Points-based moose tag allocation process

Overview

Moose tags are allocated to resident hunters through a points-based allocation process.

All hunters apply as individuals. There are no group applications.

To party hunt with a tag holder, you must purchase a moose licence before your hunt.

You will accumulate 1 point in each year you apply to any allocation stage. You cannot accumulate more than 1 point per year. If your points are reset to zero, you will not gain a point.

Learn if you are eligible to apply and find step-by-step instructions on how to apply to hunt moose.

Changes in 2027 will reduce the number of tags going unclaimed each year, maintain fairness, help prevent point requirements from increasing over time and provide results earlier.

Allocation process timeline

Primary allocation

In the primary allocation:

• all 3 choices award tags based on points
• if you claim (purchase) a tag you’ve been awarded on any choice, your points will reset to zero
• you can apply to WMU “99Z” with your first choice to gain a point instead of applying for a tag
• you will retain your points and gain a point if you are not awarded a tag, or if you are awarded a tag that you do not claim

Second chance allocation

In the second chance allocation:

• choice 1 tags are awarded based on points
• hunters that are awarded a tag on their first choice, will have their points reset to zero, even if they do not claim the tag
• choice 2 and 3 tags are awarded by random draw
• if your choice 2 and 3 are awarded or you claim a tag, you will keep your points and gain a point
• you can apply to WMU “99Z” with your first choice to ensure you keep your points and gain a point
• if you apply to WMU “99Z”, you can still apply for a tag with your choice 2 and 3 that will not reset your points to zero

Last chance allocation

In the last chance allocation:

• any tags that remain unclaimed or unawarded after the second chance allocation will be made available for purchase through the last chance allocation
• most available tags will be low-demand tag types because most tags that hunters were willing to use their points for will have been awarded and claimed in the primary allocation or on first choices in the second chance allocation
• in the days before the last chance allocation begins, you can check which tags remain available at moose tag quotas or by phone: 1-800-288-1155
• tags will be sold online-only, on a first-come, first-served basis
• tags can only be purchased online and will not be available for purchase by phone or in-person
• purchasing a tag in the last chance allocation will not reset your points to zero and you will gain a point
• purchasing a tag will require having paid or paying for the application fee and a moose licence
• if you did not apply to the primary or second chance allocations, you can still pay the application fee during the last chance allocation to gain a point, even if you do not purchase a tag
• you can only gain one point per year
• the last chance allocation will end before any moose seasons open

Example allocation results

Example of first choice in primary allocation stage

This is an example of possible results from step 1 (first choices) in the primary allocation stage.

The table above provides an example of possible results from step 1 (first choices) in the primary allocation of the tag allocation process.

• The example shows first-choice applicants for a particular tag type with a quota of 30 tags.
• Among applicants entering this tag type as their first choice, 16 was the highest number of points. There were 6 first-choice applicants with 16 points.
• There were enough tags remaining to award first-choice applicants with the most points a tag in descending order until reaching applicants with 13 points.
• A random draw would have been required to allocate the 2 remaining tags among the 25 applicants with 13 points.
• No tags remained available to be allocated to any first choice, primary allocation applicant with fewer than 13 points or to any second or third-choice applicants in the primary allocation.
• If any of the 30 awarded tags were not claimed, they could be applied for in the second chance allocation.

Example of first choice in second chance allocation stage

This is an example of possible results based on first choice in the second chance allocation.

The table above provides an example of possible results from step 1 (first choices) from the second chance allocation of the tag allocation process. In this example:

• There were 43 tags of a particular tag type remaining available after the primary allocation. This example is not related to the example provided in the table above for the primary allocation.
• Among applicants entering this tag type as their first choice, 4 points was the highest number of points. There were 2 first-choice applicants with 4 points.
• There were 17 tags remaining available to be allocated to second-choice applicants, shown in the final example below.

Example of second choice in second chance allocation stage

Example of possible results based on second choice in the second chance allocation

The table above shows possible results of step 2 (second choices) for the second allocation where tags are awarded by random draw. This table shows:

• 17 tags remaining after all first-choice applicants were awarded a tag (in the table above)
• applicants' points are not applicable when awarding tags randomly among second- or third-choice applicants
• no tags remain available to be allocated to third-choice applicants

Your draw history and points

Your points from the past moose tag draw

Your current points may reflect points you gained based on your draw history from 1993 through 2020.

