HOW TO APPLY:
ONTARIO MOOSE DRAW
A practical guide for Ontario hunters — whether you're applying for the first time or looking to make smarter choices with your accumulated points. Learn how the draw system works, when to apply, and how to use DrawEdge to find your best WMU.
Before You Apply
You Need an Outdoors Card
Before you can apply for any Ontario big game draw, you must hold a valid Ontario Outdoors Card (OLC). The card costs $8.57 per year and serves as your hunter identification. You apply for licences and draw tags through your Outdoors Card number.
Check Your Accumulated Points
Your accumulated points determine your priority in the draw. You earn 1 point for every year you apply and do not receive a tag. New applicants start with 0 points. Check your current balance by logging in at huntandfishontario.com and viewing your profile.
Understand the Allocation Process
Ontario's moose draw is not a lottery — it's a points-based priority system run by the MNRF (Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry). Applicants with the most points are processed first. Within tied point levels, there is a random element. The system is designed to reward patience and consistent application.
How the Moose Draw Works
Ontario allocates moose tags through the Tag Allocation Process (TAP). Each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) has a set number of tags available for each tag type (Bull Gun, Cow/Calf Gun, etc.). Those tags are distributed in two stages:
Stage 1 — Primary Allocation (75% of Tags)
The majority of available tags go into the primary draw. Applicants are sorted by accumulated points from highest to lowest. Starting at the top, tags are issued until the allocation is exhausted. If your points are high enough to clear the minimum threshold for a WMU, you are virtually guaranteed a tag in the primary draw.
Stage 2 — Second Chance Allocation (25% of Tags)
The remaining tags — plus any unclaimed tags from primary — go into a second chance draw. This draw is open to applicants who did not receive a tag in the primary draw. The second chance draw is random (not points-weighted), so every unsuccessful primary applicant has an equal shot. You do not need to do anything extra to be entered.
What Are Choice 1, Choice 2, and Choice 3?
- Choice 1 is your top preference — the WMU and tag type you most want. This choice is processed with the highest priority. If you draw Choice 1, you are not considered for your other choices.
- Choice 2 is your backup if you don't draw Choice 1. It is processed as a second priority using your same point total.
- Choice 3 is a third option, processed last. Choosing three WMUs gives you more chances to draw without spending additional points.
The Points System — Year Over Year
| Outcome | Effect on Points |
|---|---|
| Did not draw | Points increase by 1 for next year's draw |
| Drew a tag (primary) | Points reset to 0 after the season |
| Drew a second chance tag | Points reset to 0 after the season |
| Did not apply | Points do not increase (no points for sitting out) |
What Is "Minimum Points"?
The minimum points value reported in historical draw data is the lowest point total that actually received a tag in a given WMU and tag type for that year. If the minimum points was 6 in WMU 38 for Bull Gun, it means every applicant with 6 or more points who chose that WMU received a tag. DrawEdge uses this data to estimate your probability.
Step-by-Step Application Process
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1
Go to huntandfishontario.com
All Ontario hunting licence and draw applications are handled at huntandfishontario.com. This is the official Government of Ontario portal — there is no third-party application process.
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2
Sign In or Create an Account
Log in using your Outdoors Card number and existing account credentials. If you don't have an online account yet, you can create one using your Outdoors Card number. New hunters will need to obtain an Outdoors Card first.
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3
Select Moose Draw Application
From your account dashboard, find the draw application section. Select "Moose Tag Allocation" (or similar wording — the portal updates annually). The application window typically opens in late winter or early spring.
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4
Choose Your WMU and Tag Type for Each Choice
Select a Wildlife Management Unit and tag type (e.g., Bull — Gun) for Choice 1. Add a Choice 2 and Choice 3 if desired. Use DrawEdge to identify which WMUs give your point total the best odds before you commit to your selections.
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5
Submit and Pay the Application Fee
Review your choices and submit. The non-refundable application fee is typically under $10. If you are successful in the draw, you will then pay for the actual moose licence and tag separately. Payment is by credit card on the portal.
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6
Wait for Results (May/June Timeframe)
Draw results are typically posted in May or June. You'll receive notification through the portal and can log in to check your status. If successful, you'll be prompted to claim and pay for your tag. There is a limited window to claim — check the deadline and don't miss it, or your tag goes to the second chance pool.
Tips for Success
Use DrawEdge Before You Apply Enter your points and tag type in the calculator. DrawEdge ranks every Ontario WMU by your probability of drawing — so you're not guessing which WMUs are realistic for your point total.
