Manitoba Hunting Guide

Resident Big Game Draw And Landowner Elk Draw Program

General

The Big Game Draw program has operated in various forms since the 1970s. In 1996, the Multi-Level Draw system was implemented with five priority levels to ensure a clear, transparent program with equal opportunity for all Manitoba hunters desiring to hunt those species where demand exceeded supply. To enhance the draw system, the number of priority levels will be increased to 10 in 2012.

There are two separate Draw programs:
1. The Big Game Draw is for resident moose and elk hunting licences.
2. The Landowner Elk Draw is for resident landowners only.

Separate applications must be completed for the Landowner Elk Draw (dependent on landowner eligibility) or the Big Game Draw.

Only one application is allowed for each Draw. All applicants are provided a personal ranking in the Multi-Level Draw system and the priority rankings for the Landowner Elk and Big Game Draws are independent of each other.

The Landowner Elk Draw is completed before the Big Game Draw. Applicants who apply for both the Landowner Elk and Big Game Draws are advised that if they are successful in the Landowner Elk Draw, they will lose their opportunity to be drawn for the Big Game Draw. An applicant who has applied to the Big Game Draw with a partner who is a successful Landowner Elk Draw applicant will lose the opportunity to be drawn for the Big Game Draw.

A Draw licence is valid only in the area(s) and hunting season for which it is issued and, in the case of a Landowner Elk licence, only on land owned by the landowner.

Each pair of successful applicants (those applying on the same application) must observe party hunting regulations and must sign each other’s licence prior to beginning their hunt. Either licensee may hunt alone; however, he/she must have the game tag on his/her person.

Youth-hunting provisions have been extended to include all Draw licences. The same qualifications and privileges apply.

Draw Moose Archery and Draw Moose licence holders are not eligible to purchase a non-draw (General) Moose licence, a non-draw (General) Conservation Moose licence or a non-draw Archery Moose licence.

Hunting Season Choices

Manitoba Conservation annually establishes the hunting season choices for the Big Game and Landowner Elk Draws with criteria of Game Hunting Area, season date, bag limit (per tag), and number of licences/tags available. The number of hunting licences/tags available for draw seasons may be amended at any point should conditions warrant.

Applications must be completed by hunters either as individuals or in pairs dependent upon the hunting season choice. Licences are awarded in licence and game tag combinations as described for each hunting season choice in the application package.

Priority Levels

The 2011 Draw Program will be based on 5 priority levels, whereas the 2012 Draw Program will be based on 10 priority levels. In the Multi-Level Draw system, Level 1 is the most favourable level and Level 5 (2011 Draw Program) or Level 10 (2012 Draw Program) is the least favourable. An application with two applicants is entered into the Draw system at the least favourable priority of either applicant. First-time applicants, i.e. an applicant who has not applied for a Draw licence since 1996, will be assigned a personal ranking of priority Level 4 in the 2011 Draw Program or Level 8 in the 2012 Draw Program.

Applications are processed randomly and sequentially in the Draw system according to level and hunting season choices. All Level 1 applications are processed first.

Personal rankings will improve one level in the following year for each Draw year that an applicant is not successful in being awarded a Draw licence. Unsuccessful applicants already at Level 1 will remain at Level 1. Successful applicants awarded a licence will be assigned to Level 10 the next year.

Hunters who have applied in the Draw in 1996 or later, do not need to apply every year in order to advance their ranking for that Draw. The Multi-Level Draw system will automatically advance their ranking each year if their account is not in penalty.

Notification of Licence Award

Following completion of the Draws, a Notice of Success and an Invoice for Licence Fees will be mailed to the first person listed on each successful application.

Unsuccessful applicants will be advised by a letter mailed to the first person listed on the application.

Application Packages

Annual program information and hunting season choices are available to the public in early April by contacting Manitoba Conservation either by phone, in person, or by reviewing the information on the Manitoba Conservation website. The annual deadline for applications is the first Thursday in May. Draw results are available in mid-July. Phone inquiries will be answered after mid-July on the date specified on the application package.

Applications must be submitted on the official application forms. These are only accepted at Manitoba Conservation, Licensing Section, 66 - 200 Saulteaux Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3J 3W3, by the deadline date and time. Applications can be mailed or submitted in person.