You will have gained one point for each year you applied for the moose draw since last receiving an adult tag, or since you began applying if you have never received an adult tag. This is the case whether you received the adult tag directly through the draw or by tag transfer.

Having made a tag transfer or having received a calf tag or a surplus tag will not have reset your points.

You will have gained a point in any year you applied to the WMU "99Z" because you did not want a tag and wanted to be in pool 1 the following year.

Draw histories are based on carefully checked computerized records that are very accurate. If you would like us to review a particular year in your moose draw history, you can complete the request for review of moose draw history form and provide the required supporting documentation.

Your points under the tag allocation process

Under the points-based allocation process from 2021 to 2026, a hunter accumulated a single point in any year they applied to one or both of the primary and second chance allocation stages and they did not claim a tag in the primary allocation or on their first choice in the second chance allocation.

As of 2027, a hunter will accumulate a single point in any year they apply to any allocation stage, unless they claim a tag in the primary allocation or are awarded a tag on their first choice in the second chance allocation.

Changes to your points will not be made immediately. Points are updated around mid-January the following year.

What to consider when you apply

You should plan ahead and consider how you and other members of your moose hunting party will apply in the current year and beyond.

Obtaining a moose tag through a tourist outfitter will not affect your points. You cannot be issued more than one moose tag per year.

Learn more about hunting moose with a tourist outfitter.

Minimum points required

We do not determine the number of points you need to be awarded each tag type, or whether any tags will remain after first-choice applications are considered. This is determined by how many hunters choose each tag type relative to the quota and their points.

Even if you have the minimum points needed for a tag last year, there is no guarantee that you will be awarded a tag this year because the minimum points required may be different this year. We provide last year’s minimum points required for each tag type to help you understand when you may have enough points for your preferred tag type and to help you apply strategically.

You can find the minimum points required for each tag type in the primary and second chance allocation stages in the summary dataset online soon after results are available. Last year’s results are available in each year in the Hunting Regulations Summary.

Tie breaking random draws

If there are more applicants with the minimum points required than there are tags remaining available, then we use a tie-breaking random draw to award the remaining tags among these applicants. This applies to most tag types.

You may have had the minimum points required for a particular tag type last year and applied for it with a choice when there were still tags available, but you may have been unsuccessful in a tie-breaking random draw so that you were not awarded that tag type.

Hunting parties

Hunting parties may get their preferred tag type most frequently by taking turns having the hunter with the most points apply for, be awarded and claim the tag whenever possible. Other party members would then build their points until they have the most points in the party and it becomes their turn to apply for the preferred tag type.

If a party only wants one of their most preferred tag type, only the hunter with the most points should apply for it. If a party wants two of the same tag type, the two hunters with the most points should apply for that tag type. Other party members may consider applying for less preferred tag types or for a point.

Parties wishing to receive at least one tag to go moose hunting may choose for one or more members with fewer points to apply with their first choice in the primary allocation for a tag type that had a similarly low minimum points required last year.

Any hunter awarded a tag on their first choice in the second chance allocation will have their points reset to zero, even if they do not claim the tag, so members of a party should only apply for the number of tags the party wants to receive. Multiple hunters should not apply for the same tag type if the group only intends to claim 1 tag.

Your first, second and third tag choices in either allocation stage

If you make multiple choices for tags within an allocation stage, they must be for unique tag types. Repeating the same tag choice within an allocation has not increased your chances of being awarded that tag because choices are considered in order.

If you are awarded a tag in an earlier choice, such as your first choice, then your second and third choices are not considered in that allocation stage.

If you are unsuccessful for a tag on your first choice, it means there were more first choice applicants than tags available, so no tags of that type remain to be awarded as anyone’s second or third choice. Similarly, if you are unsuccessful on your second choice, no tags remain to be awarded as anyone’s third choice.

Hunters who wish to enter second (or third) choices should consider selecting lower demand tag types that may still be available after all first (and second) choice applicants have been awarded tags. Tag types that had a minimum points required above zero last year are likely to have all tags awarded only to first choices again.

Tag transfers

Moose tag transfers are not permitted.

In exceptional circumstances that occur after a tag has been claimed, such as injury, illness or death of the tag holder or an immediate family member or redeployment by the Canadian Armed Forces, transfer of a tag may be considered with a written request and documentation.

If necessary, contact the Natural Resources Information and Support Centre at NRISC@ontario.ca