer a variety of water hunting opportunities for Canada Geese, which are always popular with our guests. Hunting one of our ponds, quarries, or rivers is an excellent way to mix up the shooting and experience the splash of a goose over water. These hunts are traffic hunts. We don’t believe in shooting actual roosting areas.
Most of our hunts are done from “A Frame” style blinds, we use the Tanglefree Panel blinds with lids, along with our designed aluminum ridged frames to support them. We use the flip lids on both the front and the back of the blinds. They provide great protection from the weather, and offer great concealment for the hunters. Hunters sit on chairs in the blinds, and stand to shoot. The set-up is very comfortable and easy for everyone, and has been the preferred method for most of our clients for the past several years.
We also offer hunts from layout blinds when the situation calls for it. One of our goals is to provide the best experience for our guest, and for them to choose the type of hunt that best suits them.
Our fields are usually easily access by trucks, so most time you can drive right up to the where we’ll be setting up in the field. In the event of the fields being too wet to drive a truck into the field, we have ATVs on tracks, to get the gear into the fields. If hunters are unable to walk into the location, we will provide them a ride on an ATV.
Season Dates:
Opens on the 4th Saturday in September and runs for 107 days
Over the past several years, our duck hunting has declined significantly. However, we still have excellent duck hunting at times, especially later in the fall (mid-Nov-early Jan). We hunt Mallards in both fields, or over water. While field hunting, there are usually plenty of geese using the same field, so most field hunts are combo shoots. Our water hunts are done over creeks and small rivers, or on the St. Lawrence River once the inland waters have frozen.
Goldeneye hunts are done on the St. Lawrence River, starting in typically in mid-December until the season closes.
Season Dates:
Fall: Opens 4th Saturday in September and runs for 107 days
Peak Time: Late Oct – Late Nov
Spring: March 1st-May 31st
Peak Time: 3rd week of March – mid April
Traditionally hunting for Snow Geese in eastern Canada was limited to hunting in Quebec. However, over the last several years, the Greater Snow Geese migration path has shifted into eastern Ontario, providing us with great Snow Goose hunting opportunities. Large numbers of Snows now stage here in the fall and the spring.
The attraction of Snow Goose hunting is the liberal limits (20 per day), and the big shoots.
However, Snow Geese are one of the toughest, if not toughest, waterfowl to fool and decoy day in and day out. Success relies on many factors, many of which aren’t in our control. The success of the spring/summer hatch of Snows is arguably the most important. Adult Snows are very smart and wary, so the more young or juvenile birds you have in the population, the better the hunting will be. Another significant factor in success is the weather, and especially wind. The reality of Snow Goose hunting is when it’s good it can be very good, and there is no waterfowl hunting experience that can compare to decoying Snows. But, when it’s tough it can be very tough, some days they just won’t play, and that’s Snow Goose hunting. Anyone who hunts Snow Geese seriously will tell you it becomes an addiction, enduring the tough days’ effort and failures, for the adrenaline rush of the big days.
In the fall, we hunt Snows similar to Canada Geese, hunting scouted fields and setting up in a new field every hunt. More work goes into a Snow Goose hunt, due to the number of decoys set up, so expect to leave earlier in the morning, and any help setting up is appreciated.
Many times in the fall, both Snows and Canadas will be using the same field, and there will be an opportunity to shoot both on the same hunt.
For spring hunts, we hunt over large fixed spreads. We set 900-1200 full body decoys in each spread and hunt the same spots, as long as there are birds in those areas. We do move the spreads into different areas when the birds move to new areas. In our experience, this is the best method for spring hunting in our area. During the peak window in the spring, the birds don’t pattern as they do later in the spring and fall. We spent the first five years of spring hunting chasing them, and our harvest numbers have gone way up now that we’ve switched to hunting fixed spreads. An added benefit to this style of shooting is that it means no work for the hunters, you show up and get into the blind and enjoy the hunt!
We have various lodging options, and try to find the best fit for our guest, depending on availability.
The Roost – This is our own lodge, it’s an older motel that was converted into apartments. Each apartment has 2 bedrooms, and each bedroom has 2 queen size beds and its’ own bathroom. There is also a living room, and kitchen area in each apartment. The Roost is ideal for guys that want to cook for themselves and have more room than a standard hotel room.
Ault Island Cottage – This is a beautiful cottage located on the majestic St. Lawrence River, located across the road from the Roost. The cottage includes a fireplace, a large living room, a full kitchen, and 8 beds. This place is ideal for large groups of hunters.
McIntosh Country Inn – Located in Morrisburg, typical hotel set-up, with the convenience of having 2 restaurants attached.
Ramada – Located in Cornwall. Large motel with all the amenities. Many of the rooms have been newly renovated, and there are several very nice suites for those that prefer upgraded accommodations. The Ramada is near several good restaurants as well, for those who want a variety of dinner options.
Fall Rates:
3 Day Waterfowl Hunt
Includes 3 Morning Hunts, 3 Nights Lodging, and HST
$1300.00 CDN per person
(If a morning hunt isn’t successful, we do hunt the afternoons)
5 Day Waterfowl Hunt
Includes 5 Morning Hunts, 5 Nights Lodging, and HST
$2000.00 CDN per person
Spring Rates:
1 Day Hunt – Hunt only, no lodging, HST Included
$300.00 per person
For any groups of 5 or more the rate is $1500 per day for the blind, HST Included
Fishing:
Full Day – $500.00 for the boat (can comfortably fish 3 people plus the guide)
Half Day – $300.00 for the boat
Half Day fishing can be added on to any waterfowl hunting packages, depending on availability.
All hunters require an Ontario Small Game License as well as a Canadian Migratory Bird Stamp.
Out of province or out of country hunters will be required to purchase a Non-Resident Small Game License.
If it’s your first-time hunting in Ontario, you will have to show proof of a license or hunters’ safety coarse from your home, province or state. You can buy them in person at our local Canadian Tire store, or send us a copy of your proof and we’ll get your license for you.
For hunters who have hunted in Ontario before, you should have an Ontario Outdoors Card and can purchase your license online.
Hunting License:
www.huntandfishontario.com
Canadian Migratory Permit:
www.permis-permits.ec.gc.ca
For hunters coming from out of the country, you will be required to fill out a Canadian Firearms Declaration, and declare your firearms at Canada Customs when entering into Canada. The process is very easy, and doesn’t usually take very long. It’s recommended to have the declaration filled out before arriving at Canada Customs.