I think I had to pay that $15.00 application fee, then three days ago I had to buy a moose license $39.88 then I had to buy a Calf Tag $33.90 so the total would be $88.78
I think back in the old system a Moose tag was about $45.00 so I don't think their revenus are that much down?
Calfs are pretty hard to hunt as mothers are real sneaky in their movements, but hunters are pretty good at figuring out how to get them and with the lack of opportunity for adults any calf seen is dropped if they have the tags.
I'm slightly confused. Your original post states concern over the number of calf tags and the overall effect it would have on the herd. Yet you purchase a calf tag with the intent to kill a calf? Sounds counter intuitive to me. I don't care for the cow or calf hunt and therefore do not apply for them. If I get a bull tag I hunt if not I don't. Everyone is free to legally harvest what they are allowed to but to complain about the number of tags and then go buy one anyway doesn't really make much sense. IMO
I think I had to pay that $15.00 application fee, then three days ago I had to buy a moose license $39.88 then I had to buy a Calf Tag $33.90 so the total would be $88.78
I think back in the old system a Moose tag was about $45.00 so I don't think their revenus are that much down?
Calfs are pretty hard to hunt as mothers are real sneaky in their movements, but hunters are pretty good at figuring out how to get them and with the lack of opportunity for adults any calf seen is dropped if they have the tags.
Yeah,but,think of the thousands and thousands of hunters who are NOT getting adult tags. For many,even if they get a calf tag,they aren't claiming them because,believe it or not,most camps won't bother to go for "just a calf tag". It's simply no longer worth the effort. Now,figure in the $88 they save (with an adult tag much higher) and do the math. Then,figure in the socio-economic cost in tourism dollars in fuel,groceries,outfitters,lodge accomodations,cottage rentals and add it all together. The numbers are staggering.
How come there's a handicap parking space in front of the liquor store?
Yeah,but,think of the thousands and thousands of hunters who are NOT getting adult tags. For many,even if they get a calf tag,they aren't claiming them because,believe it or not,most camps won't bother to go for "just a calf tag". It's simply no longer worth the effort. Now,figure in the $88 they save (with an adult tag much higher) and do the math. Then,figure in the socio-economic cost in tourism dollars in fuel,groceries,outfitters,lodge accomodations,cottage rentals and add it all together. The numbers are staggering.
While that may be true where hunters need to make a day long trip to get to northern WMUs, the MNRF found out differently in southern WMUs 48 and 55B for example. A lot of the hunters in these WMU are simply hunting out of their deer camps which are usually within one or two hours of home. The MNRF found that these guys will go even if they have a calf tag, will use all available calf tags, and most importantly, when no adult tags are available for a long time, will become very efficient at hunting calves.
As far as economic benefits - a lot of what you listed applies to a lesser degree to these hunters/camps - they aren't making the investment that guys making a longer trip north to hunt moose are.
While that may be true where hunters need to make a day long trip to get to northern WMUs, the MNRF found out differently in southern WMUs 48 and 55B for example. A lot of the hunters in these WMU are simply hunting out of their deer camps which are usually within one or two hours of home. The MNRF found that these guys will go even if they have a calf tag, will use all available calf tags, and most importantly, when no adult tags are available for a long time, will become very efficient at hunting calves.
As far as economic benefits - a lot of what you listed applies to a lesser degree to these hunters/camps - they aren't making the investment that guys making a longer trip north to hunt moose are.
That might be why calf recruitment is exceedingly low in the southern WMU's when predation plus over hunting of breeding stock is factored in,too. The entire system is all cattywumpus. It needs to change.....more.
How come there's a handicap parking space in front of the liquor store?
That might be why calf recruitment is exceedingly low in the southern WMU's when predation plus over hunting of breeding stock is factored in,too. The entire system is all cattywumpus. It needs to change.....more.
Except that they have had calf tags being draw-only for a decade or more now in these WMUs and no recovery.
So it's either native harvest or bears causing the problem - and from the number of calfless cows around, it would appear to be bears.
Related to the calfless cows - MNRF has known this for 25+ years now. That was the reason they cut back the bull tags greatly in 48 and 55B. Some genius determined that the calfless cows were the result of too few bulls - which was a pretty bizarre conclusion to draw. But when you're not allowed to pick the two most logical conclusions - what are you left with.
I'm slightly confused. Your original post states concern over the number of calf tags and the overall effect it would have on the herd. Yet you purchase a calf tag with the intent to kill a calf? Sounds counter intuitive to me. I don't care for the cow or calf hunt and therefore do not apply for them. If I get a bull tag I hunt if not I don't. Everyone is free to legally harvest what they are allowed to but to complain about the number of tags and then go buy one anyway doesn't really make much sense. IMO
Well it might make more sense if I explained it to you and what I knew when I applied. I was hoping that after this whole review and new system the MNR would have figured out taking to many calfs is a bad idea for the continued survival of these animals. When I applied it was more for fun, as adult tags in my area almost none existent. But I was told that I would loose no points if I drew a calf in the second draw
and I had not looked at that chart prior to applying to see the high numbers of calf tags being available. So my opinion is still the same the overall number of calf tags is to high. Now I need some sort of tag to legally hunt and I have it, between now and the hunt I will see what I get on camera. On Tuesday for instance at 8.10am while having my coffee at the cabin I had a cow Moose come out and hang around under the meat pole, she did not have a calf and looked more like a yearling. If I see a calf I can decide in legal season if I want to take it, I might also just pass on it. But at least now I have an option.
Last edited by Gilroy; August 10th, 2023 at 01:12 PM.
Well it might make more sense if I explained it to you and what I knew when I applied. I was hoping that after this whole review and new system the MNR would have figured out taking to many calfs is a bad idea for the continued survival of these animals. When I applied it was more for fun, as adult tags in my area almost none existent. But I was told that I would loose no points if I drew a calf in the second draw
and I had not looked at that chart prior to applying to see the high numbers of calf tags being available. So my opinion is still the same the overall number of calf tags is to high. Now I need some sort of tag to legally hunt and I have it, between now and the hunt I will see what I get on camera. On Tuesday for instance at 8.10am while having my coffee at the cabin I had a cow Moose come out and hang around under the meat pole, she did not have a calf and looked more like a yearling. If I see a calf I can decide in legal season if I want to take it, I might also just pass on it. But at least now I have an option.
A yearling for sure,Gilroy. Really nice to see. Oh,BTW,don't forget to reset your camera timer.
How come there's a handicap parking space in front of the liquor store?
If you look at the harvest numbers for calves its pretty low considering, from the old system to the a lot less calves are being shot.
Surprising how low the percentages are on cow harvest also
I myself am never going to go out of my way to shoot either but where we hunt the population is very good so if no bull down and a cow steps out she's probably going to get it
The matter of whether there are too many calf tags depends on the unit. Things to consider include: calf recruitment (how many are born and vs the adult cow population) and mortality by all causes.
I recall an aerial moose count several years ago over Unit 14. Quite a few adult moose were counted however only a small handful of calves were observed. There was concern that the herd numbers would drop off but that didn’t happen. In hindsight, there likely were calves that were not seen during the flights.
A true sportsman counts his achievements in proportion to the effort involved and the fairness of the sport. - S. Pope
Originally Posted by Gilroy
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