URGENT - Ontario Moose Hunters - Proposed Season and Regulations Changes

Chas

Chas

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This was posted on the Environmental Registry today - note that there is only a 31 day submission period for comments if you wish to do so. This could affect your moose hunting plans for this year for both archery and firearms hunters if adopted:

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-Ex...ticeId=MTI0MzI5&statusId=MTg3MTU2&language=en

Cut and paste synopsis:

Harvest management strategy proposed for implementation beginning in 2015:

• Establish a two-week resident and non-resident open hunting season for calf and adult moose across northern Ontario, beginning on the Saturday closest to October 22; all allowable firearms (as per existing seasons) could be used during this season. Outside of this two-week season, calf moose could not be harvested. Hunting for an adult moose would still be permitted for the remainder of the open season with a valid moose licence and in accordance with existing rules.

For implementation in 2016:

• Delay the start of resident and non-resident moose hunting seasons across much of northern Ontario by one week.

To implement the proposed changes, amendments to various regulations under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (FWCA) would be required to establish new seasons based on age or other factors, change the seasons for resident and non-resident moose hunting and make associated consequential amendments:

A) In Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 1A, 1C, 1D, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8, 9A, 9B, 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13, 14, 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B, 16C, 17, 18A, 18B, 19, 21A, 21B, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42
i. establish an open season for calf and adult moose which would begin the Saturday closest to October 22 and end on the second following Friday, in any year; all allowable firearms could be used during this season.

B) Beginning in 2016, change the opening date of the resident and non-resident moose hunting seasons in WMUs 5, 6, 7A, 7B, 8, 9A, 9B, 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13, 14, 15A, 15B, 19, 21A, 21B, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 to begin one week later.
 
This still does nothing to account for the increase in bear and wolf populations as well as the native over harvest, hunting at night, spotlights etc. Once again the MNR shows us they are in the business of managing hunters not game populations.
 
Thanks for the heads up Chas! Now to get our hunt-gang informed--30 days and counting- Wow!. I sort of expected something like this as the winter count for the last several years has not been too good around Sudbury and area confirmed by our groups dropping success rate. I hear you Waterfowler but you and I are the low hanging fruit. Sad to say I sort of wish that was the only problem but we really have to consider that bear predation, high winter tick infection rates, white tail deer incursions into the historic moose range, some of the new forestry practices (and resulting access) along with failure to gain the co-operation of our native harvesters, perhaps even global warming and more I'm sure are conspireing against our beloved moose all over their North American range. I am going to put off a dedicated moose rifle buy till this sorts its self out more clearly.
 
Would rather they looked at reinstating the full spring bear hunt (the limited 'pilot project' was just a vote grab by the liberals) or allowing those of us living north of the French River to hunt wolf/coyote under the authority of a small game license, instead of this stupid tag system (max of 2 per year).

Lets be honest nothing will be done about the "unregulated harvest". Friend from work was up at his camp in the Northern part of 15B this year and was offered moose for sale from an "unregulated hunter" who claimed to have taken 20+ that fall so far.
 
With the native harvest that goes on in Ontario, nothing else matters. it won't be long and there won't be a huntable population.
 
I hunt in WMU 25. Pushing the calf season into late October starts getting into to some pretty nasty weather for primitive camping. Sometimes the end of September is pushing it for sleeping outdoors.

Plus, this year the tags are going up to $55.70 plus a $2.26 service fee.

These two changes might be good for the moose population however, because they just may keep myself and my hunting buddy from going after moose.

See, their plan is working....

But hey, didn't I read how the prices of tags/cards etc went up to so they could "increase opportunities" since the number of hunters and fisherman in the field has declined in recent years. Glad we have bureaucrats in Queens Park looking out for us.
 
The Ontario MNR is a joke. You have bureaucrats/biologists sitting in Peterbourough that do not leave their office to even put boots on the ground that make decisions based on the colour of the sky in their world on any given day.

In SW Ontario they cannot even respond to legitimate complaints during the season. How do I know I made one and Yes i got a response 11 months later. Now they charge a $2 service fee on licences and charge HST on that. Welcome to Ontario where you pay tax on tax.

These moose changes will stop another portion of hunters from going north due to the season delay which will overlap many deer openers and will get someone killed when they are stranded miles in the bush and snow sets in. Will I hunt the Albany River again, not likely with things starting a week later. What do these changes do to encourage new hunters NOTHING!!! Rant endeth
 
I attended the 1st ever meeting when the tag system was introduced, when the MNR promised as the moose population will increase with these changes so will the tags? I am still here waiting. But for me time is running out.
 
So if I'm reading this correctly, the tag/draw system will still be in place and there will be a two week open season in those northern WMUs listed as well.
 
Myself in the west feels your pain with this issue. We face the same issues along with government deciding a good portion of our LEH tags should go to the guide outfitter assoc. and not to resident hunters. In Solidarity ......

D.K.
 
In my area (12B) this year we will have the normal 2 month season. BUT we will only be able to hunt calves as well as adults for a two week period during that 2 months. The rest of the season duration will be adults only (if you have an adult tag as a result of the lottery) 2016 season is only two weeks long, you can hunt calves and adults BUT you will need an adult tag to harvest bulls or cows from the lottery. The kicker is the late season change. In 2016 the season will be the last week of October and the first week of November. Others here have mentioned the risk of remote tent/trailer camping that late in the year. I would not really want to be at the end of a 100 km unmaintained bush road that time of year for the risk of being snowed in. The late season would also preclude those who access areas via boats and canoes. To top it off it is still too early for snow machine use. Oh well tags are near non existent and I can always hunt ducks to freeze up and then continue with grouse.....

Darryl
 
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Yes, it sounds more like they want to ban calf hunting all together but have opted for this instead.

I guess they figure they can say - NO, we didn't ban anything - you can hunt them in this special, reduced season - "WE ARE LOOKING AFTER YOUR INTERESTS to ensure Moose hunting for generations to come".

So maybe we should write some letters of "thanks" to these bureaucrats who are actually doing us a favour. Of course the strategy does say that some "future time" they will look at the other factors effecting the population.

I think we should "trust them", they have done such a great job up to this point....
 
Always remember that a huge factor affecting these changes is REVENUE. The monies generated through moose licence sales alone is considerable let alone all other licences. The fees are going up again this year and now a 2.00 service charge also applies to all licences. If the harvest of calves was stopped coupled with the reduction of adult tags the sales of moose licences would plummet taking the revenues associated with them. As long as the Ontario government wants money we will be hunting calves albeit for as little as two weeks per year.....

Darryl
 
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