Ontario tourism group objects to new moose hunt restrictions

Superior Morning2:57Reaction to Moose Hunting Restrictions

The decline of the moose population in Northwestern Ontario means more restrictions on hunting. And that's not sitting well with Nature and Outdoor Tourism OntarioOntario's largest tourist outfitting lobby group has concerns about changes in the moosehunt proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The executivedirector of Nature And Outdoor Tourism Ontariosays the plan to reducethe calf-moose hunt to two weeks this fall will have a direct impact on members.

Laurie Marcil said many outfitters have already sold moose hunt packages to clients who expected to hunt calves and a shortened season will cost businesses that are already struggling.

So now we have to go to giving back money, or trying to re-book, she said.

In a lot of cases, moving people just two weeks into the season is going to prevent them from getting in to these remote areas.

Marcil says most outfitters have already seen a large cut in adult moose tags, and shortening the prime hunting period will hit them hard.

That's a huge concern for us because, based on the weather and the season, that will take people right out of the hunt. We have operators that ensure that every year, they don't have any hunts after Oct. 20.

Marcil acknowledged outfitters know there are problems with the moose population in Ontario.

We do want to support an initiative that will reduce the calf harvest, she said.

But because of the way [the MNRF] is bringing it forward, it appears some of our tourist outfitters will definitely be negatively impacted."

She said the MNRF wants to be seen as a "do something" ministry.

I just don't think they gave it enough time to think it all through, Marcil continued.

We have proposed to them that, for this year, either tourism be excluded, so that we can enable those hunts and we will catch up next year, or move that calf harvest into the first two weeks.

Marcil added the tourism group is also worried about the MNRF's plan to push back the start of the gun season by a week as well.

That change is proposed for the fall of 2016.