Originally Posted by
JeffBondar
Come on guys, do some research..... Licensed Hunters account for a very small % of harvested / killed Moose. I'm not interested in finding the source but it's less then 15%.
The moose population decrease, if it does in fact exist, is firstly impacted by predators followed by environmental conditions. We are seeing a decrease in moose because of the cancelled spring bear hunt as well as the need to pay for coyote / wolf tags north of the French which used to be free. Predator numbers have increased, moose numbers have declined.
The third reason might be speculation but has to do with natives and poaching which involves killing moose 365 days a year and not recording the harvest.
Environmental conditions include the changing landscape with regards to forestry combined with a couple of cold winters as well as disease.
Us as hunters come in around 4th and as mentioned, account for a very small % of the impact on moose.
I'm not fond of the MNR and the changes that have taken place, however, if you want to make a difference, buy a bear and wolf tag when you go up north and split your time up between hunting moose and hunting predators....