Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship also put a partial closure in place January 20, 2012 on moose hunting in parts of GHA 26, which stretches from Lake Winnipeg to the Manitoba-Ontario border between the Winnipeg and Wanipigow rivers. Moose populations have declined by almost 50 per cent in this part of the province since 2006. Moose hunting closure areas apply to both licensed hunting and treaty and Aboriginal rights-based hunters.

The department says it has consulted local First Nations and Métis people to find solutions and will continue to work with Aboriginal communities and stakeholders to develop long-term plans to address low moose populations across the province.

However hunting and conservation groups feel that more funding and better data is needed.