Save the Moose Stop the…

Save the Moose Stop the Abuse

Having successfully and unsuccessfully hunted for Moose in four distinct wildlife management units, both in South and North of the French River regions for over 35 years, I strongly oppose the 2021 points system in principal. I do however offer suggestions to improve the system.

These three proposed enhancements to the points-based moose tag allocation process for resident hunters still does not address the basic abuses. There are hunters that want a tag and others who play along until it suits their individual circumstance. An awarded tag should not be turned down more than once without consequences.

For clarity the “Points System” was proposed in 1997 in a report, "Independent Review of the Tag Allocation Systems" as a much simpler alternative to the overly abused Lottery System and Group Application System. I personally responded to the request with my own white paper of suggestions to correct the abuses of the Moose Allocation Process. At that time the OFAH fully endorsed the Moose Tag Allocation System in an open letter response with suggested and meaningful corrective changes, now the OFAH endorses the Points System with corrections, you can’t have it both ways.

Twenty three years have passed until 2020 when it was suggested by the MNRF and the OFAH that a new points system be adopted as a result of complaints of the unfair bias to hunters either never receiving a tag or having to wait an excessive number of years between tags. All those with high point totals from 36 to 20 should have been awarded a tag by 2024. Those high point applicants should not exceed more than one declined awarded tag since inception.

ERO 019-0405 Improvements to Moose Management as part of the Moose Management Review
Preference point system for distributing tags; Decision: February 25, 2020. Only 905 responses and 45 written responses were received to the ERO on such a landmark change to a new tag distribution system. Seems the 40,000 to 80,000 estimated active Moose license holders in Ontario aren’t being communicated with in an effective manner on such important changes. Or just they just don't care enough to respond with meaningful suggestive changes to help save the future Moose hunting or the habitat the Moose reside in.

Proposed Change Suggestions:

The Current Points System is far too complicated with three chances to “win” and has never addressed the problem of “Phantom” high point hunters applying and then not accepting an awarded tag. There is no consequence to declining a tag when their individual situation does not suit them. No hunter if declining an awarded tag in the first or second allocation draw be allowed to be awarded a surplus tag in the third draw.

The Current Points System allows individual hunters to manipulate the system for an awarded tag without loss of points. If there is a surplus tag draw, all awarded tags require a forfeit of points and awarded a single point for the next years draw upon completing the mandatory moose hunting survey.

The Current Points System does not allow for a registered group application for one awarded tag for a member with the eligible number of points. A registered group application should be considered with a maximum of 10 hunters registered. All registered group application hunters must be present in the field for the hunt including the tag holder should be considered.

As the Points System is based on an individual receiving an awarded tag as opposed to allowing a group application to apply for a tag, there will always be many that will not accept the awarded tag. Points should be forfeited for not accepting the tag prior to the newly proposed deadline date prior to the opening of the Moose hunt in each WMU. The original complaint was not ever being awarded a tag or too long in between an awarded tag.

The onus is on the individual hunter with an awarded tag to plan to hunt Moose, not the MNRF to accommodate the hunters special individual requirements unless previously applied to the MNRF prior to the opening of Moose hunting in each WMU.

There should be no third last chance draw that allows no points to be deducted if awarded a tag. All awarded tags should have points set to zero with a point awarded upon compliance to the mandatory hunter report being completed on time.

ERO 019-7813 was placed during prime Big Game hunting seasons, when hunters are away in the field on the hunt or just returning, I personally find the communication timing of this ERO disrespectful to the hunting community.