Your Avon Trail board takes your safety very seriously. While the danger to hikers is remote, the board believes it is greatest during deer hunting periods — specifically gun season.

Hunting season affects Avon Trail users. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, hunting occurs during these windows:

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  • October 1 – December 31: Bow hunting for deer in Perth and Oxford counties, and in Wilmot and Woolwich townships
  • November 2 – December 8: Rifle hunting for deer (at various times) in Perth and Oxford counties, and in Wilmot and Woolwich townships

Click here for a detailed list of affected trails and specific dates.

Track hunting activity with the iHunter app

The free iHunter app (available for iPhone and Android) lets you search Ontario’s Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) on an interactive map. Zoom in to find your area — Stratford falls within WMU 86A — and tap the unit to view detailed hunting time information. This can be a handy way to know what to expect in a particular section of the Avon Trail.

Hikers: please be alert and cautious in woodlots along the Avon Trail during these hunting periods.

— Bruce Graham & Tom Kimber, Avon Trail Board