Resident Licence Fees (CDN funds - GST is included in all fees)
Resident’s licence to hunt moose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $43.00
Dog licence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.25
NOTE: It is illegal for a hunter to purchase more than one moose licence tag.
Export Permits
These permits are required to export from Ontario any part of the moose, including carcass, hide or antlers.
Resident's Export Permit issued at no charge.
Firearms
Big game, including moose, may only be hunted with a firearm (this includes bows). When hunting moose you may use or carry only a firearm of the type (rifle, shotgun, archery or muzzle-loader) permitted for hunting moose at that time in that WMU. For example, when hunting moose during an archery only season, you may use or carry only archery equipment. You may not carry a rifle or shotgun for hunting other game species. However, when hunting moose during a rifle/shotgun season you may also carry a rifle or shotgun for small game (in addition to your firearm that meets the specifications to hunt moose) because it is the same type of firearm.
The following cannot be used for hunting moose:
- A rim-fire rifle
- A shotgun smaller than 20 gauge when loaded with shot
- Any shotgun loaded with shot smaller than SG or No. 1 buck.
When archery hunting for moose you must not possess or use archery equipment other than the following:
Crossbows:
- Draw length must be at least 300 mm (11.8 in.).
- Draw weight must be at least 54 kg (119 lbs.).
- Bolt head must be at least 22 mm (0.87 in.) at the widest point.
- There must be at least two cutting edges of straight, sharp, unserrated, barbless steel.
Bows (compound, recurve, long):
- Draw weight must be at least 22 kg (48.5 lbs.) at draw length of 700 mm (27.6 in.) or less.
- Arrow length must be at least 600 mm (23.6 in.).
- Arrow head must be at least 22 mm (0.87 in.) at the widest point.
- There must be at least two cutting edges of straight, sharp, unserrated, barbless steel.
NOTE: It is illegal to hunt moose while they are swimming.
Party Hunting for Moose
The term "party hunting for moose" means two or more persons hunting during an open season for moose under all of the following conditions:
- Each person has a valid licence to hunt moose.
- The total number of moose killed by the party does not exceed the total number of game seals held by the members of the party licensed to hunt moose.
- The total number of moose of a specified sex or age killed by the party does not exceed the total number of game seals validated for that sex or age that are held by members of the party.
- All members of the party hunt together in the same wildlife management unit or portion thereof as the person who holds the game seal that is valid for the moose being hunted.
- Each member of the party hunts within five kilometers of the person who holds the game seal that is valid for the moose being hunted.
- Each member of the party must be able to reliably and immediately communicate with other members of the party.
- All members of the party, including the person who holds the seal that is valid for the moose that the party is hunting, actively participate in the hunt and hunt co-operatively.
The person who kills the moose while hunting in a party shall immediately notify all other members of the party the moose has been killed.
A person may hunt in a party even if the person has previously attached his or her game seal to a moose.
Sealing and Transporting Moose
The moose validation tag, in the case of resident hunters, must be affixed to the recipient’s game seal before hunting begins.
If hunting moose alone: When a moose has been killed, the licence holder who shot the moose must, immediately after the kill and at the kill site, securely attach the game seal to the animal in the manner described on the seal. You must notch out the month, date and time of kill on the game seal.
If party hunting for moose: When a moose has been killed, the shooter or a member who is hunting in the party, whose licence has been validated for the type of moose (bull, cow, or in WMUs 48, 55A, 55B and 57, bull, cow, or calf) that was killed, must immediately after the kill and at the kill site, securely attach the game seal to the animal in the manner described on the seal. You must notch out the month, date and time of kill on the game seal.
Only the hunter whose game seal is to be used is allowed to attach the game seal to the moose. It is illegal to transfer a game seal in order to seal a moose.
For a bull or cow moose: Attach the game seal to the tendon of one of the hind legs to which the scrotal sac or vulva (as shown on the seal) is attached by the connective tissue. The game seal and proof of sex must remain attached to the animal while it is being transported.
For a calf moose: Attach the game seal to the complete lower jaw. The game seal and jaw must accompany the animal while it is being transported. For calves taken in most Wildlife Management Units the lower jaw may be removed from the head as long as it is kept whole (i.e., the two sides of the jaw must not be separated). In Wildlife Management Units 48, 55A, 55B and 57 hunters are asked to keep the carcass intact (i.e., do not remove the jaw or head from the carcass) until the calf has been registered at an authorized check station.
