The Ministry of Natural Resources is currently undertaking a broad review of Ontario’s Moose Management Program. The review is intended to update current moose management policy to ensure the proper tools and processes are in place to manage Ontario’s moose populations sustainably and for the benefit of all Ontarians.

As part of the review, the Ministry will be exploring potential improvements to the resident tag draw system. The resident tag draw system is the allocation process for distributing moose tags to resident hunters and is designed to provide flexible hunting opportunities while maintaining sustainable moose populations. The demand for adult moose tags is greater than the number of available moose which leaves some resident hunters going years without receiving a tag. Preliminary comments and ideas on how to improve the resident moose tag draw system were submitted during Phase 1 of the review. This information was used to develop some potential ways to improve the draw.

Beginning in late February 2009, the Ministry will begin holding public engagement sessions to engage people across the province in discussions on possible improvements to the resident tag draw system. Input received during Phase 1 of the Moose Program Review was used to inform the development of different models and options to the current resident tag draw system, and will be used as discussion points during the sessions.

The purpose of this posting is to consult on a range of possible options for enhancements to the resident moose tag draw system as part of Phase 2 of Ontario’s Moose Program Review.

A Phase 2 information booklet has been created to solicit input on the range of possible approaches for improvements to the resident tag draw system. Comments can be submitted until April 30, 2009, either by email to moose.review@ontario.ca or by regular mail to the contact listed in this notice.

The Moose Program Review - information booklet may be downloaded at: www.ontario.ca/moosereview

Single copies of the information booklet are available at no charge from any ServiceOntario office location (http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/p/.cmd/cs/.ce/7_0_A/.s/7_0_25H/_s.7_0_A/7_0_25H/_l/en?docid=EC001067) or by mailing the address noted below.

Ministry of Natural Resources
Fish and Wildlife Branch
Attention: Moose Review
Box 7000
300 Water Street
Peterborough, Ontario
K9J 8M5
moose.review@ontario.ca

The information booklet can also be requested by contacting the Natural Resources Information Centre (weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.):

General Inquiry 1-800-667-1940
Renseignements en français 1-800-667-1840
FAX (705) 755-1677

This proposal was posted for a 65 day public review and comment period starting February 24, 2009. Comments were to be received by April 30, 2009.

All comments received during the comment period are being considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Please Note: All comments and submissions received have become part of the public record.

Twenty-six public engagement sessions are being held as part of Phase 2 of the Moose Program Review. Dates, time, and specific locations for each consultation session are posted on the Ministry’s Moose Review Website at www.ontario.ca/moosereview or available by contacting ServiceOntario outlets.

As part of Phase 1 of the Moose Program Review, a questionnaire was circulated and made available to the general public, stakeholders and aboriginal organizations asking for comments on enhancing the current moose management program. Almost 1,600 completed surveys were received in addition to the input from over 20 focussed meetings with public/stakeholders. Using this information, the Ministry of Natural Resources has revised Ontario’s 1980 Moose Management Policy (2008) and prepared provincial guidelines for setting moose population objectives and developed a range of possible moose harvest management approaches to achieve those objectives. (www.ontario.ca/environmentalregistry and search Environmental Registry number 010-5396).

Attention: Moose Review
Moose Program Review Coordinator
Ministry of Natural Resources
Natural Resource Management Division
Fish and Wildlife Branch
Wildlife Section
300 Water Street
P.O. Box 7000
Peterborough Ontario
K9J 8M5
Phone: (800) 667-1940