We have a long tradition in Ontario of hunting in "camps", which means several people remove themselves a distance from their homes and spend a period of time hunting cooperatively. Under this scenario, if one guy were to be lucky enough to score on opening morning, tag the animal and stop hunting, he would have nothing to occupy him for the remaining one to two weeks of the hunt. I guess he could sit around camp and drink for two weeks.
Based upon this reality the party hunting regime in Ontario evolved. In theory, if 10 guys were to set out in the morning, each would have a limit of 10 animals, but the group also has a limit of 10 animals in total. This works well in the "wilderness" areas of Ontario, since success is usually relatively low, so the group seldomly even approaches a 100% kill.
Now to moose hunting. The current system is designed to focus the hunt on juvenile animals (calves) with a few adult tags being issued, and preserve the party hunting traditions in the province. A moose licence is automatically good for a calf, but to be upgraded to an adult licence we must enter a draw.
Applicants for adult tags are divided into two groups. Pool 1 applicants applied for a tag last year and were unsuccessful. Pool 2 applicants either didn't apply last year or were successful. In most of the WMUs in the province pool 2 applicants have virtually no chance of success in the draw. The province allows hunters to apply in groups to increase their chances of being successful, but rather than issue a tag with all members of the group named on it (as does one of your States), they select one member of the group (usually the person who has been waiting the longest) and issues the tag to him.
Groups are in either pool 1 or pool 2 as well, but to be included in pool 1, all individuals in the group must be pool 1 applicants as well. A mixed group is put in pool 2. The MNR also does an analysis and sets a "guaranteed group size" wherever possible. If its set at 8, and 8 pool 1 applicants form a group, they are guaranteed a tag.
In our situation, our regular moose hunting group is 5 guys. Two of these guys were drawn last year and are in pool 2. Three of us were in pool 1. The three of us applied as a group, but the guaranteed group size was 5, so nothing was guaranteed this year. Luckily we were drawn and the tag was issued in my name. One guy dropped out because he was diagnosed with cancer, so the remaining 4 will be heading up.
A small side note to our situation is that cow tags are generally not sought after by bow hunters since this is the calling season, and usually cows can't be called. This means there are usually cow tags that are not applied for in archery seasons. Our group made the decision that if possible we would try to get a cow tag as well just in case lightning struck and we saw a cow up close. Because of the lack of interest in cow tags this is one of the few situations where someone in pool 2 has a chance at an adult tag. Therefore our two pool 2 guys applied for a cow in a group, and though I haven't heard yet, its highly likely we'll have a cow tag as well.
As to the possibility of overshooting, that's a far greater danger for deer hunters, but to be considered as hunting cooperatively we must be within 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the tag holder, and the use of GMRS radios greatly reduces the possibility of making a mistake. With our moose hunting group, we almost always hunt together in order to increase the chance of getting within bow range of an animal. We set the caller up in the centre with the others stationed at likely approaches.
