An aboriginal moose hunt proposed for the Cape Breton Highlands National Park is stirring up controversy.

Parks Canada says it is looking at a cull because the moose population is growing out of control, but hunters north of Cape Smokey argue that numbers are actually down, and they are going to protest the hunt.

“I used to guide people right down below here and bring five to six moose out of here every year, and this year I brought zero out of here,” says Dennis Day, a moose hunting guide in the forests near the park in his community of Cape North.

Day says moose sightings this year have been scarce, citing the harsh winter.

But according to population counts led by the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources and Parks Canada, moose numbers in the park are growing out of control.

“The last count showed there were two moose per square kilometre,” says Clifford Paul of the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources. “A healthy ecosystem requires 0.5 moose per square kilometre, so that’s four times the acceptable amount.”

Parks Canada says the moose are eating too much and the loss of vegetation is harmful to the park’s ecosystem.

“The food goes quick, but also, the food doesn’t have a chance to regenerate,” says Paul. “The trees don’t have a chance to grow.”

Parks Canada says it plans to cull the herd over a 20-square kilometre section near North Mountain.

The hunt is tentatively set to begin Nov. 9 and is limited to Mi’kmaq hunters.

However, some feel culls should be split 50-50 between the Mi’kmaq and non-aboriginal hunters and are planning a peaceful protest on Saturday.

In an emailed response, a spokesperson for Parks Canada says they have a commitment to the Mi’kmaq to remove overabundant wildlife in national parks in Nova Scotia, based on an agreement signed in 2012.

Parks Canada goes on to say there may be opportunities for local non-native hunters to take part in a larger hyper-abundant moose management plan in the coming years.

But while they are fighting for what they feel is their territory, they say they wouldn’t take part in next month’s hunt even if they were allowed.

“This year the abundance is so low we don’t want any part of it at all,” says Day. “We want it postponed.”

The hunt has yet to be finalized. Parks Canada says it is still undergoing final revision for approval.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Kyle Moore