Surplus moose tag problems

Moose hunters face challenges obtaining surplus tags

Why did so many Ontario moose hunters hit a wall when trying to purchase a surplus tag on Monday, August 18?
The OFAH has fielded a large volume of calls and emails from OFAH members who are very upset with the process, so we contacted the MNRF to get some answers.
Note: Surplus moose tags were available in select WMUs.
1. What caused the technical difficulties experienced by the phone line system?

The Ministry did not experience technical difficulties with their call management system on Monday evening. Our phone service provider has difficulty handling the volume of calls resulting in fast busy signals, dead air, and a variety of error messages when trying to call in. This is a reoccurring issue with the phone service provider when large call volumes are attempted in a short period of time.

2. Any indication of how the issue(s) can/will be resolved in the future?

The Ministry is exploring opportunities to improve customer service, including the delivery of moose surplus tags

3. Do you have any details on the number of individuals (or number of attempts) who tried versus who were successful?

There were approximately 87,000 attempts to the toll free line and 792 calls were handled and 543 surplus tags issued in the 3.5 hours the phone lines were open.

There is a problem with the way the program is run for surplus tags. Any people wishing a surplus tag after the main draw and northern draw must phone for 4 hours trying to get a surplus tag. They should organize the draw for surplus tags by having a person interested in a surplus tag by having them register by computer or phone before this draw . Then the surplus tags could be allocated by using a random computer draw system. This would alliviate having to sit by a phone for 4 hours and the possibility of not even getting through the phone line to get any surplus tags.

Most of the tags that are available through the surplus phone line come from the Northern Resident Draw - 5% of gun tags are set aside for residents of WMUs 1-42, but there are many WMUs where there aren't enough applicants that meet the criteria to get a Northern Resident tag. As a result, those tags go into the surplus system. A quick fix would be to run the Northern Resident Draw first (it is currently the fourth and last step in the draw process). Allocate northern tags to eligible northern residents, then any remaining tags would go into the main draw and would be available for groups and individuals in the random draw. That would essentially eliminate the first-come first-served surplus system altogether.

I doubt they will be in to much of a hurry to "look into the problem"

Almost seems it might be by design...

Get rid of the surplus all together, and you have a war on your hands, a phone system that can't keep up.... Only a few of the surplus tags go out the door, and you have less moose being taken.

They already slashed quota's in a lot of areas, this is another check to ensure not to many tags are going out.

Just my conspiracy theory thoughts :)

Nice to see a thread without arguing and blaming someone else beside mnr!!!

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This is a reoccurring issue with the phone service provider when large call volumes are attempted in a short period of time.

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There really isn't much to argue or blame, when the MNR flat out say, it's a known issue, not the first time it happened, nothing has been done about it, but we're exploring.

Surplus tags tells me the system is wonky or there wouldn't be any tags "left over",at all. If by design,the MNRF don't want too many tags going out,then simply send tags to applicants that are available in that specific area where quotas have been reduced and cut the rest off. Anything else is just a cash grab.

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Originally Posted by Bowhunter54

There is a problem with the way the program is run for surplus tags. Any people wishing a surplus tag after the main draw and northern draw must phone for 4 hours trying to get a surplus tag. They should organize the draw for surplus tags by having a person interested in a surplus tag by having them register by computer or phone before this draw . Then the surplus tags could be allocated by using a random computer draw system. This would alliviate having to sit by a phone for 4 hours and the possibility of not even getting through the phone line to get any surplus tags.

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Bravo... Well stated!

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Originally Posted by Bowhunter54

There is a problem with the way the program is run for surplus tags. Any people wishing a surplus tag after the main draw and northern draw must phone for 4 hours trying to get a surplus tag. They should organize the draw for surplus tags by having a person interested in a surplus tag by having them register by computer or phone before this draw . Then the surplus tags could be allocated by using a random computer draw system. This would alliviate having to sit by a phone for 4 hours and the possibility of not even getting through the phone line to get any surplus tags.

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If they did this they may charge another fee for this additional draw. Maybe instead of 1st & 2nd choice they should add a 3rd choice.

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Originally Posted by Bowhunter54

There is a problem with the way the program is run for surplus tags. Any people wishing a surplus tag after the main draw and northern draw must phone for 4 hours trying to get a surplus tag. They should organize the draw for surplus tags by having a person interested in a surplus tag by having them register by computer or phone before this draw . Then the surplus tags could be allocated by using a random computer draw system. This would alliviate having to sit by a phone for 4 hours and the possibility of not even getting through the phone line to get any surplus tags.

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AMIN!!!
My thoughts exactly..Only makes sense.