HUNTING ALERTS

Autumn is an excellent season to hike on the Avon Trail. It is also deer hunting season, so extra caution and preparation are required. The trail is spread out over 5 Wildlife Management Units (WMU), so hunting rules are a bit complicated.

General Advice for Safe Hiking during Hunting Season

  1. Wear bright clothing
  2. Hike in groups
  3. Avoid highest risk areas to encounter hunters ( ie bush lots)
  4. Keep your eyes and ears open. Watch for hunters, listen for gunshots. Make your presence known to hunters or retrace your steps.

The Rules

  1. All sections of the Avon Trail allow bow & arrow hunting from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31
  2. All Avon Trail sections with the exception of the City of Waterloo (km 102.6-113.2) allow hunting with guns from Dec. 2 to Dec. 8. The Avon Trail Board of Directors strongly recommends avoiding the trail on these dates.
  3. Oxford County sections of the Avon Trail, (km 17-32.2, Wildwood CA, Wildwood South Side Trail, Queen Elizabeth Loops) allow gun hunting Nov 4-10, Nov 18-24 and Dec 2-8.
  4. Wilmot and Woolwich Townships in Waterloo Region (km 74.4-102.6 & km 113.2-129.7) allow gun hunting Nov. 4-10 and Dec. 2-8.

24-10-01 fall hunting dates Sheet1 Sheet1

Click on above link to see 2024 deer hunting dates for sections of the Avon Trail

 

TEMPORARY TRAIL CLOSURE ALERTS

There are no current trail closure alerts.

ORGANIC LOOP (KM 94.1-97.1) & MUSSLEMAN-WOODS (KM 98.0-102.6)

These sections of the Avon Trail have additional specific limitations related to their use, in addition to the Trail User’s Code. Please respect the landowner’s wishes and abide by the following restrictions:

No dogs, no trail running and no snow shoeing at any time.

November 30 – April 15. No trail walking, Cross-country skiing only.

Outside of the above restricted periods, do not walk when they are wet or with snowy conditions.