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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 24, 2019 |
THUNDER BAY – Ontario wants to hear from hunters on how to manage moose.
“We have heard concerns from hunters that the current approach, specifically the moose tag draw system, is not working for hunters or ensuring sustainability,” said Yakabuski. “We’re acting on those concerns and delivering on our promise to make life easier for Ontario’s hunters, while ensuring sustainable populations and continued hunting opportunities.”
Last fall, the government announced a review of moose management in Ontario, and recently, John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, announced the Big Game Management Advisory Committee (BGMAC). The committee will advise on improvements to manage moose and other big game including deer, elk and black bear.
The committee consists of members with diverse knowledge and experience in moose management and quota review, moose hunting, tourist outfitter operations, and previous experience on wildlife advisory committees. The committee is headed by John Kaplanis of Thunder Bay. Other committee members are: Bradley Greaves, Allan Hyde, Elford Wiens, Gary Couillard, Glenn Rivard, Keith Munro and Fern Duquette. The initial task of the committee will be to develop recommendations on moose management, with a focus on how quotas are developed, and how tags are allocated to hunters through the draw.
“Hunting is an important economic driver in many rural and remote communities,” according to Toby Barrett, Haldimand-Norfolk MPP. “It is important we continue to support an industry that creates jobs for many Ontarians who depend on it.”
The Committee will be hosting several listening sessions open to the public across the province. The closest to Haldimand-Norfolk is May 21, in St. Thomas. For more information, head to Ontario.ca/moose.
Interested hunters, members of the public and organizations are invited to attend one of these sessions to share their perspectives to develop a path forward. More details on the location of these listening sessions will be posted at Ontario.ca/moose.
“Over the next two years, our goal is to make moose hunting fairer, more accessible and simpler for hunters. Work is already underway to make immediate improvements to online resources so that we can better communicate with hunters,” said Yakabuski. “As the review unfolds, we will continue to listen and engage hunters and stakeholders to help us improve how tag quotas are developed and distributed.”
- Hunting is worth over $431 million in Ontario.
- Ontario’s is saving Ontario hunters approximately $1.6 million this year by freezing hunting license fees and removing service fees.
- The 2019 moose tag draw is open, and all interested hunters are encouraged to ensure they have a valid moose license to enter the draw. Results will be made available in August on the Ministry’s new Moose in Ontario webpage.
- The 2019 black bear licenses became available on March 1 and second tags became available April 15.
- Draw entry can be completed at participating ServiceOntario locations, private license issuers, online (Ontario.ca/outdoorscard) or by calling the automated telephone line (1-800-288-1155). The online and automated telephone service channels are available 24/7.
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org