Moose tag quotas and hunt codes

Find resident moose tag quotas and hunt codes you’ll need to apply to the points-based allocation process.

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Overview

A points-based tag allocation process distributes moose tags among resident hunters.

Browse the tables for 2026:

When you apply to the points-based moose tag allocation process, you will use your preferred Wildlife Management Unit (WMU), moose type and season/firearm type to determine the number of tags available and the hunt code to use.

Calf tag quotas

A calf tag is not included with a moose licence. To hunt a calf, you must either:

apply for and receive a calf tag or cow/calf tag through the allocation process
be party hunting with another hunter who holds a valid calf tag or cow/calf tag

Tag validity

Moose tags are valid only for the WMU, moose type(s) and season(s) indicated on the tag:

bull tags are valid only for harvesting a bull moose
cow/calf tags are valid for harvesting either a cow or a calf moose
calf tags are valid only for harvesting a calf moose
calf tags are valid for the full length of the moose hunting season(s) in the WMU they are issued for. For example, in both the bows-only and gun seasons, or if there is no bows only season, for the full length of the gun/every firearm season
gun tags are valid only during the gun/every firearm (rifles, shotguns, muzzle-loading guns, and bows) season
bow tags are valid only during the bows only season

Tags in far Northern Ontario

Tags in far Northern Ontario may be in low demand because there is limited to no road access. Moose hunting in WMUs 1A, 1D and 17 is by water or fly-in access only. The limited roads in WMUs 1C, 2, 16A, 16C, 18B and 25 concentrate hunters, potentially lowering hunter success.

Unclaimed tags

Over 3,000 moose tags have gone unclaimed each year since we introduced the new allocation process. Some of these unclaimed tags are high-demand tags requiring 5 or more points.

If you are awarded a tag in the second chance allocation and you do not claim it, it means other hunters miss out on the moose hunt.

Only apply for a tag if you are committed to claiming it. This will also help reduce the minimum points required for tags.

If you are not committed to claiming a tag with your first choice in the second chance allocation, apply to hunt code “999” (WMU “99Z”).

Visit the moose tag allocation process results data catalogue for a detailed dataset of allocation process results, including numbers of tags available, awarded and claimed.

2026 summary of moose aerial inventory survey results and tag quota changes

Each winter we conduct moose aerial inventory (MAI) surveys to estimate the numbers of bulls, cows and calves in a selection of WMUs. We seek to manage the total moose population in each WMU within its population objective range. We aim to survey most WMUs every 3 to 5 years. We completed an MAI survey in 17 WMUs during the 2025–2026 MAI season, including:

Northwest Region WMUs: 2, 3, 4, 13, 15A, 15B
Northeast Region WMUs: 23, 30, 35, 38, 40
Southern Region WMUs: 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63

Ontario’s moose population is within its long-term range of variation. The 2025–2026 MAI surveys indicate that some WMU populations are declining while others are stable or increasing.

Find an overview of WMU-specific moose population estimates relative to their population objective ranges.

Tag quotas

Tag quotas to hunt moose are an important tool that we use to ensure moose populations are managed sustainably. When planning provincially licensed moose harvest, we consider many factors collectively, including:

current estimated size of the moose population relative to its population objective range
mid-winter composition of the population (level of calf recruitment and bull to cow ratios)
information on moose harvest and observation rates
past and anticipated tag fill (hunter success) rates

Tag quotas are not the same as the number of moose planned to be harvested, because tag quotas are influenced by tag fill rates. Lower tag fill rates allow for a higher tag quota to achieve a given planned harvest. Cow/calf and calf tags often have much lower tag fill rates than bull tags. The lower tag fill rates of cow/calf and calf tags means that their quotas may be similar to or higher than bull tag quotas, but bull harvest is typically much higher than cow or calf harvest. The estimated total moose harvest has been about 60% bulls, 25% cows and 15% calves, in recent years. Find more hunter reporting results at Hunter reporting.

Generally, moose quotas are only updated when a new MAI survey is completed; quotas are usually held stable in the absence of a new MAI.

