The BC moose population is way down, in all areas of the province, except the Kootenai's.
This is from the BCWF convention, as stated by the BC environmental department.
QUOTE]
Straight from the horse's mouth,
here is an interesting fact sheet released by the BC govt describing the issue and what is being done to address it.
May*11,*2012*
Ministry*of*Forests,*Lands*and*Natural*Resource*Operations
*
Moose*population*estimates*down*in*Cariboo,*Omineca*
*
Summary*
*
Over*the*past*two*winters,*Ministry*of*Forests,*Lands*and*Natural*Resource*Operations*regional*staff*have*undertaken*numerous*moose*inventory*surveys.*Results*indicate*that*certain*areas*of*the*province*are*experiencing*a*decline*in*moose*population*including*the*Cariboo,*central*Omineca*and*the*Bulkley*Valley-*Lakes*District,*and*the*Nass*Wildlife*Management*Area.*
*
The*Ministry*is*reaching*out*to*key*stakeholders,*wildlife*experts*and*First*Nations*to*assist*in*investigating*the*cause*for*the*declines.*Analysis*of*existing*data*is*underway.*As*well,*additional*inventory*work*is*being*conducted*to*determine*the*status*of*moose*in*other*areas*of*the*province.****
*
All*possibilities*for*the*decline*will*be*investigated.*Ministry*staff*have**compiled*a*list*of*potential*factors,*including;*unregulated*hunting,*increased*access,*predator*populations,*changing*environmental*conditions*(including*habitat*changes*resulting*from*the*mountain*pine*beetle*infestation*and*timber*salvaging),*and*cumulative*impacts*of*one*or*more*of*these*factors.*
*
At*present,*there*is*no*obvious*cause*for*the*declines,*although*initial*findings*show*healthy*bull*to*cow*ratios*in*most*areas,*indicating*that*these*declines*are*not*attributable*to*regulated*hunting.*Nevertheless,*moose*hunting*opportunities*within*some*areas*of*the*most*heavily*affected*Management*Units*will*be*reduced*immediately.*
*
The*decline*in*some*moose*populations*is*not*considered*to*be*an*immediate*conservation*concern.*However,*the*new*population*estimates*mean*that*the*Limited*Entry*Hunt*(LEH)*for*moose*will*be*reduced*in*certain*areas.*
*
This*backgrounder*summarizes*findings*by*region.*
*
Peace*Region*
*
Population*trend:*
•
Population*surveys*south*of*Fort*St.*John*indicate*a*small*decline*in*moose*density*since*a*2004*survey.*However*the*population*trend*is*stable*over*the*long*term,*considering*surveys*previous*to*2004.*
•
Surveys*in*the*areas*of*the*far*northeast*indicate*a*stable,*low*density*population*typical*of*that*land*area.*
•
The*population*appears*to*be*stable*in*agriculture*zones.**
*
Response:*
•
Ministry*staff*will*continue*to*monitor*the*population*and*assess*results.*No*specific*changes*to*the*harvest*management*regime*for*moose*in*the*Peace*Region*are*anticipated*as*a*result*of*the*survey.*
•
Further*surveys*are*planned*for*the*coming*year*in*select*areas*of*potential*management*concern.**
*
Omineca*Region*
*
Population*trend:*
•
Moose*densities*in*the*central*portion*of*the*region*around*Prince*George*have*declined*by*50*per*cent*since*2005,*supporting*anecdotal*observations*from*the*hunting*community*in*recent*years.**
•
Although*the*trend*is*declining,*current*moose*densities*in*the*Omineca*remain*consistent*with*healthy*populations*in*other*parts*of*North*America.*
*
Response:*
•
Guide*and*resident*hunters*have*agreed*to*work*collaboratively*in*developing*harvest*strategies*in*light*of*the*survey*results.**
•
First*Nations*will*be*invited*to*assist*in*developing*moose*management*objectives*through*involvement*in*regional*modelling*work.*
