Bannerman Road

GPS Coordinates are 49.712304, -83.808856. Link on Google Maps

Excursion along Bannerman Road, 20 km west of Hearst. The first 10 km provides access to several residential properties. After the bridge between Hanlan & Wolverine Lake, the road turned to a sand-clay mix that stuck to the tires. The ground was still solid. The further on we drove, the more wet passages we encountered. There is a lot of water in the form of small ponds and bogs. Large areas have low growth with shrubs and plants that flourish in these wet environments. This must be a paradise for mosquitoes and black flies.

Our trip along Bannerman Road in YouTube

Bannerman Road area is mostly Crown Land (Policy ID: G1729 ) and belong to the Hearst, Nipigon, Waway Districts. Consult the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas from the Ministry of Natural Resources for current information. Provincial Parks are regulated by a different Policy ID. Be aware, there is usually no cell phone connection.

Once we passed Hanlan & Wolverine Lake, we saw hunting cabins and camps. The hunting stand was a good opportunity to get a view of the land.

The Moose Hunt opened the day after our visit and several hunting parties got ready. We met more people along this remote service road than in the Fushimi Lake Campground. We learned from local hunters that active logging was done last winter (2021/2022). This was past the 40 km we drove and we didn't see the extent of the wood harvesting.
We passed at least 10 pullout sites that are suitable for camping, some were occupied by the hunting parties.

We parked the Jeep at the 40 km point and hiked along the road. It would have been passable with the Jeep, but the sights and sounds of the outdoors are best enjoyed on foot. The labyrinth of roads along Bannerman is endless, and so are the camping spots.
This may have been the last sunny day. The forecast looked gloomy. We walked for about half an hour. The road was safe to walk, but on both sides were ponds and bogs. The low temperatures at night drastically reduced the mosquitoes and flies. It was a very enjoyable hike.

We didn't see any wildlife, not counting the few ducks that flew away. The signs were clear, they are here. The tracks are Wolf Tracks (4 toes) but we found signs of bears and moose as well.

Moose in Ontario
The moose population in Ontario is estimated between 80 to 100,000. Some years ago, we learned that a large deer population can be harmful to moose. We attended a guided walk in Algonquin park and the naturalist explained the cycle of the brain worm that is mostly harmless to deer, but will be fatal to moose. These brain worms develop in deer. The larvae are expelled through feces and in turn spread via snails and slugs that are unintentially eaten by moose.
Deer and moose hunting is regulated to maintain a sustainable balance. Mild or harsh winters, as well as wolves are other factors that influence the deer and moose population.