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About Us
The ODSA is led by a team of lifelong deer hunters dedicated to the future of Ontario's deer and our hunting tradition. With over a century of combined experience as hunters, conservationists, and big game experts, we stand ready to work with our members to secure our herds for future generations to enjoy. As a young organization, ODSA welcomes the establishment of new branches throughout Ontario to organize and drive change that will ensure Ontario continues to be a place where whitetails can thrive.
Our Story
ODSA was founded in 2025 by Daniel Andres, a big game biologist, deer hunter, and resident of mid-western Ontario. Having experience with deer herds across Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, and south of the border, Daniel has a broad perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of Ontario's deer management and herd potential. What is clear is that Ontario is nowhere close to achieving its deer herd potential, both from a herd health perspective, sustainable resource for recreation, and herd size in balance with habitat and non-hunting interests (e.g., agricultural concerns). After years of frustration seeing local herds decline (and in some cases, even completely disappear), while simultaneously seeing harvest quotas increase, Daniel sought to bring together serious deer enthusiasts to help remedy the situation. After hunting in various other WMUs and engaging with hunters across other areas of Ontario, it became apparent that the deteriorating quality of deer herds extends across many different regions of Ontario, sometimes with contrasting issues (lack of deer vs. localized herd imbalances and high deer densities). In response, ODSA is being led by an experienced team of volunteers, all exceptionally knowledgeable hunters that span across Ontario's contrasting regions. From the wildlands of the Northwest through central and eastern Ontario, to the agricultural snowbelt and far south, we are led by a team dedicated to the prosperity of deer and our hunting heritage.
Meet The Team
I have been a conservation advocate for as long as I can remember. Growing up on a farm in Bruce County, I was obsessed with fish, turtles, salamanders, and snakes. In a farming family where no one hunted, I found myself drawn less to livestock and more to both game and non-game wildlife. That innate passion eventually led me to take up hunting, pursue studies in wildlife ecology, and build a career in the field. Along the way, I developed a habit of closely observing the landscapes and species I cared about. I still vividly remember the frustration of watching my favourite turtle “hunting” grounds drained and cleared, and seeing, one after another, my best fishing spots disappear. At the time, I responded the only way I knew how - armed with a bicycle and handwritten letters left in the mailboxes of those responsible. Occasionally, it even worked. Today, many of those same challenges persist, along with new ones. While I maintain a deep commitment to conserving all wildlife, my greatest focus now is white-tailed deer. Whether bowhunting, searching for shed antlers, scouting, or creating habitat, much of my life outside of work revolves around deer. As I have watched Ontario’s deer herds decline, my concern has grown - not only for the animals themselves, but for a way of life that I believe is increasingly at risk. That same tenacity I had as a kid remains. I am unwilling to stand by and let the future unfold without having a voice in it. Founding the Ontario Deer Stewardship Association (ODSA) is a mission driven by that conviction - both to protect Ontario’s deer and to ensure future generations have the opportunity to develop the same passion and connection to the land that has shaped my life.
Daniel Andres
Founder, CEO
Regional Coordinator: Bruce, Huron
Biography:
My name is Evan Capogna. I was born and raised in central Ontario and grew up in an outdoor-oriented family. From a young age, I developed a passion for hunting alongside my grandfather and father. During those early years, Ontario’s white-tailed deer population was thriving, creating countless memorable experiences in the field. Over time, however, those once-frequent deer encounters became increasingly rare. As the population declined, I found myself asking two important questions: why did our deer become scarce, and what can be done to protect Ontario’s deer herds for future generations? When the Ontario Deer Stewardship Association (ODSA) was formed, I was eager to get involved and help work toward answering those questions. Since the early stages, I have assisted with coordinating action campaigns, including petitions and social media initiatives. I look forward to continuing this work and contributing to meaningful progress in securing a strong future for Ontario’s deer and deer hunting.