Bull/cow or calf?

[MarkD]

With the new tagging system for calf it would be interesting to know what most hunters think they will be applying for.
I am personally thinking to apply for a calf, as with my 7 points I don’t think I have any chances to get a bull tag. And we only hunt two or three of us.
But for those in big parties I think it would be a hard decision...If a party, let’s say, of 10 people would all apply for a bull they still could not get any tag and as such they all have to miss the moose season at all. On the other hand, if they all apply for a calf, then no bull tag forever… It’s kinda even more complicated and probably frustrating than it was before.
It is interesting to know what strategies people would choose.
Any insights?

[rick_iles]

We have two guys with 8 points. They will apply, one for a bull, one for cow/calf. The others will apply calf. If we luck out, we will accept only one adult tag. If the others get calf tags, the guy with the least points will accept a calf tag.... that’s what we are thinking anyway.

[MarkD]

That's seems like a wise strategy....

[Fox]

It would be really nice if people left the calves and maybe setup a bear bait or two, potentially turned it into a week long pike/walleye trip for a year or two along with the bear.

[MarkD]

It would be really nice if people left the calves and maybe setup a bear bait or two, potentially turned it into a week long pike/walleye trip for a year or two along with the bear.

I would rather call it for cow... Isn't it?

[ysyg]

We have two guys with 8 points. They will apply, one for a bull, one for cow/calf. The others will apply calf. If we luck out, we will accept only one adult tag. If the others get calf tags, the guy with the least points will accept a calf tag.... that’s what we are thinking anyway.

I couldn’t agree more. Our group is similar and that’s the plan

[Fox]

I would rather call it for cow... Isn't it?

I would rather it be bulls only and limited. I think it is stupid that we are talking about killing cows and calves in areas where the population is in trouble.

[MarkD]

Well, I think you should be aware that hunting calves is more conservationally justified than hunting any adults, including bulls.
Your position seems to be more emotional rather than rational, and more suitable for those from the veggie and animal rights side.
I think if we choose to hunt then we should take a strictly conservation approach. If someone is too emotional and feels very bad killing animals (either male or female) then hunting is not an option here.
To be honest with you it is never easy for me to kill these magnificent creatures, either it to be a moose, deer, bear or ducks. But this is food for me and the family. I once told my wife: I know that I’m killing those I love. But we were born to eat meat and I made my choice and put emotions aside. After that only ethics and conservation matter.

[Fenelon]

I'd have to agree with fox. Given the low numbers, there is absolutely zero logic in allowing any cow harvest. Some bio in policy branch needs a smack in the back of the head ! Moose are not like deer that can breed at 6 months of age, and usually have a high twinning rate on good range. Maternal cow moose do not have good calf survival rates until they are 5 or 6yrs of age. Harvest a cow and it's going to take 5-6 years for another cow to replace that breeder, and you are almost surely eliminating it's current calf from potentially being a reproductive unit in 5 years time. The most recent aerial moose data that I saw for northern and north
western wmus all had low cow/calf to bull ratios. Makes zero sense to be harvesting any cows or calves if the desire is to allow the population to increase. I'd like to see bull tags only, with tag numbers based on maintaining healthy adult bull to adult cow ratios.

[trimmer21]

Well, I think you should be aware that hunting calves is more conservationally justified than hunting any adults, including bulls.
Your position seems to be more emotional rather than rational, and more suitable for those from the veggie and animal rights side.
I think if we choose to hunt then we should take a strictly conservation approach. If someone is too emotional and feels very bad killing animals (either male or female) then hunting is not an option here.
To be honest with you it is never easy for me to kill these magnificent creatures, either it to be a moose, deer, bear or ducks. But this is food for me and the family. I once told my wife: I know that I’m killing those I love. But we were born to eat meat and I made my choice and put emotions aside. After that only ethics and conservation matter.

Please explain why you think targeting breeding stock makes sense. All we've been doing is killing next year's hunt,IMO.