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We need to remember that 75% of Ontario Moose hunters aren't spring chickens anymore (average age is over 70). Moose hunter recruitment is exceedingly low. Many had (have) camps south of the French River where tags are virtually impossible to obtain. For them, traveling 12-14 hours north and camping out is no longer an option. Those northern areas are where the tag availability is the highest,although,still a mere shadow of what they were.
It’s really interesting how demographics are changing across North America and the corresponding impacting hunting. LOL I just deleted 2 paragraphs where I was going into a deeper dive into the broader subject of changing demographics but don’t want to highjack the thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
Anyway, as Trimmer has pointed out, due to poor hunter recruitment, hunters are older and there are fewer of us each year. Going forward, the availability of tags won’t be an issue (unless CWD or other disease wipes out wildlife) and there will be fewer hunters to defend hunting.
The MNRF sets the number of tags per WMU that it believes can be harvested, so the less tag argument doesn't fly. The amount of unclaimed tags per WMU in 2023 was staggering after the 2nd allocation. A lot of groups did not go hunting because they didn't draw an adult tag because a lot of hunters turned down their awarded tag, and hence that tag goes unclaimed. There is a website that shows a chart with full transparency on all WMU's for the 2023 hunt, but for some reason the MNRF does not post this link in either the electronic or Printed regs. Under the old rules all leftover tags were allocated for all hunters to purchase without being penalized(moved to Pool2). The new system is easy to fix, reduce the amount of time for the primary and secondary allocation process to take place. Make a hard deadline to claim your tag after the 2nd allocation,of, say August 1st, then release the unclaimed tags as in the past for all to claim on a first come first serve basis without loss of points. I think many hunters would be very surprised to see the the actual amount of unclaimed tags in the province, I was personally blown away. I deer hunt Area 50 and personally know a lot of moose hunters in that area, one bull tag went unclaimed in 2023, they MNRF gives less than 20 bulls there. Leaving that tag unclaimed is a joke imho WMU 50 can sustain the amount of tags that are allocated. Our group see moose every year during the deer hunt. The WMU in the northwest where we moose hunt had 18 bulls, 39 cows and 89 calf tags go unclaimed, and once again I know of 2 groups that did not go hunting because they did not draw an adult tag, once again Joke!
One last note, I do not believe a hunter should be penalized for not claiming his awarded tag as maybe another group member also received a tag and they want to preserve their points for the following season. But as earlier stated, wake up MNRF and set a hard deadline for claiming tags and then release the rest of the tags for all as in the past.
Unclaimed tags ,I get it . But thats a good way to increase the moose population.
I have not claimed 2 tags in the last 3 years, because our group already had tags .
We posted about this many times-seems MNRF has no interest fixing the issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by matt64
Hence- many hunters do not go moose hunting because OTHER hunters push them out( applying for a tag which then they do not claim)
Very fair.
I have no problem with distributing left over tags but, technically speaking, the old phone-in surplus tag method was first-come first-served but it was seriously flawed to the point that it wasn’t fair. They should come up with an online draw with the stipulation that if you’re drawn then you must buy the tag.Quote:
Originally Posted by matt64
For all we know, the MNR factors in the unclaimed tags into the allotment process. I agree that un-claimed/in-used tags can help the moose population.
Exactly. If all tags were claimed there would be a lot less available in the first place. They only want so many moose harvested as there are only so many. Success rates and unclaimed tags are factored in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam Menard
This unclaimed tag argument is just that an argument. It doesn’t make more moose and the numbers that can be harvested are
Everybody is happy the hunters got a tag they do not claim it and the Moose stay in the wilderness...
We should start hunting wolfs that would be even better for Moose population ...
Nothing wrong with the system ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by gbk