Moose Points are now posted

[Sam Menard]

Just to clarify the costs: $15 to apply and earn a point, $35 for the licence, $30 for a calf tag, $150 for cow/calf, and $200 for a bull tag. Tag holders who hunt in groups can ask their buddies to share the cost of the tag.

I think it’s going to take 2 years for most hunters to learn the new system and for the point requirements to stabilize. By year 3, hunters should have a good idea how many points will be required in their favourite unit.

There’s going to be sticker-shock in some units when it becomes apparent that it will take about 20+ points to get a tag. IMO, the crying isn’t over about the moose draw.

[Ahuntr300]

Yes. looks like $15 to enter the draw and another $35 =$50 (before tax?) if you want to party hunt with someone that has a tag.

Question: Can you only buy a $35 license for party hunting and not enter the draw? Although I doubt anyone would want to do that.

Agree, there is going to be a lot of crying !

[Sam Menard]

So $55 with only a chance to take a calf or $90 with 4 guys going after a bull.

Most groups are larger than that, take a gang of 8 guys. That is $400+$250 = $650/8 = $81.25 to go hunting for a bull. Also, as has been mentioned before, you used to pay $55 for 10 years or more to get a chance at a bull, so $550 with no chance to hunt one, or $150 to build up the points to go after one now.

I know the 10 years would be dependent on zone but it was more expensive to get into the draw before.

Fox, I think you are using incorrect figures. For group of 8, the basic cost to hunt = $50 ($15 app fee + $35 licence fee) + $25 bull tag ($200/8) = $75 each.

For a group of 4: $50 (app & lic) + $50 ($200 bull tag split 4 ways) = $100 each. Yes it’s more expensive; the MNR is charging what they believe the market (hunters) will pay. Their revenues have fallen over the years (compared to expenditures) so they are looking to increase revenue streams.

[smokeeter]

With this new system don't plan on going every year , even if each member of your group has a high number of points and are successful initially it'll take quite a few years to accumulate enough points for future hunts.

[trimmer21]

Me and Mrs.T blow $15/week on Lottery tickets. I have no problem blowing $15/year for a chance at a tag and gaining a point. Many hunters may need to wrap their heads around giving up organized camps in favor of portable,rapid-deployment camps to head for low point requirement tag allocation areas,buying a license at $35 and splitting the cost of an adult tag at up to $200 divided by the number of hunters in the crew. When we add the cost of supplies,fuel and in some instances,accommodation at lodges etc,Moose hunting is going to cost a lot more to go. In view of how quickly times are changing,we'l all need to get used to the fact and simply learn to suck it up.

[Fox]

Fox, I think you are using incorrect figures. For group of 8, the basic cost to hunt = $50 ($15 app fee + $35 licence fee) + $25 bull tag ($200/8) = $75 each.

For a group of 4: $50 (app & lic) + $50 ($200 bull tag split 4 ways) = $100 each. Yes it’s more expensive; the MNR is charging what they believe the market (hunters) will pay. Their revenues have fallen over the years (compared to expenditures) so they are looking to increase revenue streams.

Sorry, I just took the numbers from the last guy and it looked like it cost $250 additional for the bull tag.

It is still cheaper, people do not get a bull tag every year, it takes many years, you go in to the draw for 10 years and you are up to $550 for that one tag and your buddies are in on it after paying their $550 for that one opportunity at a bull.

The new system you are $150 for that 10 years plus $35 extra for the license plus $25 extra to pay a share of your buddies tag with 8 of you, so in 10 years you go on a bull hunt and it costs you $210.

You can though just do the whole thing solo, $150 for 10 years to build up the points, $200 for the license and tag fee for that bull, so you are going on a moose hunt for a bull solo for $350, still much cheaper than applying for 10 years of nothing.

[rick_iles]

Fox, I think you are using incorrect figures. For group of 8, the basic cost to hunt = $50 ($15 app fee + $35 licence fee) + $25 bull tag ($200/8) = $75 each.

For a group of 4: $50 (app & lic) + $50 ($200 bull tag split 4 ways) = $100 each. Yes it’s more expensive; the MNR is charging what they believe the market (hunters) will pay. Their revenues have fallen over the years (compared to expenditures) so they are looking to increase revenue streams.

I’m surprised it’s not more. They need to recover lost revenue from cutting the application costs. Lots of guys will only spend the $15.00, rather than the usual $55, to find out you didn’t get tags....

[Hawkman]

I have 8 points. My friends have 7, 4, and 3. We normally apply in WMU 60 and have never gotten a tag.

In 2020 four of us went far away - to WMU 16B - and spent more than $8,000 in total to see zero moose.
We are not rich and can't do this every year, but there are people who can do fly-in hunts regularly, so doing "money math" becomes a moot point really - IMHO - because people will pay whatever they need to pay in order to participate in what they like to do!

If the new points system helps bring back the moose population, and if it offers hunters a more fair opportunity for getting drawn for an adult moose tag in the meantime, then I for one will find the money no matter how much they ask for. I might grumble a bit but will still pay.

I remember the time when fishing in Ontario was free (yes I am THAT old!) and all of a sudden around 1985(?) they introduced a RESIDENT's Fishing Licence for a whopping $10 per year!!! There was no internet back then, but magazine and newspaper articles were aplenty on the subject, and many people complained and whined about the HUGE annual fees "just to go fishing".
Nearly four decades later the cost of sport fishing licence is at about $30/year if you count the cost of the Outdoors Card. Not bad I think, considering how much the salaries have gone up for the staff at MNRF, plus the costs of fish stocking programs, vehicles, uniforms, real estate charges, monitoring and enforcement expenses, etc.

So I believe that this new moose system fees are going to also change as we go forward. Same as the price for your deer and turkey tags which have slowly climbed up for the past few decades and will likely keep on climbing. As long as we do our part and hand over a healthy wildlife population to the next generation of outdoorsmen the fees are not really that huge a consideration.
What IS important for us at the present time is to have a FAIR chance at getting a desirable adult moose tag, and I believe that the MNRF people have done a lot of thinking before coming up with this new system. They may still have to iron out some issues in the first year or three but I remain hopeful that we finally have a better way of doing things when it comes to moose hunting in Ontario.

[outdoorlife]

I have 8 points. My friends have 7, 4, and 3. We normally apply in WMU 60 and have never gotten a tag.

last year all 4 of you had ~5% chance to draw a tag in WMU 60. Now all 4 of you have a 0% chance to draw a tag in area 60 for 10-20 years.

/not pro-con new or old system. Just want folks to fully understand what they’re advocating. Under The new system, I think anyone with less than probably 15-20 points is going to want to look at being WMU mobile/flexible.

[Sam Menard]

My nephew is a pilot for an outfitter in NWO. Because the border was closed last fall, the outfitter offered discounts on hunts. Folks might want to look into this further, might be a one-in-lifetime opportunity.