PROVINCE REINSTATES MOOSE TAGS FOR LICENSED HUNTERS IN NORTHERN GHA’S; EXCLUDES LICENSED HUNTERS FROM CROSS LAKE RESOURCE AREA
Yesterday, on the day the big game draw application window opened, the province announced substantial changes to the moose draw in northern Manitoba, particularly for GHA’s 9, 9A, 15 and 15A. Our feelings towards these changes are mixed, as this has been a complex and controversial issue over the past 8 months that has led to litigation. Here is a quick recap, before we dive into why we are still feeling concerned, but at the same time, see some reason for optimism if the government follows through on their verbal commitments to improve management.
At this time last July 2024:
- the government implemented an eleventh-hour decision to reduce moose tags in these GHA’s by 75% in response to pressure from MKO (Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakinak), a non-profit political advocacy group representing 26 First Nation communities in the North. In response, MWF applied to the Court of King’s Bench for judicial review of this decision. MWF felt the decision lacked scientific justification because it was made without adequate information (such as survey data on moose populations and information on moose harvest by First Nations) and was contrary to the principles of conservation and reconciliation. Licensed hunters were not engaged in this process or decision, unnecessarily creating divisions between us and Indigenous communities.
- Pimicikamak Okimawin (Cross Lake First Nation) then filed for an injunction to prohibit licensed hunting (i.e., to have ALL tags removed) in GHAs 9A and 10 in advance of the start of the season on September 16, 2024.
- On Aug 28, 2024, the Court denied Pimicikamak’s request for an urgent hearing of their injunction motion before the hunting season opened on September 16. This result meant that those hunters who had one of the remaining 50 tags (100 licenses) allocated, could still try to harvest a moose in those areas.
- We have still not received a decision from the Court of King’s Bench on our judicial review application.
Fast forward to this week, the Minister reached out on Tuesday April 29thto explain another set of last-minute changes to the moose draw for these northern areas. What we heard at this meeting generated mixed reviews among our team.
We will first point out what we are still concerned about:
- The province has given in to a demand from Pimicikamak Cree Nation to exclude licensed moose hunters from the Cross Lake Trapline Section, a “prohibited area” falling within Game Hunting Area (GHA)s 9A and 10. This area represents 15% of GHA 9 and 12% of GHA 10;
- Despite our repeated requests for publication of the big game survey data and analysis, these have yet to be released, making it impossible for MWF to assess to what degree these allocation decisions have been made based on sound science;
- The province made this decision without waiting for a decision from The Honourable Mr. Justice Brian T. D. Bowman of the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench in respect to the MWF’s challenge of the 75% reduction last year, and
- As was the case before last year’s reduction of tags for licensed moose hunters, MWF and the public were kept in the dark until two days before these changes were announced, despite repeated inquiries, meetings, and questions directed to the department staff and Minister.
That’s the bad news. Now, what makes this announcement and our discussions with the Minister more hopeful:
- Responding in part to MWF’s challenge to the last-minute reduction in 2024, the province has committed to reinstating 350 moose licenses (175 tags) to licensed moose hunters in GHAs 9, 9A, 15 and 15A;
- Within the new “prohibited area” within Cross Lake now closed to licensed moose hunters, Minister Bushie has committed to setting up a wildlife advisory and planning board. In our discussion with the Minister on April 29th, he spoke generally about required harvest reporting from all harvesters and about prohibiting the harvest of cows and calves. The MWF was very clear that we support these rules (which currently govern licensed hunters) and feel strongly they are essential to the sustainability of the resource for future generations.
- Lastly, the government invested an additional $1.6M into collecting survey data for multiple big game species but focused on moose in GHA 9, 9A, 15 and 15A. Although we have not seen the data from these surveys to date, we are pleased with this commitment and their work to obtain additional information on moose populations in these areas, and we are optimistic based on our discussion with the Minister that future management decisions will be based on the outcomes of these surveys.
Honestly, there are a lot of mixed feelings around this outcome. We are cognizant that past bad behaviors have been repeated. However, MWF would like to take a moment to acknowledge the potential steps taken here and the discussion we had with Minister Bushie, that are positive, and if executed, have the potential to rebuild some broken relationships with licensed hunters, one that we can only characterize as having reached an all-time low at this time last year.
We are calling on Minister Bushie to urgently organize and execute a fulsome meeting with the MWF and its core partners to have substantial discussions towards a balanced, fair, and sustainable moose vision for Manitoba.
While this announcement is not without its flaws, and we are far from a true shared management regime to managing moose in Manitoba, it is important to note that the development of strong, sustainable wildlife management plans will inevitably require compromise. A balanced approach—one rooted in mutual respect, shared responsibility, and constructive dialogue. One that can lead to outcomes that all stakeholders have a voice in shaping, a role in supporting, and ultimately, a shared commitment to upholding.
The MWF will continue to monitor developments and advocate for a truly transparent, equitable, and shared approach to big game management that includes licensed hunters and maintains access for all to public lands.