•
The*multi-stakeholder*Omineca*Wildlife*Management*Committee*will*also*meet*to*consider*moose*management*objectives*and*various*management*alternatives.*
•
The*ministry*will*invest*over*$100,000*to*fund*additional*composition*surveys,*and*develop*a*study*design*for*winter*2012/13*to*confirm*survey*results*and*establish*moose*population*monitoring*zones.*
•
Development*of*a*model*to*assess*possible*causes*of*the*declining*population*trend*is*underway,*with*further*analysis*to*be*supported*by*available*inventory*funding.*
*
Skeena*Region*–*Bulkley*Valley*Lakes*District,*2012*
*
Population*trend:*
•
The*moose*population*in*this*area*has*declined*from*2004*by*20*per*cent.**
•
There*are*no*significant*changes*in*either*bull*to*cow*or*calf*to*cow*ratios*overall,*but*there*is*a*decline*in*the*bull*to*cow*ratio*in*the*Lakes*District.**
•
The*population*is*considered*to*be*comparatively*healthy,*with*good*calf*recruitment*and*bull*to*cow*ratios,*and*the*current*annual*allowable*harvest*is*considered*sustainable.*
•
Under*current*conditions,*regional*moose*models*predict*a*stable*to*increasing*population.***
*
Response:*
•
In*2010,*the*Skeena*Allocation*Committee*(representing*guided*and*resident*hunters)*opted*to*use*a*moose*population*estimate*of*12,000*moose*for*the*area.*This*was*in*response*to*the*consensus*observation*that*the*severe*winter*of*2006/2007*had*caused*a*substantial*decline*in*the*moose*population.*
•
Because*a*potential*population*decline*was*taken*into*account*in*2010,*there*are*no*proposed*changes*to*the*AAH*for*the*2012/2013*licence*year*and*the*upcoming*allocation*period*(2012-2016)*due*to*the*results*of*this*survey.*
*
Skeena*Region*–*Nass*Wildlife*Area*(Nisga’a*Final*Agreement),*2011*
*
Population*trend:*
•
Results*from*surveys*indicate*a*70*per*cent*reduction*in*the*moose*population*from*1997*to*2011*over*the*5,000*km2*area.*
*
Response:*
•
For*2012/13,*the*very*limited*licensed*moose*hunt*has*been*closed*as*anticipated*population*recovery*has*not*been*achieved.*
•
The*province*is*collaborating*with*the*Gitanyow*First*Nation*and*Nisga’a*Lisims*Government*to*implement*a*“managed”*First*Nations*hunt*designed*to*recover*the*moose*population*in*the*Nass*Wildlife*Area.**
•
Management*actions*have*included*reductions*in*the*Total*Allowable*Harvest,*reductions*in*the*annual*Nisga’a*Allocation*as*per*the*treaty,*restriction*of*the*Nisga’a*hunting*season.**The*Nisga’a*have*adopted*a*bull-only*harvest*which*supports*moose*conservation*efforts.*
•
In*2007*significant*restrictions*to*the*licensed*hunt*through*both*guide*outfitter*quota*and*LEH*authorizations*were*imposed*to*promote*moose*recovery.*
*
Cariboo*Region*
*
Population*trend:*
•
The*moose*population*has*decreased*considerably*from*the*last*available*surveys,*ranging*from*a*17*per*cent*decline*in*the*Rose*Lake-Miocene*area*to*60*per*cent*decline*in*the*Anahim*Lake/Dean*River*area.*
•
Bull*to*cow*ratios*are*stable*and*within*regional*objectives,*suggesting*that*the*licensed*harvest*of*bull*moose*has*not*been*responsible*for*the*declines*in*population.*
•
Calf*to*cow*ratios*are*generally*acceptable,*although*below*regional*targets*in*selected*areas*(Big*Creek-Taseko).*
*
Response:*
•
Ministry*staff*have*shared*the*survey*results,*population*estimates*and*management*implications*with*the*Tsilhqot’in*National*Government.*Ministry*staff*also*plan*to*meet*with*the*Ulkatcho,*and*other*communities*of*the*Southern*Carrier*group*(Nazko,*Kluskus,*Red*Bluff).*
