Surplus Moose

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Originally Posted by SK33T3R

Jeff

I too am overly excited about goin moosin!

But I'm not running anyone down with innuendo's and accusations and quoting legalities and backing them up with assumptions.

I wish you would stop assuming that I'm illegal! I know the rules better then most!

and you better go back and get someone in your group to explain how the draw really works! Guaranteed, large group allocation, then everyone is single and if they're in a group those members are removed. and then if there's any tags still left WHEW! then it goes to pool 2. yes you can still get a tag if you're in pool 2 in the draw. usually by this time the tags are exhausted. Then they conduct the northern draw and left overs from that draw are usually the bulk of the surplus. The unit I'm in had 100 tags because no one asked for them either as a first or second choice. Some were from the northern draw for sure but there was a lot from the main draw too! If you were hoping for a surplus cow in the same unit you got the bull in - maybe you should have applied for the cow.

Sooooo? Are we good now?

Where are you guys heading to? gun or bow?

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We are fine. Like I originally said, I try not to judge, sometimes I do though. I'm sure you can also understand where I'm coming from.

The least amount of tags ever available causing some long standing traditions to be broken while fellow hunters are wasting them. Maybe where you're going (21a?) this will have little impact but chances are that others are doing the same thing where it might matter more. We have our bull so I'm not directly affected but I'm sure there will be a day with perhaps neither of us will get an adult tag and condemn guys abusing the system...

We did 13 for years but those tags are all dried up. Hit 16c last year and got our first skunk so this year we are trying something different and going to 18a for a gun bull. Last year I made over 1200 phone calls in 3 hours to get a surplus in 16c, this year they were gone in the first hour. A trend is developing that doesn't look good for anyone and every year going forward will likely get worse before it gets better.

Good luck with your hunt. I hope if you have an opportunity at a cow you take advantage of it....

Jeff

The 5 km rule and reliable communications is important with regards to moose hunting (deer and bear as well). If a group of 5 people go hunting for bull moose of which there is only 1 tag, all the hunters must be within the 5 km and have reliable communication. If not, the one's without the bull tag better not shoot a bull. It would be illegal. The reason.....there could be 2 to 5 bulls shot with only 1 tag and none of the other hunters know anything about it until they do get within communication range.

I hope you have a good hunt Skeeter but don't let the cow tags get you into possible trouble. I kinda side with Jeff on this one.

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Originally Posted by SK33T3R

No I am not incredibly dumb. No I am not poaching! I fully understand party hunting and communications and distance. BUT I did pay my $58 like the rest and I did NOT have a tag - now I do! What did I do wrong? Everyone is entitled to a tag and we all gambled the same gamble buying a tag and playing the DRAW game. Some get lucky, others manipulate the draw, others transfer and others get them in surplus. The way this entire bow hunt has been calf slashed will have every bow hunter looking over their shoulders for Mr CO. I hunt under 3 km from my partner but sometimes cell service is sketchy. Most times our 36 mile walkie talkies are sketchy. Depends on terrain, cloud cover etc. There's no way I wanted to walk out of the bush with Mr CO waiting and try to explain why at that particular spot I can't get a hold of my partner. To those who got tags - good luck - to those that did not - I feel for you all and wish everyone could go - and yes there have been many years I was on the outside looking in. But not this year. We're going to a unit that resembles a desert when it comes to moose. We got tags - so what? I think we're throwing away $9,000 for 9 guys _ so I hope I'm wrong. If it's anything like the last 2 yrs this will be my last time and I'll make tracks in some other province or state for something else. bears maybe for 3 weeks!

And lastly I will not shoot a cow. Maybe I did something good here and will protect and help a cow get through the year and maybe help return moose to their past #'s. It's not about the meat this time. I just don't want to be under the discretion of some CO and get a huge fine for illegally hunting moose because communications broke down. NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
Dumb? I think I'm looking pretty smart now. Wish me luck and next year I will wish everyone else the same luck!

Again good luck to all!

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Not really, your logic is flawed. You say you won't shoot a cow, and your radios are crap , so you shouldn't be shooting a bull either. If you have a bull down and the CO shows up, your cow tag doesn't mean squat. Without good comms, you can't hunt a bull, let alone shoot one.

There is a reason we are weighed down by so many rules, and it shows.

