Transcript Document

Cariboo Region Moose Allocation
Ministry of Environment
Nov. 6, 2008
Overview
• Current Status of Moose in the Cariboo
– Game Management Zones
– Moose Population Estimates
– Moose Harvest Estimates
• Moose Harvest Management
– Management Objectives 2009-2011
– Moose Population Model
– Annual Allowable Harvest
• Harvest Allocation
– Harvest Allocation Policy
– Current Annual Allocation
• Next Steps
Current status of Moose in the
Cariboo
Game Management Zones (GMZ’s)
• GMZ’s are amalgamations of wildlife
management units (WMU’s) which share similar
ecological characteristics and hunter harvest
patterns
• GMZ’s provide the basic geographic area for
assessing moose populations and developing
and implementing harvest strategies
• Hunting regulations are set by WMU
• The Cariboo region is divided into 5 GMZ’s and
16 WMU’s
GMZ’s and WMU’s in the Cariboo
Name
WMU’s
Area (km2)
5A
Quesnel Highland
5-15, 5-16
10,758
5B
Cariboo
5-01, 5-02
16,535
5C
North Chilcotin
5-10, 5-12 to 5-14 32,093
5D
South Chilcotin
5-03 to 5-06
24,543
5E
Central Coast
5-07 to 5-09 & 511
32,609
GMZ
Moose Population Estimates
• Population estimates are made for each
Game Management Zone (GMZ)
• Population estimates are from Stratified
Random Block surveys (SRB),
supplemented with Composition Surveys
and Historic Harvest Data
• Survey results are extrapolated to estimate
moose numbers in each GMZ
Moose Surveys
Number of Random Stratified Block Surveys
completed by year in the Cariboo Region
Number of Surveys
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
Year
2004
2006
2008
Example: 5-13C Kluskus (2008)
• SRB Survey conducted in Jan and Feb 2008
• Survey area was 4,008 km2 divided into 293 16
km2 blocks
• 91 blocks or 31% of area surveyed by helicopter
• Stratification required 31 hours of fixed- wing
time and cost $10,421.13
• Helicopter survey time totaled 67 hours and cost
$64,667.50
• With contractor costs the total survey cost
exceeded $111,000
5-13C Kluskus Survey Results
• Observed Moose Density: 36 Moose per 100 km2
• Corrected Moose Density: 49 Moose per 100km2 up
from 37 in 1997
• Estimated Bull/Cow ratio: 35 Bulls/100 Cows
• Estimate Calf/Cow ratio: 31 Calves/100 Cows
• GMZ 5C Population Estimate:
– 30,088 km2 suitable moose habitat
– GMZ 5C estimated moose density: 0.44 moose/km2
– Total estimate = 13,193 moose
• 2,777 bulls
• 7,276 cows
• 3,140 calves
Moose Population Estimates by GMZ
Game
Management
Zone
Moose
Estimate
Bulls
Cows
Calves
5A –Quesnel
1525
448
945
132*
5B –Cariboo
6727
1410
3721
1596
5C –North
13,193
2,777
7,276
3,140
5,945
1,393
3,211
1,341
Highlands
Chilcotin
5D –South
Chilcotin
* GMZ 5A calf/cow ratio well below required ratio for population growth
Moose Population Estimates:
2004 and 2008
Game
Management
Zone
GMZ 5A
2004
2008
% Change
2,850*
1,525
- 46%
GMZ 5B
6,650
6,727
+ 1%
GMZ 5C
11,225
13,193
+ 18%
GMZ 5D
5,300
5,945
+12%
*2004 GMZ 5A pop. Est. not based on SRB surveys
Moose Harvest Estimates for R5
Cariboo Region Non-First Nations Estimated Moose
Harvest 1991-2007
Estimated Harvest
3000
Partial LEH introduced
2500
Full LEH
2000
Resident
1500
Non-Resident
1000
500
0
91 9 92 9 93 9 94 9 95 9 96 9 97 9 98 9 99 0 00 0 01 0 02 0 03 0 04 0 05 0 06 0 07
9
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Year
Moose Harvest by GMZ, 2004-08
Total Moose Harvest (resident and non-resident) by
GMZ
GMZ 5A
GMZ 5B
GMZ 5C
GMZ 5D
Harvested Moose
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
2003
2004
2005
Year
2006
2007
Moose Harvest Management
Management Objectives: 2009-11
• Manage for bull/cow ratios above 30 bulls/100
cows
• Manage for densities above 40 moose/100 km2
in MU’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14
• Manage moose numbers in conjunction with
caribou recovery efforts within MU’s 6, 10, 11, 12
& 15
• Ensure FN harvest needs are addressed
• Provide a resident hunter success rate of less
than 25 days per harvested moose
Moose Population Model
• Model forecasts the status of each GMZ
population through the allocation period
• Incorporates estimates of population size,
bull/cow and calf/cow ratios, natural mortality
rates, and historic harvests; as well as
uncertainty of all estimates.
• Allows us to assess the consequences of
different harvest levels relative to objectives,
and to examine trade-offs
• Used to calculate the Annual Allowable Harvest
(AAH)
Steps to Determine the AAH
1. Assemble biological data by GMZ and estimate
moose population size
2. Construct moose population model
3. Use model to assess consequences to moose
population health under different harvest levels.
4. Use the model to estimate the AAH that best
achieves management objectives
5. Discuss modeling results with First Nations,
resident hunters and guide-outfitters
6. Determine final AAH
Preliminary Estimates of AAH by GMZ
• GMZ 5A – Reduce AAH by 20%
– Wolf predation has reduced calf/cow ratio well
below recommended minimums for population
growth
– Maintaining current AAH has high likelihood of
reducing bull/cow ratios below 30/100
• GMZ 5B, 5C, 5D – maintain current AAH
– should maintain stable to increasing moose
populations
Harvest Allocation
Harvest Allocation Process
•
•
Harvest allocations are determined on a
regional basis by the Regional Manager
Priorities of allocation:
1.
2.
3.
4.
•
Conservation
First Nation sustenance harvest
Resident harvest
Non-resident harvest
Harvest Allocation Policy determines
harvest share between residents and
non-residents
Current Annual Allocation
(2004-2008)
• First Nations sustenance
946 moose
– Need updated FN tradition use data
• Resident hunters (LEH)
• Non-res. hunters (quotas)
• Total
1070 bulls
260 bulls
2276 moose
(total harvest is approximately 9% of population)
Request for Harvest Information
from First Nations
– Estimate of current and expected annual
harvest over next 3 years
– The proportion of harvest made up of bulls,
cows and calves
– Location of harvest by Management Unit
Next Steps
• Complete consultation
with FN and update
sustenance needs
• Update population
modeling and develop
final AAH
• Undertake allocation
between users according
to allocation policy
• Determine specific guide
outfitter quotas
• Process must be
completed by the end of
March, 2009
GMZ 5A Resident Hunter Sucess Rate 2000-2007
0.38
0.36
Success Rate
0.34
0.32
0.30
0.28
0.26
0.24
0.22
0.20
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Year
2005
2006
2007
2008
GMZ 5B Resident Hunter Success 2000-2007
0.7
Success Rate
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Year
2005
2006
2007
2008
GMZ 5C Resident Hunter Success 2000-2007
0.5
0.45
Success Rate
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Year
2005
2006
2007
2008
GMZ 5D Resident Hunter Success 2000-2007
0.5
0.45
Success Rate
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Year
2005
2006
2007
2008