wildlife management unit · Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
WMU 23
Ontario, Canada
The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.
About WMU 23
WMU 23 is a wildlife management unit in Ontario, Canada, set by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. It covers about 9,271 km² (3,580 mi²). The town of Hearst is inside it.
HuntGrid draws its boundary from Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources's data for the 2026 season. The agency's regulations say which species and seasons use it.
- Unit code
- 23
- Area
- 9,271 km²
- Area (miles)
- 3,580 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 8,922 km² of public or protected land inside it, 96% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:
| Manager | km² | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources | 8,318 | 90% |
| Nature Conservancy of Canada | 605 | 7% |
| Ontario Parks | 399 | 4% |
Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.
Public land: Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario; Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario; Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database)
Seasons and regulations
Seasons for this unit that a person has checked against Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources's regulations:
| Species | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| American black bear | Aug 15, 2026 to Oct 31, 2026 | source |
| Fox squirrel | Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | falconry source |
| Eastern grey squirrel | Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | falconry source |
| Common pheasant | Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | falconry source |
| Ruffed grouse | Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | falconry source |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | falconry source |
| Snowshoe hare | Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | falconry source |
| Spruce grouse | Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | falconry source |
| Coyote | Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | source |
| Fox squirrel | Sep 15, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | source |
| Eastern grey squirrel | Sep 15, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | source |
| Grey wolf | Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | source |
| Common pheasant | Sep 15, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | source |
| Red fox | Sep 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 | source |
| Ruffed grouse | Sep 15, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | source |
| Sharp-tailed grouse | Sep 15, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | source |
| Snowshoe hare | Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | source |
| Spruce grouse | Sep 15, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | source |
| Striped skunk | Sep 15, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 | source |
| Raccoon | Oct 5, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 | source |
| Virginia opossum | Oct 5, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 | source |
| White-tailed deer | Oct 10, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | residents source |
| White-tailed deer | Oct 12, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | non-residents source |
| Moose (Eurasian elk) | Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | antlerless, residents, draw source |
| Moose (Eurasian elk) | Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | males, residents, draw source |
| Moose (Eurasian elk) | Oct 17, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | antlerless, residents, draw source |
| Moose (Eurasian elk) | Oct 19, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | non-residents source |
| White-tailed deer | Nov 16, 2026 to Nov 30, 2026 | archery source |
| American black bear | May 1, 2027 to Jun 15, 2027 | source |
The official regulations have the final word: check them before you hunt.
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
Other hunting units that cover part of it
What HuntGrid shows for WMU 23
- Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
- Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
- Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
- Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
- Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.
Questions
How big is WMU 23 (wildlife management unit)?
About 9,271 km² (3,580 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in WMU 23?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 8,922 km² of public or protected land, 96% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for WMU 23?
This page lists 29 seasons a person has checked against Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources's regulations; the official regulations have the final word.
Which units are next to WMU 23?
In the same unit system: WMU 22, WMU 24, WMU 30, WMU 31 and WMU 32.
More on huntgrid.net
Sources
Unit boundary: Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Licence: Open Government Licence – Ontario (v1.0). Boundaries for the 2026 season.
HuntGrid isn't affiliated with Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The official regulations and maps have the final word.