Are our moose dwindling? David says so

What this really means is more moose for the natives and so called Metis

Remember when they do an aerial survey it is not the whole WMU only a small section and only every three years.So if the area that they fly over has been cut the moose won't be found there.

The residents of Northern Ontario need to start speaking in a nearly unintelligible accent with strange sayings often exclaiming "Laird Tunderin'!!" And "Bye Jeeezis!" Maybe wear a Sou'wester kissing some cod, drinking Screech...If they can convince Woody1948 to stay he might be able to teach them....Worked for the moose population on the rock.

Happy Easter Everyone.

What time of year do these aerial surveys take place? This past winter with the most snow in 20 years would have limited moose movement somewhat? Could the survey counts be wrong because of factors like that?

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Originally Posted by Bizzarro

What time of year do these aerial surveys take place? This past winter with the most snow in 20 years would have limited moose movement somewhat? Could the survey counts be wrong because of factors like that?

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In my opinion, quite possibly that could be the reason. If they yarded up in heavy regen, the surveys may have missed them....... just a thought. We saw lots of moose and tons of fresh sign in our WMU last fall. Now it's one of the areas without a guaranteed group size?
You'll never convince me that the winter severity was the reason. We've hunted this area for well over 30 yrs. Way back then, winters were all severe. What we have noticed, is a dramatic increase in bears and wolves.

That's Maritimer speak. Do you have Maritimer blood?

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Originally Posted by Fishy Wishy

The residents of Northern Ontario need to start speaking in a nearly unintelligible accent with strange sayings often exclaiming "Laird Tunderin'!!" And "Bye Jeeezis!" Maybe wear a Sou'wester kissing some cod, drinking Screech...If they can convince Woody1948 to stay he might be able to teach them....Worked for the moose population on the rock.

Happy Easter Everyone.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

That's Maritimer speak. Do you have Maritimer blood?

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Nope...Northern Ontarian for 5 generations give or take.

I just figured those Newfies have a huge moose populaion....maybe we should do what they do.

Nobody can understand how they came up with this year's tag numbers...
However, after all it is a great opportunity and, besides those who already booked their fall vacation, we all should be thankful:
Now, we can openly ask the MNR how they manage our resources scientifically, which has to include

1. Not only habitat and actual population, but
2. the politically dicey topic of aboriginals
3. wolfes (incl. tag system in NOnt. and no hunt zones)
4. and last but not least the spring bear hunt !!

As sad as this change in tag allocation is, it happened at the right time.

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Originally Posted by JeffBondar

4 years ago we got 1 bull
3 years ago we got 2 bulls
2 years ago we got 2 bulls
last year we got 4 bulls and 1 cow

we hunt wmu 13. I don't know what happened over the winter but things sure were looking pretty good.

With the no bull guarantee in 13 and the high number to get a cow, we will be going elsewhere....

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With 5 moose last year it looks like you did your part in reducing the numbers quite effectively.

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Originally Posted by Wahoo

My understanding with respect to aboriginals is that hunting is an individual right. As such, there can NEVER be any kind of regulation imposed on that right. All that can happen is that the bands/Chiefs ask the status folks not to hunt, ergo; it would have to be voluntary.

As to why the sudden drastic change in 2014 allocation numbers, I'd guess that things may have been on a slight downward trend but the MNR was cautiously optimistic going forward. But then along came a very long, cold, brutal winter and it made things go from kinda bad to worst case scenario.

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Last time I hunted in 48 (2011) , the local natives were limited to 8 people to a tag. Many bands have implemented limits on big game animals.