•
Meetings*with*guided*and*resident*hunter*sectors*are*also*being*scheduled*to*discuss*management*implications.*
•
The*allowable*annual*hunt*will*be*decreased*based*on*revised*population*estimates,*resulting*in*reductions*of*LEH*authorizations*for*resident*hunters,*and*quota*restrictions*for*guide*outfitters.**
•
The*ministry*is*seeking*the*services*of*an*independent*moose*expert*to*assess*the*influence*of*factors*responsible*for*the*moose*population*decline*in*the*Cariboo*Region.*
*
Thompson*Okanagan*Region*
*
Population*trend:*
•
Although*the*overall*moose*population*in*the*Okanagan*is*comparatively*low,*initial*survey*results*west*of*Kelowna*were*favourable,*with*recruitment*doubling*the*population*compared*to*previous*surveys.**
•
Bull*to*cow*ratios*are*fairly*low,*possibly*an*indication*of*elevated*bull*harvesting*success*given*high*resource*road*densities.*
•
Calf*to*cow*ratios*are*meeting*objectives,*but*anecdotal*evidence*suggests*there*may*be*increased*risk*of*wolf*predation.**
•
There*are*no*current*survey*results*for*the*Thompson,*as*weather*prevented*standard*surveys*from*being*carried*out*last*winter.**
•
Anecdotal*evidence*and*harvest*information*suggest*that*moose*densities*are*likely*in*decline*in*area*of*the*North*Thompson,*the*Bonaparte,*and*on*the*Nehalliston*Plateau.**
*
Response:*
•
Continue*regular*engagement*with*stakeholders*and*First*Nations.**
•
A*partnership*with*the*Secwepemc*Nation*is*underway*in*support*of*a*radio-collaring*initiative*in*the*Thompson*to*examine*moose*survival*and*habitat*use*north*of*Savona.*
•
No*changes*to*the*regulations*are*anticipated*at*this*time.*
*
Kootenay*Region*
*
Population*trend:*
•
Initial*survey*findings*indicate*a*stable*to*increasing*moose*population*in*the*West*Kootenay.**
•
Recent*survey*information*is*not*available*for*moose*population*changes*in*the*East*Kootenay.*
•
Surveys*conducted*over*the*past*three*winters*show*bull*to*cow*ratios*are*above*regional*objectives*throughout*the*region.*
*
Response:*
•
Continue*regular*engagement*with*stakeholders*and*First*Nations.*
•
Population*declines*in*three*drainages*in*both*the*West*and*East*Kootenay*over*the*last*two*decades*resulted*in*reducing*bull*hunting*opportunity,*or*closure*of*the*spike-fork*season.**One*area*has*since*recovered*and*re-opened,*and*the*remaining*two*are*still*closed,*pending*further*inventory*work.*
•
No*changes*to*the*regulations*are*anticipated*at*this*time.*
Suspiscions confirmed.
- Thread starter H4831
- Start date
Good on ya! Congrats!
I'm not a bear hunter - by choice - but that has changed this spring. I have actively gone out looking for them and am going out this afternoon too.
Back in the old country each hunter had an obligation to shoot a certain number of foxes and magpies every year. In lieu of that you could pay a fine which went to paying the game warden to go out and shoot them on your behalf.
So I am going to shoot bear this year. Two if I can.
BTW - I know there is not one single silver bullet, but this is the aspect of the problem that I can help with.
I'd consider buying and filling a bear tag but I have zero experience or knowledge in field dressing such critters or what to safely do with the meat. Also dragging a dead stinky bear back to the house would probably not go over well, lol.
Perhaps next hunting season I should look for a bear hungry hunting partner.
Perhaps next hunting season I should look for a bear hungry hunting partner.