Tag quota changes

For 2026, provincially:

10 WMUs have increased tag quotas
7 have decreased tag quotas
52 have remained the same as 2025

Tag reductions are driven by moose population declines, increases to tag fill rates, or both in some cases. There are many factors that influence moose numbers, including:

hunter harvest
predation
habitat
parasites

It is not always clear what factors are having the greatest influence on moose numbers at a given place and time. We have initiated a large-scale, comprehensive research project to better understand the current factors affecting moose in a part of the province with significant declines. This research is expected to examine management actions that could be taken, in addition to reducing harvest, to address moose declines.

Currently, our most immediate and effective tool to manage moose populations is adjusting planned bull, cow and calf harvest numbers and ratios, resulting in changes to bull, cow/calf and calf tag quotas.

We reduce tag quotas in some areas of the province, where moose populations have declined, to help sustain and grow Ontario’s moose populations. The goal is to manage moose populations to stay within their respective WMU population objective range. When moose populations grow, in most cases we can sustainably increase tag quotas and provide more hunting opportunities. If a moose population is above its population objective range, an increase in harvest may be necessary to carefully manage a moose population to within its population objective range to ensure the population remains in balance with habitat and other species within the WMU.

We are committed to ensuring healthy moose populations and sustainable harvest management for generations to come.

Summary of 2026 MAI results and changes in total tag quotas

WMU	Previous population estimate (year)	2026 Population estimate (status relative to POR)	Population objective range (POR)	Change in total tag quota (2025 to 2026)	Harvest management goal
2	1,300 (2020)	1,580 (Above)	900–1200	+119	Increase harvest to manage the population to within POR
3	2,236 (2020)	2,393 (Within)	1900–2500	+98	Increase harvest to maintain the population within POR
4	2,218 (2020)	2,351 (Above)	1600–2200	+81	Increase harvest to manage the population to within POR
13	1,699 (2022)	2,669 (Below)	3300–4400	+125	Small increase in harvest to allow for further population growth to within POR
15A	2,874 (2020)	2,132 (Within)	1800–3100	-115	Small reduction in harvest to maintain the population within POR
15B	4,967 (2019)	3,091 (Below)	3400–4600	-1,205	Reduce harvest to support population growth to within POR
23	1,755 (2023)	1,471 (Within)	1400–2000	-53	Small reduction in harvest to maintain the population within POR
30	2,412 (2023)	2,578 (Above)	1700–2300	+80	Increase harvest to manage the population to within POR
35	2,191 (2022)	717 (Below)	1900–2500	-239	Reduce harvest to support population growth to within POR
38	2,445 (2022)	992 (Below)	2300–2800	-224	Reduce harvest to support population growth to within POR
40	2,001 (2023)	883 (Below)	1900–2800	-127	Reduce harvest to support population growth to within POR
57	242 (2022)	235 (Within)	200–500	-9	Small reduction in harvest to maintain the population within POR
58	102 (2022)	96 (Within)	50–100	+9	Small increase in harvest to maintain the population within POR
60	697 (2022)	909 (Above)	400–700	+214	Increase in harvest to manage the population to within POR
61	249 (2022)	512 (Above)	200–400	+97	Increase in harvest to manage the population to within POR
62	118 (2022)	141 (Above)	50–100	+34	Small increase in harvest to manage the population to within POR
63	210 (2022)	214 (Within)	100–450	+8	Small increase in harvest to maintain the population within POR

