The Manitoba Court of Appeal has begun hearing arguments over the provincial government's decision in 2024 to reduce the number of resident moose draw licences in four northern hunting areas — a move that Pimicikamak Cree Nation and the Manitoba Wildlife Federation say unlawfully deprived some people of hunting opportunities.
Background of the dispute
In July 2024, the provincial government cut resident draw licences from 400 to 100 across four of Manitoba's 62 game-hunting areas. That change, announced by then-natural resources minister Jamie Moses, meant a significant reduction in the number of licences awarded to residents who applied through the moose draw.
According to legal submissions presented at the appeal, about 200 Manitoba residents who had chosen one of the four affected hunting areas as their preferred location in draw applications ultimately missed out on licences because of the reduction. That figure emerged from provincial documents disclosed during court proceedings and had not previously been made public, counsel for the Manitoba Wildlife Federation told the Court of Appeal.
Who is in court and what they want
Pimicikamak Cree Nation — a northern First Nation — and the Manitoba Wildlife Federation each filed separate challenges after the licence reduction. They argued the province's action was unlawful for different reasons and sought different remedies.
- Pimicikamak Cree Nation: challenge rooted in impacts to the community and, implicitly, to Indigenous hunting rights and access.
- Manitoba Wildlife Federation: a conservation group representing hunters; seeking court declarations addressing how the licence reduction was implemented and its fairness to applicants.
The cases were first heard in the Court of King's Bench in November 2024. Justice Brian Bowman issued a decision in October 2025 that described the province's action as "imperfect" but ultimately found it to be justified.
"imperfect" but justified
Both appellants have challenged that conclusion and asked a panel of three justices at the Court of Appeal to overturn or modify the lower court's ruling. The appeal is being heard over two days.
Numbers at issue
| Item | Before (per area) | After (per area) |
|---|---|---|
| Resident draw licences | 400 | 100 |
| Game-hunting areas affected | 4 | |
| Estimated residents who missed licences | ~200 | |
Local impacts and wider significance
The licence cut touched on practical and symbolic issues in northern communities. For many residents in First Nations and small northern towns, the moose draw is not only a recreational matter but also a source of food and a cultural practice embedded in land use and stewardship traditions. Reductions to draw licences can affect household food security and long-standing customary practices.
For hunters represented by the wildlife federation, the central concern has been transparency and fairness in how licence allocations are decided and communicated. The federation argued in court that the province's change produced winners and losers among applicants in a manner that should have been better justified.
What happens next
The Court of Appeal will consider the legal arguments laid out by both appellants and the province. The justices may uphold, vary or overturn Justice Bowman's ruling, or they could send the matter back to the lower court for further proceedings. A decision from the appeal court may clarify the limits of ministerial discretion in wildlife management and licence allocation, and could influence how future draw processes are conducted.
Until the Court of Appeal issues its ruling, the 2024 changes remain the contested policy outcome. The case underscores how natural-resources decisions made in Winnipeg can have immediate consequences hundreds of kilometres north, where hunting is tightly connected to livelihood and culture.
Why Manitobans should pay attention
- The appeal addresses access to public resources and the legal standards governments must meet when altering allocation systems.
- It highlights the intersection of provincial wildlife management with Indigenous interests and rural food security.
- A ruling from the Court of Appeal will set a precedent that could guide future licence decisions across Manitoba.
The appeal hearing continues. No new provincial policy announcements were made in court during the first day of proceedings.
Reporting for this story relied on court appearances and documents filed by the parties. Further developments and the Court of Appeal's written decision will be monitored for their implications across Manitoba's hunting communities.
