Ontario’s Elk Technical Advisory Committee (ETAC) has expressed disappointment with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) for what it calls vague responses to its specific suggestions on how to improve elk management practices.
The committee, which was established at the suggestion of the MNR about five years ago, exists to provide advice on how to ensure the successful restoration and management of elk in Ontario, chair Bruce Ranta.
As per its mandate, the ETAC recently offered suggestions to Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris, that, Ranta says, would be for the betterment of elk, elk hunters and harvesters, as well as others with an interest in elk and the environment.
Those suggestions included establishing a timeframe for future elk populations surveys, providing updated elk population goals, a review of how elk harvest allocations are done, refinements to local MNR District management initiatives, and how elk tags are issued.
Some suggestions, such as allowing hunters to choose whether they want to apply for a bull or cow/calf tag are relatively easy to implement too, Ranta said. The same applies to an ETAC suggestion that calls for converting some depredation permits issued to farmer’s experiencing elk-induced crop damage into tags that hunters can apply for, as well as opening elk hunting opportunities in areas outside the North Hastings hunt area, when appropriate.
According to ETAC’s June 15 press release, however, the MNR response provided few specifics, and instead was mostly a commitment to manage elk in a sustainable fashion guided by broad principles, such as following the 2010 Elk Management Plan, which ETAC believes is dated.
The ministry responded to the concerns in an emailed statement.
“The (MNR) has undertaken significant elk monitoring in recent years including aerial surveys in Bancroft-North Hastings (BNH), Nipissing-French River, and Lake Huron North Shore,” Editor/Writer Kavithaa Kandasamy stated. “However, in 2026 during an aerial survey of in Bancroft–North Hastings, heavy snow and poor weather conditions prevented full completion. The ministry has shared this with Elk Technical Advisory Committee (ETAC) and will assess the partial data collected and determine next steps. We expect to have further updates later this year.”
The ministry said its objective is to maintain healthy elk populations which provides ecological and economic benefit to the province.
“We take elk management decisions seriously and continue to engage with a wide range of groups and individuals, including the ETAC and Indigenous communities,” Kandasamy wrote. “We also conducting annual reviews on tag allocations using input from survey data, hunter reporting, and information from Indigenous communities.”
The ETAC is comprised of more than a dozen volunteers from across the province. They include ex-MNR staff, retired professors, an OFAH big game biologist, and a sitting wildlife professor. Some members possess expertise and knowledge about elk in general, while others have specific high-level expertise in elk research and management.
The group was not wholly critical, however. In the release, ETAC acknowledged and expressed gratitude for the MNR’s commitment to elk management in the province, despite some disagreement regarding MNR elk initiatives.
They were also happy to report that though last winter brought exceptionally heavy snowfalls on many areas of Ontario where elk roam, no unusual or unexpected mortalities were reported. Better still, over winter and into spring, individuals and small herds elk, were seen in several locations, including spots where they have been infrequent of late, as well as in new habitats. Additionally, reports suggested elk did not cause major agricultural issue, a situation which can be triggered by deep snow.
“More could be done and a more positive working relationship could be developed,” Ranta said. “We think this would be better for the people of the province, the elk and the hunters who pursue them.”
He also advised anyone with questions or information about elk to contact their local MNR office or Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters (OFAH) representative, which ETAC is affiliated with. Of particular interest are observations regarding herds of elk, including details of the date of the sighting, the location, as well as the number and composition of the herd (bulls, cows, calves).
ETAC stated that it intends to continue working to support the restoration and management of elk in Ontario.
