Pikwàkanagàn members harvest moose for food not for sport. Moose is harvested and some is collected and distributed to the Elders of the community as moose meat is a main staple of many diets here in the community. Moose are harvested in teams of six. There are rules and regulations that all harvesters must abide by for both safety and conservation of moose numbers.

Pikwàkanagàn implemented a Harvest Management Plan for the Moose and Deer Hunt in and around Algonquin Provincial Park. As always, Conservation and Safety remains the highest priority. All Pikwàkanagàn members must carry their Status Card at all times and must stop for Pikwàkanagàn Monitors both entering and exiting Algonquin Park. This measure will ensure each Camp can be contacted in case of an Emergency.

The sustainable harvest number for adult moose was provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). Pikwàkanagàn continues to manage their own harvest this year co-operatively with MNR. While Pikwàkanagàn chooses to manage their own harvest, they have always made agreements to jointly work together with MNR to discern the total harvest numbers. This includes participating in aerial park surveys to ascertain sustainable numbers for the herd.

Tagging System
A draw is held for distribution of the adult bull moose tags and the adult cow moose tags. All moose tags provided under the Algonquin Moose Harvest Management Plan, are to comply with the management plan. All tags issued are for the intent of the management plan and nothing else.

2004/2005 Harvest
This season 582 members (in teams of 6) applied for a total of 52 adult moose tags issued for both inside and outside Algonquin Park. The Conservation Officer for the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn Harvest Department, Dale Benoit-Zohr reports the following final harvest numbers for inside Algonquin Park. A total of 17 cows, 17 bulls, 14 calves, and 46 deer were harvested inside the park. In the same time period two cows, three bulls, three calves and 14 deer were harvested outside of Algonquin Park. These numbers were well within the sustainable limits.

In total 39 adult moose were harvested. A total of 135 calf tags were issued with limits set at 20 calves inside the park and 20 outside the confines of Algonquin Park. Seventeen calves in total were harvested. Deer harvest numbers totalled 60 deer both inside and outside Algonquin Park.

Special Permit
A Special Permit for hunting may be granted to those with certain physical disabilities. Special permits will be authorized by Chief and Council.

Harvesting Boundaries
Harvesting is permitted within Algonquin Territory.

Season Dates
Harvesting inside Algonquin Park for moose shall begin in October of each year. Adult moose and calf harvesting will be shut down inside and outside of the park after quotas have been reached.

Monitors
Harvesters are required to register at the monitoring station upon entering Algonquin Park. All hunters who harvest a moose or deer must stop to provide details of their harvest to the Pikwàkanagàn Enforcement Officer and Pikwàkanagàn Field Monitors as they leave the park with the animal carcass. In the event that one is unable to register a harvest with the Enforcement Officer or Monitors, it is their responsibility to report the harvest within 24 hours to the Algonquin Harvest Department.

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