First of all this review…

First of all this review falls short of what hunters had anticipated. This review simply looks at how you give out door prizes not how effective it is in increasing the moose herd and making more tags in initial allocation available. It seems to assume the point system is good … and it is not! When will this assessment be done? Why is there no comment in the background documents that assesses a benefit ( however unintentional) to moose management with 1700 tags NOT being awarded / claimed. This should be critical to even considering going further down this road!

As frustrating as this is for me, I will limit my comments to the proposal at hand as this problem is something I anticipated initially with these changes.

35 years ago you promoted that hunters should apply in groups / parties to avoid multiple tags allocated to the group if they applied as individuals. Typically one tag was enough for that seasons hunt. Benefit was given to large group sizes and those who applied individually were on their own in a random draw. Unbeknownst to those who applied in parties were 2 things not well advertised by you;

1) if a large group was successful, MNR awarded the tag to the person who had gone without a tag the longest resetting their “points”to zero.

2) hunters ( especially those in large groups) were unaware until the 11 th hour that allocation process was changing to an individual point system giving benefit to those who had applied unsuccessfully as individuals for years. Hunters in successful groups who had their “points” arbitrarily reduced to zero by MNR were automatic losers in the new system. Amazing reversal from encouraging hunters to apply as a group to rewarding the individual…… over nite!! This is offensive!

To comment on the current proposal, system MUST blend old (group application) and new. The primary allocation can remain with the exception that if a tag is awarded, points are lost, and tag is considered used….it will be if points are lost. Groups will be motivated to limit individuals that apply knowing the consequences. High point hunters will be rewarded and reduced.

The second allocation will be the old group allocation. Without this my group will never hunt moose in Ontario again! The details have already been established over last 35 years. Tags awarded are considered used and the successful individual in the party goes to zero.

There should be no need for a third allocation, however any thought that tags should be sold MUST be discarded! MNR is NOT a tourist outfitter and hunters have already paid for these tags with all the hoops MNR has made us jump through. If necessary, a wide open random draw with points lost for successful applicants if necessary is the option available.