Most of these ‘initiatives’…

Most of these ‘initiatives’ related to moose hunting seem to ignore the existing population ‘dynamics’ of moose.

How many moose are out on Ontario’s landscape? If the government is going to sell hunting tags, then it is essential to ensure the populations are very healthy.

At the moment, there is a large and growing human presence on the landscape in Ontario, currently estimated to be approximately 14.5-million people.

Hunting tags will be issued by Wildlife Management Units (WMU), recognizing “habitat suitability could not support a population objective that aimed to increase the population. Some large areas in Ontario do not have productive moose habitat.”, according to the provincial MOOSE POPULATION OBJECTIVE GUIDELINES (MPOGs)
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MPOGs recognize that it is essential to map “the role of moose in ecosystem sustainability. It is important to consider how many moose are necessary to maintain their natural function in the ecosystem across a broader landscape. This is particularly critical for harmonizing the management of moose with other cervids and associated predators.”

AND

“Human use of moose: In some WMUs, the original population target was not achievable over the long term because of high socio-economic demands relative to landscape productivity. In other WMUs, the target could have been higher to support the quality of moose related activities. A sustainable mix of socio-economic benefits should be considered across the broader landscape.” Socio-economic, as in money for hunting tags, hunting gear (add HST!), outfitters and guides, cabin rentals ... maybe alcohol sales. Well, what has that GOT TO DO with moose, their long-term survival, and their ecosystem?

Keeping these MPOG guidelines in mind, let’s review the previous ‘management plans’ put in place re: moose hunting for 2016.

There was an uproar about the shortened moose hunting season described in the Toronto Sun on February 10, 2015 because the CALF MOOSE HUNTING SEASON was reduced to TWO weeks from THIRTEEN weeks! If there is ‘hunting glory’ in killing a calf, there is also near certainty that government-sanctioned hunting is working to eliminate the moose population. Otherwise, the 2016 hunting season was reduced to twelve (from thirteen) weeks for bulls and cows (a number of whom likely had young to care for, if those calves escaped calf-hunting season). This seemed like a sure-fire recipe for wiping out the moose population, and this sad ‘prescription’ is now being re-written to allow hunting of CALVES for thirteen weeks. AGAIN.

Back in 2015, the Toronto Sun reported: “Mark Ryckman, senior wildlife biologist for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) said proposed changes would impact northern Ontario hunters as well as the thousands of residents from the GTA and southern Ontario who head north to hunt moose. The moose hunt is probably the province’s premier hunt.”

Mr. Ryckman failed to note the impact on the hunted animals themselves. While moose exist in a limited northern area and depend upon that same limited area for their entire NATURAL food supply (no grocery stores for moose), THOUSANDS of hunters from all over Ontario (many living comfortably in huge houses in the Greater Golden Horseshoe) converge on the moose’s limited home range with their weapons, intent on killing moose. Obviously, the moose hunt is completely unsustainable due to human behaviour. Also unsustainable due to government, specifically MNRF, behaviour.

In mid-October 2015, the CBC reported the nature of the moose-hunting predicament. Specifically, Mark Ryckman was quoted again, saying “There are about 80.000 to 100.000 moose in the province, but there are more than 100,000 hunters. He also said, “Obviously, wolves and coyotes are not the culprits” ... when it comes to a declining moose population because humans outnumber, therefore over-hunt, moose.

I also note that moose (or deer) hunting occurs during their vulnerable breeding season when these creatures are focused on finding mates, and breeding instead of eating. If one really wants to test one’s skill, wit, and “trigger finger’, wouldn’t a hunter seek out an equally cunning ‘quarry’ who is similarly skilled and armed? Where is the skill in blasting away the life of an adult moose who is involved in breeding season and preparing for the onslaught of winter accompanied by scarcer, unpredictable food sources? What if a hunter shoots a moose cow who is caring for young born in the springtime?

If Ontario is intent on making revenue from moose tags, then it better set aside more areas where moose can survive. Ontario could even consider a moose immigration program and advertise this opportunity in Newfoundland which claims to have too many moose. Then, critical natural habitat areas would need to increase in size to support a growing moose population -- and such areas would have to be declared off-limits to encroachment by expanding human developments, such as subdivisions and resorts
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Moose Management … really? The ONLY population that needs to be MANAGED is the human population because the impact of growing human activities affects all other forms of non-voting apolitical natural life that neither wears money belts, nor lobbies government regarding its particular preferences.

How many moose are there? How many hunters can be 'served' by a dwindling moose population beset by loss of habitat?