Hunters question use of new priority pool system

[Corey Coles]

CORNER BROOK — While hunters are not seeing a difference in the new big game licence priority pool system, there are questions as to why the regulations have changed.

Rod Wiseman has been hunting moose for 24 years. He had his moose licence this year and hunted successfully in Area 6.

“I don’t really see any difference in it as of getting a licence and not getting a licence,” Wiseman said. “I think it is kind of convenient for the government.”

Last year there were five pools in the big game priority pool system, this year there are nine. According to the 2010-2011 Hunting and Trapping Guide, the new priority pool number system reflects the pool status more clearly.

A hunter can now maintain his or her current priority pool status for up to three years without having to submit an application, and when a hunter reapplies for the draw within three years, his or her status will advance to the next priority pool without delay, based on the priority pool of his or her last application.

Wiseman said he understood the old system just fine and to make improvements did not really seem necessary. He said it was more confusing for him.

“They’re putting everybody in an individual classification,” he said. “Whether you’re partners, or you were an individual licence, if you had a licence the previous year ... there is probably certain areas that are not going to draw in certain pools.”

Wiseman believes Area 6, the Corner Brook-Stephenville hunting area, is not supposed to draw licences from Pool 4. He said he talked to many hunters and they said they get a licence in Pool 4 every year. He also said hunters in Area 5 usually receive their licences two years in a row.

Dave LeDrew, a retired high school teacher residing in Pasadena, has a licence this year and has been hunting in Goose Arm.

“(The new system) was to give fellows who were in Pool 1 for quite a while, a better chance of getting a licence,” LeDrew said.

He says that in order for hunters to really recognize a difference, it will have to be used for a year or two.

“The big difference is in Pool 1, that’s the big difference between the new and the old,” he said. “Hunters were stranded in Pool 1 for several years and in Pool 1 you should be able to pick and choose anything anywhere.”

He said he has never been higher than Pool 3 and he always fluctuated between Pools 3, 4 and 5. He also said he is undecided if the new pool system is more effective than the old priority pools.

Charlene Johnson, minister of Environment and Conservation, said the department changed the priority pools this year because hunters found the old system confusing.

She said the old system had letters, such as A, B, C and D, while this year the system uses numbers.

She also said with the new system hunters may keep their status for up to three years without having to reapply. She said if hunters do not apply within three years they will be bumped back to Pool 8.

“(We changed it) because when people were in Pool 1, we didn’t say on their application that they were in 1A, 1B, or 1C, it seemed like they were in Pool 1 for a very long time,” the minister said. “And then we would get a lot of calls, so am I in Pool 1A, or am I in Pool 1C ... they couldn’t remember how many years they were in Pool 1.”

Johnson said if hunters do not apply after three years the department will consider the hunters inactive and they will fall to Pools 8 or 9.

“In the beginning it was a little bit iffy, but it’s been nothing but positive ... it’s really the same. I know it sounds confusing,” she said.

There have been about 28,220 moose licences issued to hunters in the province this season. Of those 3,925 were for outfitters, and 24,295 were for residents

 

(The Western Star 11/22/10)

[Edward Smith]

Topics in the News!!

1) - 597 of the over 2000 licenses announce by government are issued to residents. That means the rest have been given to outfitters. Is this solving the Moose problem? Do you think this is fair?

2) - 9 pools now! So that means in some areas you'll be waiting 9-10 years before you get a moose license? What are your thoughts?

3) - Love the new three year no application idea. But, is it necessary to have a time limit?

4) - Areas have changed. Good Changes or bad changes. you tell me.

5) - If over 2000 licences have been issued, as reported by Ms. Johnson, Where are they? The guide indicates only a change of 597 licences total! In fact, if you calculate it there is far less than that taking into account that some areas lost licences and stated no change. Have, as a I said above, they gone to outfitters? or have they not been given at all? If they have been given to outfitters why doesn't it reflect in the Guide? If the guide was made before these changes, then why is there no posting (anywhere) of where these licences where issued?

There has been quite a lot of information in the media, as well as the hunters guide. And, it is also my greatest fear that more hunters give up hunting because more stringent & confusing policies.

Some more interesting things were found when cross-referencing the 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 Hunting & Trapping guide. (to follow me see page 17 in the 09-10 hunting & Trapping guide and page 18 in the 10-11 Hunting &Trapping Guide). While comparing the past seasons quota & this years quota, I have notice that in 8 areas Residents lost a total of 71 licenses to Non-residents (these are areas stating no change in licenses by the way, and technically there isn't just a shift from residents to non-residents!) and one area where residents took 10 licenses from non-residents. Also, I discovered in two areas a total 225 licenses were lost all together and in this year's guide it stated there was no change from last year!
But, don't take my word check it out yourself! See areas #1, 2, 3, 4, 13, 16, 18, 21, 41, 42, and 45. Compare them and you tell me if I missed something!

[Jeremy Kelly]

dave ledrew was my high school history teacher, best teacher there ever was

[Allan Nippard]

The Island should be devided into 4 zones either sex licences all around. would make life a hell of a lot easier for the average hunter. the new polling system sucks. it have made an impact for area 23 and 22 in the past pool 3 would get you a 80% chance for a bull only, but this year the old 3 now 7 proved to be useless to eveybody that i`v spoke to with a pool 7 licences.