If you are transporting part of a moose, you must know, and be prepared to state:
- The name of the hunter who sealed the animal.
- The hunting licence and validation tag number under which the animal was claimed.
- The WMU in which it was taken if requested to do so by a Conservation Officer.
Export and Shipping
Residents and non-residents must have an Ontario export permit to export moose or any part of a moose from Ontario. You may obtain an export permit from some ServiceOntario offices as well as from specific outside issuers (contact the local MNR office for details). You should obtain the export permit before reaching a border point to avoid any inconvenience.
A resident may temporarily transport a moose out of Ontario without an export permit if the resident is on the way to a location in Ontario and does not leave any part of the moose outside Ontario.
Export permits have sub-permits attached to them for exporting a part or parts of the animal for which an export permit has been issued. You may use up to three sub-permits for this purpose. Receptacles containing game wildlife or specially protected wildlife that are being shipped or transported to points inside or outside Ontario must have the names and addresses of the sender and receiver, and a list of the contents written on the outside.
NOTE: Hunters are advised that at the time this Summary went to press, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as well as some individual states had requirements in place for the import of wild ruminant meat and trophies from Canada to the U.S. Canadian hunters who wish to travel through the U.S. to reach a Canadian destination should check for any requirements for transporting meat before finalizing their travel itinerary. For more information see the USDA website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie. Click on “Import Alerts” found in the “News and Information” section. This section provides an outline of procedures for importation of wild ruminant meat and trophies, as well as guidelines for what is not allowed for importation.
How do you define a calf, a cow, and a bull moose?
A calf is a moose that is less than one year old at the time of the hunt.
A cow is a female moose that is at least one year old at the time of the hunt.
A bull is a male moose that is at least one year old at the time of the hunt.
Moose Hunter Education
MNR, in partnership with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) has produced two manuals: Book 1 –Moose Biology, Ecology and Management, and Book 2 – Moose Hunting Techniques, Hunting Ethics and the Law. This two volume set is available from the OFAH for $13.95 (GST and shipping included). To order please call (705) 748-6324 for details.
A 90-minute video (also available as a DVD) on moose hunting has been produced for moose hunters. Moose Hunt –A Guide To Success covers such topics as equipment, tracking, calling, and field dressing. It may be purchased from the OFAH for $59.95 (taxes and shipping included). To order using a credit card, please call the OFAH at (705) 748-6324 or send a cheque payable to:
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
P.O. Box 2800
Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8L5
Ontario Moose Identification Guide for Hunters on CD-ROM
An Ontario Moose Identification Guide for Hunters is available on CD-ROM. This CD is a self-teaching presentation for use on personal computers. The Guide includes descriptions of the features used to identify the different ages and sexes of moose, as well as distinguish them from Ontario’s other big game. The Guide is followed by an interactive quiz to test the user’s knowledge of moose identification and reinforce messages about safe and lawful hunting. The CD will help both novice and experienced hunters.
English and French versions of the CD are available from selected ServiceOntario offices, or through the Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research in Thunder Bay (call 1-807-343-4000). All proceeds will be used to support Fish and Wildlife Management in Ontario.
Cadmium: The Ministry of Natural Resources recommends that people not eat the liver and kidneys of moose and deer because of the concerns about cadmium levels in these internal organs. For further information, please contact an MNR office.
A Message from Ontario’s Conservation Officers
It is illegal to abandon game or allow it to spoil. If you mistakenly shoot the wrong game, please contact your local Conservation Officer as soon as possible.
Any structures erected by hunters on Crown land are subject to the 21 day camping rule and must be removed within this time period.
Tips on how to gain access to and use of private property:
- Always ask for permission before entering private land
- Plan ahead and get permission from the landowner well in advance of your trip
- Don’t assume you have permission this year just because you had permission last year
- Ask the landowner what activities are permitted on their property
- Do not use off-road vehicles, camp, damage vegetation, construct a permanent structure (tree stands, blinds or platforms) or store personal property on their land without permission
- Ask the landowner where certain activities are allowed to avoid disturbing the landowner’s neighbours, pets or other animals such as livestock
- Ask about any other special concerns – if the landowner’s family is likely to be in the woods or fields and where the property boundaries are located
- Be sure to thank the landowner
