Tourist outfitter laments loss of moose tags

On the eve of the opening of moose hunting season across the province, one tourist camp owner says the number of moose tags he can distribute was cut back this year, making it more difficult for hunters.

The owner of McKee's Camp north of Sudbury said his number of tags has been reduced from seven to one since the province put its tag lottery system in place two decades ago. The tags allow an individual or group to hunt one adult moose.

"For anybody trying to make a living … in the tourist business, it certainly hurts when the tags get reduced because there's no shortage of hunters … wanting tags," Glen Childs said.

"I have a waiting list of people that say 'if you ever get a tag available, let me know’."

Childs added he would like to see the Ministry of Natural Resources reform the lottery system to better the tag-getting odds for hopeful hunters.

The MNR reports the number of tags made available is based on the number of moose that can be "sustainably harvested."