OFAH Insider: Moose tag changes

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is moving forward with proposed changes to the points-based moose tag allocation system in 2027. These changes, announced in early July, aim to solve a problem that has plagued the system since its inception — thousands of moose tags going unclaimed while other hunters end up empty-handed.

Beginning in 2027, any hunter awarded a tag based on their first choice in the second chance allocation will forfeit their points, whether they decide to claim the tag or not. In addition, the tag claim deadline for the second-chance allocation will be moved to before the opening of moose seasons.

Changing the deadline will allow the government to implement a last-chance allocation step, where any tags that remain unawarded or unclaimed will be available to moose hunters on a first-come, first-served basis.

The number of tags available in this third seep will be communicated in advance and obtaining a tag in the last chance allocation will not impact a hunter's points. The structure of this third step has not yet been determined.

Redesigning the moose tag system

The government's goal is two-fold: to design the tag-allocation system in a way that encourages hunters to only apply for tags that they want and intend to claim (thereby keeping as many as possible for other hunters in the second-chance allocation), and to add a last-chance allocation that will ensure any high-demand tags are available to moose hunters.

"The OFAH supported advancing the tag claim deadline and the creation of a last-chance allocation, however, we feel that resetting a hunter's points for first-choice tags in the second-chance allocation is unnecessarily punitive and largely unnecessary if a last-chance allocation is implemented," OFAH Manager of Policy Mark Ryckman said. "We also lobbied for the implementation of a group-application system to ensure hunting groups aren't awarded more tags than they want."

Government data illustrates the scale of the problem:

Between 2021 and 2024 (four application years)...

• More than 8,200 hunters have each left a tag unclaimed after the second draw
• 821 hunters have each caused two tags to go unclaimed
• 155 hunters have each caused three tags to go unclaimed at the end of the season
• 15 hunters have each caused four tags to go unclaimed.

In total, more than 14,000 moose tags have gone unclaimed in these years.

Originally published in the Ontario Out of Doors 2025-2026 Hunting Annual

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