Wildlife & Outdoors: Last weekend of the fall turkey gun season, deer gun season opens Nov. 2

Here's what's open, what's closing and what's coming up for hunters and anglers in and around the Township of Chatsworth. Seasons below come from Ontario's 2026 Hunting Regulations Summary and 2026 Fishing Regulations Summary. The official regulations always govern, so check them before you go.

Which unit are you in?

Most of the township, including Chatsworth village, Williamsford, Desboro, Holland Centre, Keady, Massie and Berkeley, is in Wildlife Management Unit 82A, according to the province's official WMU boundary map. A strip along the township's northeast side, toward Meaford and Grey Highlands, is in WMU 82B. Some seasons differ between the two, so check the WMU map for your exact spot.

Hunting

Wild turkey. The fall shotgun-or-bow season in both units runs Oct. 13 to Oct. 25, so this is the last weekend. The fall bow-only season runs to Oct. 31. The limit is one turkey for the fall, and hunters can buy only one fall turkey tag. The fall turkey hunter report is due Nov. 14.

White-tailed deer. The bows-only season has been open since Oct. 1 and runs to Nov. 1 in both units. The rifle, shotgun, muzzle-loader and bow season runs Nov. 2 to Nov. 8 in both 82A and 82B. After that, the seasons split:

• WMU 82A: bows only Nov. 9 to Nov. 29; muzzle-loaders and bows Nov. 30 to Dec. 6; bows only Dec. 7 to Dec. 31.
• WMU 82B: bows only Nov. 9 to Nov. 15; muzzle-loaders and bows Nov. 16 to Nov. 22; bows only Nov. 23 to Nov. 29; muzzle-loaders and bows Nov. 30 to Dec. 6; bows only Dec. 7 to Dec. 31.

Dogs can't be used to hunt deer in either unit.

Small game. Ruffed grouse, ring-necked pheasant, gray (black) and fox squirrels are open in both units until Dec. 31. Cottontail and snowshoe hare are open until the last day of February. Daily limits are listed in the regulations summary.

Black bear. There is no fall bear season in either unit.

Sundays. The Township of Chatsworth is on the province's list of southern Ontario municipalities that allow gun hunting on Sundays during open seasons.

Fishing

The township is in Fisheries Management Zone 16. Across the zone, the seasons for brook, brown and rainbow trout and lake trout closed Sept. 30. Some Great Lakes tributaries have their own trout and salmon seasons, so check the waterbody exceptions before you fish a river.

Still open in the zone: bass until Nov. 30, and walleye and northern pike until Dec. 31. Yellow perch, crappie and sunfish are open all year.

Near the township:

• The Sydenham River in Owen Sound, from the Mill Dam to a point 177 metres downstream, is a fish sanctuary closed all year.
• On the Saugeen River at Denny's Dam, night fishing is banned through Oct. 31.
• Bells Lake in West Grey, just outside the township, is open for brook trout all year.

Zone 16 is part of the Southern Bait Management Zone. Live or dead baitfish and leeches can't be moved into or out of it.

Conservation land

The Grey Sauble Conservation Authority allows hunting and fishing under federal, provincial and municipal rules on many of its management areas, including Massie Hills and Holland Centre, according to its 2026 permitted uses map. Its smaller conservation areas, such as Old Baldy and Bruce's Caves, don't allow hunting. Properties are open dawn to dusk, and the authority asks visitors to stay on designated trails.

The Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority allows hunting at Bell's Lake, Brucedale, Denny's Dam (outside the campground), Hardwood Hill, Kinghurst, McBeath and the Mildmay/Carrick forest. Hunting is not allowed at Allan Park, Durham, Saugeen Bluffs, Stoney Island, Sulphur Spring or Varney.

Neither authority had a flood or water safety message posted when we checked on Friday, Oct. 23.

Wildlife health

Chronic wasting disease. The province is asking deer hunters to submit samples this fall, but only in its 2026 surveillance areas around Niagara to Guelph and Kingston to Brockville. WMUs 82A and 82B aren't on the list, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. The disease affects deer, elk, moose and caribou and has never been found in Ontario wildlife. If you see a deer showing signs such as weight loss, tremors, poor coordination or odd behaviour, report it to CWD@ontario.ca or the Wildlife Health Information Line at 1-888-574-6656.

Bird flu. Ontario's hunting notices say fall migration is a higher-risk time for avian influenza. Avoid touching sick or dead wild birds and mammals, use gloves and wash up if you must handle game, and report sick or dead wildlife to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at 1-866-673-4781.

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