1.) A hunter would receive a…

1.) A hunter would receive a point for each year they have applied and been unsuccessful in the draw going back to when they first started applying or the last time they received/accepted a tag (such as were successful in the draw, received a tag through a transfer or through the surplus tag allocation)

Comment: I believe that this proposed point system would not really benefit all hunters and still would not be a fair process. It may accomodate some of the hunters that have not received an adult validation tag for decades like myself but it is really unknown how long it will take to address this issue via a point system. I forsee that the time between receiving val tags could be very long. Would it be possible to start from scratch and zero all applicants irregardless of the number of years in the draw? This would occur just at the start of the new process and could allow for points to accumulate (for pool one hunters) so that they are not left out for decades again. I think we need to stick with the random draw system for the early years to keep the system fair and depending on population/harvest estimates (now with mandatory reporting) the Ministry can allocate val tags (bull/antlerless only) to groups that meet the number of points that the Ministry deems appropriate based on the biological factors/science for each WMU. The Minsitry would have the ability to modify how many points it takes to be successful in the draw based on the science. Groups only applications should be madatory and group sizes should also be set by the Ministry. Individual applicant opportunities should be elliminated completely. If a group is successful in drawing an tag than the group memeber are done hunting moose for any reamining season (s) and the group goes back to zero points and start fresh from zero the following year. Groups can collect points over time and allocation of tags/number of points is based on population estimates for the specific WMU. This would also completely elliminate the "ghost hunter's" from the draw system.

Hunting/harvest opportunity should be taking a back seat to species management at this point in Ontario. I think the remaining moose hunters have gone long enough without appropriate action and are willing to do what it takes to manage the species with hopes of seeing a population increase to a sustainable level that can support a fair allocation process.

Revenue collection and hunting opportunity always appear to trump species management and our current moose population status provincially reflects this. I know there are other issues but I think its time for the Ministry to make change for the moose population of Ontario.

I am all for the complete removal of calf only allocation/season. Any calf harvest would only occur with the allocation of an antlerless val tag allowing the harvest of a cow or calf (possibly a shed bull). Protecting the recruitment will certainly allow for population growth given the current pressures on calves (hunter harvest/predation/environmental etc...). this should open up the potantial for extra adult allocation opportunites in all management units given the science allows for it.

Archery hunting practices historically does not take as many moose as rifle hunting mainly because the rifle hunting fraternity is substantially larger and the rifle seasons are frankly way to long especially in the NW of Ontario. Time to reduce season lengths across the province for all weapon types, allocate a number of bull/antlerless tags specifically for archery only seasons within all WMU's that have a moose season thereby providing some potential additional hunting opportunity to accomodate shortened seasons and the removal of calf seasons.

I do believe that the current recommendations put forward by the BGAC is verymuch based on public input and does somewhat address the management of the species. Its time for the governement to make sound management descisions.