I have hunted deer for 60…

I have hunted deer for 60 years in the Clyde Forks, Flower Station area in WMU 63 and moose since the season started in the early 90`s. In the 1970`s there were few deer. MNR implemented a 4 day season in my part of the WMU and introduced a Buck Law in 1980. An antlerless deer tag was done by a lottery draw and lots of hunters whined including me. The medicine was necessary! By the year 2000 deer were plentiful and MNR sold anterless tags like candy. More money for them. By 2018 a couple of bad winters and too many wolves/coyotes and bears, and too many distributed tags had depleted the herd.
Finally MNR reduced the tag but as usual were 5 years behind the curve.

When Moose season started in WMU 63 there were few moose but by 2011 -14 it was common to see one. By 2021 there were few moose, mostly due to the same reason as the deer, wolves/coyotes and bears. MNR changed the moose draw for 2021. Previously WMU 63 moose tags were given out by lottery and not group numbers like the north. WMU 63 was put in the new point system. MNR heralded the committee and the new system and now 4 years later some whining hunters have convinced them that the system is not working. MNR has forgotten that their primary responsibility is the health of the herd, not whining hunters and more government revenue. Has MNR not considered that second allotment tags are being unclaimed so other hunters cannot have them and thus help the herd. Our group draws calf tags and does not claim them to make sure 8 or 10 calves are not shot. There are few moose in our area and we know it. Cows and calves are the future.

I say, leave the new system as it is or go back to the previous system where your license is good for a calf tag and you have a numbers draw for cows and bulls. The government will get their money and hunters will police themselves as to the life of a calf.

I have faith in the hunters. They are not 5 years behind the curve.

We need the MNR in the process but they must do their job!