2026 resident moose tag quotas for the primary allocation

WMU	Bull gun tags	Cow/calf gun tags	Calf all seasons tags	Bull bow tags	Cow/calf bow tags	Total tags
1A	34	29	30	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	93
1C	256	230	192	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	678
1D	46	53	33	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	132
2	131	198	175	43	28	575
3	118	198	283	21	50	670
4	108	115	301	30	48	602
5	54	48	152	7	18	279
6	16	23	22	2	10	73
7A ^{footnote 2[2]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	1	0	0	1
7B	16	23	22	2	10	73
8	18	19	27	4	7	75
9A	16	18	30	3	7	74
9B	14	17	27	7	9	74
11A	26	18	62	5	21	132
11B	11	8	24	5	7	55
12A	31	17	53	7	15	123
12B	55	34	93	9	19	210
13	36	36	75	8	20	175
14	6	5	13	2	7	33
15A	61	56	171	16	27	331
15B	184	213	236	22	38	693
16A	161	190	158	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	509
16B	133	269	201	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	603
16C	92	192	120	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	404
17	31	106	53	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	190
18A	15	15	9	3	4	46
18B ^{footnote 2[2]}	25	32	14	2	4	77
19	139	76	134	49	36	434
21A	84	177	110	6	22	399
21B	61	45	107	13	14	240
22	17	7	31	4	5	64
23	55	38	138	22	20	273
24	56	47	133	26	21	283
25	35	51	38	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	124
26	32	37	44	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	113
27	45	37	83	5	9	179
28	69	34	249	9	19	380
29	32	19	129	30	75	285
30	92	63	204	15	16	390
31	48	25	150	7	13	243
32	32	14	66	4	9	125
33	18	7	24	1	3	53
34	9	6	16	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	31
35	14	8	45	2	5	74
36	28	16	73	4	3	124
37	21	9	37	3	2	72
38	17	8	63	4	7	99
39	60	37	261	13	24	395
40	12	6	32	2	2	54
41	64	38	242	11	15	370
42	38	25	93	7	6	169
46	24	10	48	3	5	90
47	41	24	135	5	9	214
48	20	11	82	25	36	174
49	42	25	117	8	15	207
50	21	19	82	4	4	130
53	4	4	5	1	2	16
54	12	5	25	1	2	45
55A	6	3	12	1	3	25
55B	9	5	19	5	5	43
56	8	8	17	1	3	37
57	11	5	27	7	5	55
58	3	4	17	4	4	32
59	0	0	3	0	0	3
60	93	77	280	25	14	489
61	49	40	73	14	10	186
62	11	9	42	5	3	70
63	26	15	64	3	4	112
65	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	13	33	65	111
Total	3,152	3,256	6,140	580	864	13,992

2026 Moose tag process hunt codes

WMU	Bull gun hunt codes	Cow/calf gun hunt codes	Calf all seasons hunt codes	Bull bow hunt codes	Cow/calf bow hunt codes
1A	400	401	402	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}
1C	403	404	405	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}
1D	406	407	408	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}
2	409	410	411	412	413
3	414	415	416	417	418
4	419	420	421	422	423
5	424	425	426	427	428
6	429	430	431	432	433
7A ^{footnote 2[2]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	434	435	436
7B	437	438	439	440	441
8	442	443	444	445	446
9A	447	448	449	450	451
9B	452	453	454	455	456
11A	457	458	459	460	461
11B	462	463	464	465	466
12A	467	468	469	470	471
12B	472	473	474	475	476
13	477	478	479	480	481
14	482	483	484	485	486
15A	487	488	489	490	491
15B	492	493	494	495	496
16A	497	498	499	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}
16B	500	501	502	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}
16C	503	504	505	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}
17	506	507	508	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}
18A	509	510	511	512	513
18B ^{footnote 2[2]}	514	515	516	517	518
19	519	520	521	522	523
21A	524	525	526	527	528
21B	529	530	531	532	533
22	534	535	536	537	538
23	539	540	541	542	543
24	544	545	546	547	548
25	549	550	551	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}
26	552	553	554	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}
27	555	556	557	558	559
28	560	561	562	563	564
29	565	566	567	568	569
30	570	571	572	573	574
31	575	576	577	578	579
32	580	581	582	583	584
33	585	586	587	588	589
34	590	591	592	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}
35	593	594	595	596	597
36	598	599	600	601	602
37	603	604	605	606	607
38	608	609	610	611	612
39	613	614	615	616	617
40	618	619	620	621	622
41	623	624	625	626	627
42	628	629	630	631	632
46	633	634	635	636	637
47	638	639	640	641	642
48	643	644	645	646	647
49	648	649	650	651	652
50	653	654	655	656	657
53	658	659	660	661	662
54	663	664	665	666	667
55A	668	669	670	671	672
55B	673	674	675	676	677
56	678	679	680	681	682
57	683	684	685	686	687
58	688	689	690	691	692
59	693	694	695	696	697
60	698	699	700	701	702
61	703	704	705	706	707
62	708	709	710	711	712
63	713	714	715	716	717
65	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	N/A ^{footnote 1[1]}	718	719	720

Updated: March 31, 2026

Published: March 31, 2021

Footnotes

footnote[1] Back to paragraph “N/A” indicates the WMU does not have the applicable season.
footnote[2] Back to paragraph For these WMUs, “bow tags” are for the bows and muzzle-loading guns season.