wildlife management unit · Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
WMU 53A
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 53A
WMU 53A is a wildlife management unit in Ontario, Canada, set by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. It covers about 2,200 km² (849 mi²). Towns inside it include Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Huntsville.
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
- 53A
- Area
- 2,200 km²
- Area (miles)
- 849 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 655 km² of public or protected land inside it, 30% 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 | 650 | 30% |
| Ontario Parks | 142 | 6% |
| Couchiching Conservancy | 2.6 | under 1% |
| Muskoka Conservancy | 2.4 | under 1% |
| Ontario Nature | 0.2 | under 1% |
| Canadian Wildlife Service, Ontario Region | 0.0 | under 1% |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Red fox | Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 | source |
| Striped skunk | Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 | source |
| Cottontail rabbit | Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | falconry source |
| Brown hare | Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | falconry source |
| Fox squirrel | Sep 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | falconry source |
| Grey (Hungarian) partridge | 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 |
| American black bear | Sep 8, 2026 to Nov 30, 2026 | source |
| Coyote | Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | Except the geographic townships closed to protect eastern wolves (around Algonquin, Killarney, Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands and Kawartha Highlands provincial parks; listed in the summary) source |
| Cottontail rabbit | Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | source |
| Brown hare | Sep 15, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027 | source |
| Fox squirrel | Sep 15, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | source |
| Grey (Hungarian) partridge | 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 | Except the geographic townships closed to protect eastern wolves (around Algonquin, Killarney, Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands and Kawartha Highlands provincial parks; listed in the summary) source |
| Common pheasant | Sep 15, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | 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 |
| White-tailed deer | Oct 1, 2026 to Nov 1, 2026 | archery source |
| Raccoon | Oct 5, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 | source |
| Virginia opossum | Oct 5, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027 | source |
| White-tailed deer | Nov 2, 2026 to Nov 15, 2026 | source |
| White-tailed deer | Nov 16, 2026 to Dec 15, 2026 | archery source |
| Wild turkey | Apr 25, 2027 to May 31, 2027 | bearded 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 53A
- 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 53A (wildlife management unit)?
About 2,200 km² (849 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in WMU 53A?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 655 km² of public or protected land, 30% 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 53A?
This page lists 32 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 53A?
In the same unit system: WMU 46, WMU 49, WMU 50, WMU 53B, WMU 54, WMU 56, WMU 76A and WMU 76B.
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.