E-mail from Manitoba Wildlife Federation;
MWF has received confirmation that the provincial government has implemented a 75% reduction in tags for resident Manitoba licensed moose hunters who were hoping to draw a tag to hunt in northern Manitoba. Please find the full announcement with details below.
This decision was made in response to pressure from MKO, a non-profit, political advocacy organization representing 26 First Nation communities in the North. We feel the decision lacks scientific justification, and is contrary to the principles of conservation and reconciliation.
On behalf of all licensed hunters in the province, MWF has consulted with legal counsel and will proceed with an application for judicial review. A judicial review application essentially asks the court to review and potentially overturn this decision, if it finds (as we feel) that the government acted arbitrarily or unreasonably.
How you can help:
The MWF seeks your support for its campaign to defend the interests of licensed hunters. If you would like to help, you can:
- write personalized letters to the Hon. Minister Jamie Moses
Minister's Office
358 Legislative Building
450 Broadway
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V8
Phone: 204-945-0067
Email:
mineditnr@manitoba.ca
- contribute to the MWF through donations, purchasing a membership, or supporting fundraising initiatives.
Every membership sold or contribution made will help us pressure the government to reconsider this decision and uphold their responsibility to safeguard hunting and angling rights for
ALL Manitobans.
Official Government Letter:
Manitoba is proceeding with the 2024 Big Game Draw. We apologize for the inconvenience that this delay may have caused. This slight pause was necessary for Manitoba to review licences based on wildlife sustainability in a few key areas.
Of the 62 Game Hunting Areas (GHAs) in the province, only 4 are affected (GHAs 9A, 15, 15A and 10), and only the moose draw licence number is affected, all others are proceeding. The available number of moose draw licences has been reduced by 75% in the specific GHAs outlined above. With the draw now complete, applicants to the draw will be notified shortly.
The province recognizes that long-term sustainability of wildlife populations is a priority. While Manitoba manages the moose population for all residents, there is a recognized need to prioritize rights-based harvesters. To balance population sustainability and the needs of harvesters while still offering hunting opportunities, the province has implemented these changes for this coming season.
I want to assure you that comments provided by the Manitoba Wildlife Federation during this delay period are valuable and were considered as we approached this decision. Manitoba values all the conversations during this important review and is committed to moving forward in collaboration with all parties as we gather data and we look forward to continuing the conversation and receiving feedback prior to next years draw.
If you have questions or concerns about this process and/or would like to schedule a follow up meeting, please contact the Wildlife Branch Director, Maria Arlt, directly at maria.arlt@gov.mb.ca.
Thank you,
Dana Rudy
Deputy Minister
Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources