Cariboo Region Moose Allocation Ministry of Environment Nov. 6, 2008.

Cariboo Region Moose Allocation

Ministry of EnvironmentNov. 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

GMZ 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 & 5-11

32,609

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

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Su

rve

ys

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

Highlands

1525 448 945 132*

5B –Cariboo 6727 1410 3721 1596

5C –North

Chilcotin

13,193 2,777 7,276 3,140

5D –South

Chilcotin

5,945 1,393 3,211 1,341

* GMZ 5A calf/cow ratio well below required ratio for population growth

Moose Population Estimates: 2004 and 2008

Game Management

Zone

2004 2008 % Change

GMZ 5A 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

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Year

Es

tim

ate

d H

arv

es

t

Resident

Non-Resident

Partial LEH introduced

Full LEH

Moose Harvest by GMZ, 2004-08Total Moose Harvest (resident and non-resident) by

GMZ

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Ha

rve

ste

d M

oo

se

GMZ 5A

GMZ 5B

GMZ 5C

GMZ 5D

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 model3. 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-outfitters6. 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. Conservation2. First Nation sustenance harvest3. Resident harvest4. 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) 1070 bulls

• Non-res. hunters (quotas) 260 bulls

• Total 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

0.20

0.22

0.24

0.26

0.28

0.30

0.32

0.34

0.36

0.38

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Su

cc

es

s R

ate

GMZ 5B Resident Hunter Success 2000-2007

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Su

cc

es

s R

ate

GMZ 5C Resident Hunter Success 2000-2007

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Su

cc

es

s R

ate

GMZ 5D Resident Hunter Success 2000-2007

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.5

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Su

cc

es

s R

ate