Target Less Popular WMUs Popular WMUs near Southern Ontario are heavily over-subscribed. Northern and remote WMUs often have lower minimum points requirements, giving hunters with fewer points a realistic shot. The data may surprise you.
Put Your True First Choice as Choice 1 Choice 1 gets the highest processing priority. Don't "save" your real preference for Choice 2 — put your most desired WMU first. If you draw it, you're done. If not, you still have two more chances.
Apply Every Year — Even if Odds Are Low Every year you apply without drawing adds 1 point. Skipping a year means no point gain. Even a low-probability application is worth submitting for the point accumulation alone.
Don't Overlook Second Chance If you don't draw in the primary, you're automatically entered in the second chance draw at no extra cost. Some hunters draw through second chance even with modest point totals — it's worth being in.
Watch Year-Over-Year Trends Minimum points can shift as hunter pressure changes. A WMU that required 8 points last year might require 6 this year — or 10. Historical trends matter more than a single year of data.
Key Links
- Apply for the Draw huntandfishontario.com
- Official Application Regulations ontario.ca/page/apply-hunt-big-game
- Moose Hunting Guide (Ontario) ontario.ca/page/moose-hunting
- WMU Map Finder ontario.ca/page/find-wildlife-management-unit-wmu-map
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "minimum points" mean in the draw data?
Minimum points is the lowest accumulated point total that successfully drew a tag in a
specific WMU and tag type in a given year. For example, if WMU 38 Bull Gun had a minimum
of 6 points, every applicant with 6 or more points who listed that WMU as a choice
received a tag in the primary draw. Applicants with fewer than 6 points were not
successful in primary and entered the second chance draw instead.
DrawEdge uses minimum points data from 2021–2025 to model your probability of drawing
in each WMU at your current point total.
Can I apply for more than one WMU?
Yes. The moose draw application allows you to submit up to three choices — Choice 1, Choice 2, and Choice 3. Each choice can be a different WMU and/or a different tag type. Choices are processed in order: if you draw Choice 1, you are removed from consideration for Choices 2 and 3. If you don't draw Choice 1, the system attempts to match you with Choice 2, and so on. All three choices are included in a single application submission.
When will I find out if I drew a tag?
Draw results are typically released in May or June, before the moose season begins in fall. You will be notified through the huntandfishontario.com portal. Check your account and the official Ontario hunting pages in spring for the exact release date — it varies slightly by year. Once results are posted, you'll have a limited window to claim and pay for your tag if successful.
What happens if I draw a tag but don't claim it?
If you are allocated a tag in the primary draw but do not claim it within the claim window, your tag is forfeited and returned to the pool. Unclaimed tags are redistributed through the second chance draw, where unsuccessful primary applicants have a chance to receive them. Your points will be reset regardless — so always claim your tag promptly if you draw one.
If I don't draw this year, what happens to my points?
If you apply and do not receive a tag through either the primary or second chance draw, your accumulated points increase by 1 automatically for the following year's application. You do not need to do anything to receive the point — it is credited to your Outdoors Card account. If you skip a year and do not apply, your points do not increase. Consistent annual application is the best long-term strategy for high-demand WMUs.
Is the second chance draw also points-based?
No. The second chance draw is a random draw — points do not provide priority. Every applicant who was unsuccessful in the primary draw has an equal chance of being selected, regardless of how many points they hold. This gives newer hunters with low point totals a fair shot at remaining tags. You are automatically entered into the second chance draw if you applied in the primary and were not successful.
Does it cost anything to apply for the draw?
Yes, there is a small non-refundable application fee when you submit your draw application — typically less than $10. This fee is separate from the moose licence and tag cost, which you pay only if you successfully draw a tag. Application fees are subject to change; confirm the current fee on huntandfishontario.com when you apply.
Can I apply as part of a group?
Yes, Ontario allows hunters to apply as a group (party application) for some tag types. Group applications pool the party members' accumulated points — typically using the average or highest point total, depending on the tag type. If the group draws, all members of the party are allocated tags. Check the current regulations at ontario.ca/page/apply-hunt-big-game for the specific rules around group applications, as requirements can vary by species and tag type.
Ready to check your odds?
Enter your accumulated points in DrawEdge and see every Ontario WMU ranked by your probability of drawing — using real MNRF historical data.
Calculate My Draw Odds →