Congrats to all that get a surplus tag. I lucked out with a surplus cow tag. Be safe!

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Originally Posted by Birds_Eye

Congrats to all that get a surplus tag. I lucked out with a surplus cow tag. Be safe!

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Happy hunting!

All I got was endless ringing...what a farce.

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Originally Posted by redd foxx

The 5 km rule and reliable communications is important with regards to moose hunting (deer and bear as well).
I hope you have a good hunt Skeeter but don't let the cow tags get you into possible trouble. I kinda side with Jeff on this one.

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I would agree. Even without the Cow tag,Skeeter,you still aren't breaking the law because party hunting for Moose is legal. Your cow tag means nothing,unless,of course you decide to take one,however,you've already stated that you wouldn't which is understandable that you don't wish to doom a calf or two (maybe). You and your crew MUST be sure you can contact each other effectively. That,in and of itself,is an offense.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

I would agree. Even without the Cow tag,Skeeter,you still aren't breaking the law because party hunting for Moose is legal. Your cow tag means nothing,unless,of course you decide to take one,however,you've already stated that you wouldn't which is understandable that you don't wish to doom a calf or two (maybe). You and your crew MUST be sure you can contact each other effectively. That,in and of itself,is an offense.

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Sk33T3R did not apply for and get cow tags to protect them, he got more tags in order to have less pressure from other hunters as he stated in another thread...

Look at the money they saved by not having to pay overtime, now they can use that money on the Atlantic Salmon program

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Originally Posted by JeffBondar

Sk33T3R did not apply for and get cow tags to protect them, he got more tags in order to have less pressure from other hunters as he stated in another thread...

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Geesh Jeff! You just don't give up at all!

I had a meeting with my partner this morning and we decided I would bring an air horn just in case the walkie talkies have issues, we also called Bell to inquire if cell service in that area has improved. They told us last year that things were in the works to expand and improve service. We'll see. We won't know till we get there. My partner and I can hear each other calling when days are favorable - it is faint but I hear him and he really hears me because I can really blast it out there. Also he/me can jump on our ATV's and be in each others face in about 5 minutes. I know there is a 5% chance that even after all the stuff we're trying I might be (depending on the wind, barometric pressure, thunderstorm, etc) without communication for a span of 5 minutes or so.

We're trying our best here. I guess the only other thing I can do is give you my tags and I'll stay home.
How do you think that will work out.
Good luck on your groups quest for #11.
I too will be on my quest for my own #11 bull.

FOR THE RECORD! I can do whatever I want with my moose cow tag. I paid for it! IT'S MINE! ALL MINE! Shoot a cow or let her walk! starve a calf or save a calf. The decision is mine and not yours! I also have a choice to shoot a small buck, a big buck, a doe or a fawn. I also have 2 additional doe tags. So I guess I screwed every other hunter in Ontario because I got 2 additional doe tags for my WMU. Last season I got 2 does! That's all I needed. I had about 15 tags around me with guys begging for me to shoot one for them. I never did.

I try to limit my catch - not catch my limit!

Please find another horse to flog!

and of course as always - good luck this year!

I have read most of the posts here against Sk33ter and have to side with him and his decision. He is correct in how the draw has been run (right or wrong we can debate that all week). there were surplus tags both coming from the Northern draw and the fact that not all tags were allocated as there were not enough applicants. So he and his group decided that they would like some cow tags - that is fair - if they choose to use them or not once again their choice!

As for the party hunting rules - I thought in years past that you needed to possess the calf tag in order to be eligible to party hunt? Please correct me if I am wrong but I think that is where Sk33ter is coming from. He is bow hunting and did not get selected as the tag holder of the bull tags. Therefore, is he still technically allowed to be hunting? He will be in the bush during an open season without a valid tag, I can see where he would be nervous. The same thing will apply for anyone hunting the opener for rifle. I will be heading into the bush without a valid tag.

As for the communication thing, come on people we all know the rules on that. He did not say he was driving 20km from the bull tag holder just because he had a cow, if memory serves me correct he said he was within 3km. If you have spent enough time up north you know that the best walkie talkies are still crap in comparison to what they advertise and you could be sitting on your watch today talking to the tag holder and tomorrow the freakin clouds change and you can't hear him - its a fact.

Just my 2 cents....

Donnie