Ontario Improving Moose Management and Hunting Allocations

John Y Cannuck

John Y Cannuck

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[h=2]Ontario Improving Moose Management and Hunting Allocations[/h] MNR WatchNovember 26, 2018 MNR Press Releases


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Ontario’s Government for the People is working to make the moose draw fairer, more accessible and simpler for hunters by updating its approach to managing moose.
Over the next two years, the government intends to work with an advisory committee, which will review how tag quotas are developed, how hunters apply for tags and the current allocation process. Advice on the current tag draw system will be a first order priority for the committee.
“We appreciate the feedback and perspectives shared by hunters and stakeholders, and I encourage them to continue contributing to the discussion on moose management approaches,” said JohnYakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The review will examine ways of improving service, while helping to maintain healthy moose populations and sustainable hunting for years to come.
 
I don’t know how any system can be successful when certain segments of the population are allowed to kill whatever whenever they choose. Combine that with ticks, disease and hard winters and it’s a tough go for the moose and a scientific based hunt.
 
It may be too late now since the moose population is so decimated in many of the WMU,s The system hasn't been fair for most hunter's, especially since they cut the number of tags the past few years.
And with a segment of the population hunting whatever and wherever they want it will never be fair.
 
Agree, it will never be "fair" but it certainly could be "better".

No, they will never adequately address the native hunting rights, predators etc.

But even something as simple as adding more pools (why only 2?) and perhaps dropping ALL pool members to the lowest pool when their group pulls a tag. I would rather have an excellent chance of pulling a tag every 4th or 5th year than not seeing one in ten or twelve years while the same group seems to get a tag every year or second year.

I lived in NFLD for a number of years, there were 4 pools and we got 1 tag (bull, cow or either ###) in a party hunt. Not saying that's the answer but there are other options.
 
Every new government makes a point of reviewing the moose draw and very little has come from those reviews. I don’t see this being any different. There are some realities that cannot be changed. One thing that they might want to consider is a point system, it won’t likely result in more tags or getting you a tag sooner, but you should be able to predict with more certainty when you are due. Another thing they should look at is creating habitat through prescribed fires. There isn’t as much logging as there was 20 years ago, so the forest could use some renewal. JMHO.
 
I would like to see them manage the forest better for moose.

First and foremost I would like to see them stop spraying herbicide chemicals on all cut over areas before and after planting.

Put wolf licence's back under the small game licence so more hunters could legally shoot them for better predator control.
 
Bears have been a big issue too. You don't usually see them much in moose season, but they are the ones killing the most calves in the spring. Re-opening the spring bear hunt seems to have been too little too late. Perhaps encouraging American bear hunters would help, with the side benefit of helping northern communities.
Reduce fees for non-resident?

In my area, it's illegal to shoot wolves and coyotes. That's not helping either.

This fall I had ten bears in my apple trees regularly. Three sows 6 cubs and a yearling. One tag doesn't make much of a dent in that. One more big male I had on camera.
 
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Point system. Then everybody gets a tag eventually. You pay to apply, then buy the licence if your name is drawn. No more tag transfers, no over-the-counter calf tags.
 
Personally, I think the calf hunt is a pure tax grab and I think it should end.

Is there anywhere else in the world that manages their moose population by allowing a calf hunt?

I also think management that protects predators, such as the restrictions wrt wolf/coyote hunting AND the previously cancelled spring bear hunt, is to the detriment of ALL other game species...

Cheers
Jay
 
Jaaska said:
6 years purchasing calf tags with 4 of those years in pool 1 . Never again . Quebec next year .
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9.3mauser said:
Only 6 years? My last adult tag was in 2009, and before that a 19 year dry spell.
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There have been many changes to the moose hunting regs and tag allocations as well as numerous changes to the party hunting tag lottery procedures over the years. Most changes have taken hunters and conservation officers by surprise. Most troubling are the changes that are made by those in the MNR that have no interest in hunting at all and some of those see hunters as one of the problems.

I’ve hunted with the same group of 6 hunters for 11 years now and we have gotten an adult tag in 10 of those years. We have had to change WMU’s numerous times and had to switch from rifle hunting to archery a few years back to have a better chance in the tag lottery’s. We wait until the present years allocations are posted and decide on our best chances before entering the lottery. It usually means a 27 plus hour drive to our hunting area but it’s worth it. The next time we miss on the lottery, we’re off to Newfoundland.
 
I well remember sitting in the Canadian Legion drinking draft beer in Nipigon in 1972. The bar was packed with moose hunters from Minnesota and Michigan when in walked a group of guys from Oshawa. We local guys couldn’t believe someone would drive all the way from Oshawa just to moose hunt.
At that time a moose liscense cost the same as a box of beer $7.25 and you could shoot any moose anywhere you saw it. A non-resident liscense cost $119 and entitled you to a moose 2deer and a bear.
When they brought in the draw around 1981 you got a tag for whatever WMU you applied in—that was a major imposition to us local hunters—we felt restricted.
The reason for the calf tags—that came from how they do things in Sweden—-half the calves die in the 1st winter so hunting calves in theory wouldn’t hurt the overall population.
The MNR has already decided how moose management is to be done—they will ask for public input and set up advisory committees and such and they will listen diligently but make no mistake—they have already decided what they are going to do.
 
Ilsa a group we saw an unreal amount of Moose during deer in WMU56
I saw 2 bulls and 4 cows (possibly the same one twice)

My group has had nothing but calf tags in years 4-6hunters

I welcome some sort of review or otherwise lower the price of the draw if I'm just going out to hang out for a week.
 
I'd like to see you be allowed to apply for an adult tag after paying a nominal fee to enter the draw, then if you are successful, you buy the adult tag, The current way is nothing but a tax grab in most WMU,s
 
In the last 6 years our party of 4 has drawn an adult tag 5 times. However last year the minimum guaranteed # was increased by a lot and we did not get one and there is no fun in hunting calves for 2 weeks dreading seeing a calf and are really not sure if it is a calf or yearling and have to pass it up to be on the safe side.
Just hope four next year.
 
kkahmann said:
I well remember sitting in the Canadian Legion drinking draft beer in Nipigon in 1972. The bar was packed with moose hunters from Minnesota and Michigan when in walked a group of guys from Oshawa. We local guys couldn’t believe someone would drive all the way from Oshawa just to moose hunt.
At that time a moose liscense cost the same as a box of beer $7.25 and you could shoot any moose anywhere you saw it. A non-resident liscense cost $119 and entitled you to a moose 2deer and a bear.
When they brought in the draw around 1981 you got a tag for whatever WMU you applied in—that was a major imposition to us local hunters—we felt restricted.
The reason for the calf tags—that came from how they do things in Sweden—-half the calves die in the 1st winter so hunting calves in theory wouldn’t hurt the overall population.
The MNR has already decided how moose management is to be done—they will ask for public input and set up advisory committees and such and they will listen diligently but make no mistake—they have already decided what they are going to do.
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exactly
that is how done everywhere ... they want your feedback but they already decided and if by chance one agree with them they have the proof it is what we want ...
 
Lots of good points here already. My 2 cents:

Stop calf hunts altogether.
Stop tag transfers - I could tell you stories....guys whose wives buy in to the draw and transfer to their hubby.
Put the whole group in pool 2 if some one gets a tag - or as already said, have several pools, not just 2
Bring back a full spring bear hunt if there isn't one already in that area

Most importantly, have biologists that have a clue about what is going on manage it rather than having elected officials who dont know sh!t from shinola managing it

And have the money from all tags bought and all poaching type fines go to funding the biology and not into the "general revenue lets pss this $$ up against a tree" pool.
 
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