I have Moose hunted for…

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019-0405

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33210

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I have Moose hunted for approximately 30 years for the most part in WMU 57. I am generally in favour of the proposed Moose hunt changes. With regard to the point system I hope that hunters in the 4 WMU's that have had to apply for Calf tags will not be penalized for receiving a calf tag if they received a tag as a first choice selection. A hunters points should accumulate back to having received an adult tag NOT a calf tag. If this is not the case it puts the hunters who have applied in the 4 WMU's at a disadvantage to hunters that choose now to apply in the 4 WMU's. The statement " hunters have got better at hunting calves" is based on what evidence? If it based on fill rates there are many reason's for that, more calves on the landscape less adult tags being given out. The large groups are also a big contributing factor to fill rates of all tags I'm happy to see that as being addressed. If you compare the Calf to Cow ratio of of the 4 WMU's with a calf lottery and adjacent WMU's 60,61 for example I don't think you find much difference. So to say the calf lottery worked is misleading. The other concern I have is there is no data on what the carrying capacity is of a WMU. So just because harvest is restricted doesn't mean we can grow a heard to infinity. I think the 4 WMU's with a calf lottery could and should be looked at to see if the herd has plateaued because it will. It needs to be determined as to why. Is it the because the correct amount of tags are being given out or as I believe natural mortality is the contributing factor ie.dying of old age/disease . If that is the case more tags can and should be given out