First Nation Calls a Pause on Moose Hunting Amid Growing Sustainability Concerns

On September 18, 2026, leaders of the Mathias Saskiw First Nation announced a temporary, voluntary closure of moose hunting in the community’s traditional hunting grounds. The decision, they said, comes after months of monitoring that suggests the current harvest limits are simply not keeping pace with the size of the local moose herd.

“We’ve watched the numbers dip year after year, and it just doesn’t make sense to keep taking at the same rate,” said Chief Micheal Whitecloud during a brief press conference in Winnipeg. “Our people rely on moose for food, culture, and ceremony, but if we keep pushing the herd beyond its capacity, we’ll lose that resource entirely.”

The Mathias Saskiw territory lies within Manitoba’s broader “Game Management Unit 4,” an area that has seen a noticeable decline in moose sightings over the past decade. While the provincial government sets overall harvest quotas, the First Nation’s own wildlife committee has been collecting data through community trackers, camera traps, and seasonal observations. Their findings suggest that the allowable take—roughly 120 animals per season—exceeds what the current population can sustain.

Provincial officials have responded with cautious support. “We appreciate the First Nation’s proactive stance,” said Manitoba Natural Resources Minister Laura Gordon. “Our joint stewardship model depends on communities like Mathias Saskiw sharing on‑the‑ground knowledge, and we’ll work together to reassess the quotas for the next season.”

In the meantime, hunters who had already secured permits are being asked to relinquish them voluntarily. The First Nation has set up a small fund to reimburse a portion of the costs, and it’s encouraging hunters to shift focus toward alternative subsistence activities such as trapping beaver or gathering wild berries.

The move has sparked a broader conversation about Indigenous involvement in wildlife management across Canada. Conservation groups applaud the decision, noting that locally driven, data‑based adjustments are often more effective than top‑down mandates.

“When the people who live closest to the land take the lead, the policies tend to be smarter and more culturally appropriate,” said Sarah McLeod, director of the Canadian Boreal Initiative. “It’s a reminder that sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a lived reality for many communities.”

While the halt is framed as voluntary, the First Nation warned that if provincial quotas remain unchanged, a longer‑term moratorium could become necessary. For now, the community hopes the pause will buy time for a thorough scientific review and for the herd to rebound.

Hunters, conservationists, and government officials alike will be watching the next season’s numbers closely, hoping that the collaborative approach yields a healthier moose population and a sustainable future for the tradition‑rich practice of hunting.