Are they being told to harvest Bulls only? If not, why did we lose resident "Bull only LEH" . An increase in demand by FN's will not result in more moose for everyone? Let's be honest, Who seriously thinks they will be passing up Cows and Calves close to the road in December to find a bull?? I for one don't think they will.
a couple things to add:
1. surveys did show a reduction on total population two (I think) years ago. That would mean a reduction in AAH.
2. over time, residents have harvested more moose in the bow season and in the GOS. Largely due to more hunter effort.
A reduced AAH, and hunters having more success, means that something has to be reduced to balance out. And I think the guides just took a reduction in their quota.
If surveys showed there was a reduction in population years ago why wasn't AAH changed years ago? Guides were not cut back years ago either.
I do believe surveys show success rate is down but your saying more have been harvested in Open Season and Bow hunt? Something isn't adding up here
Lots of issues for sure beyond wolves - last year was really bad for ticks, found a couple dead on my property. train kill is high, illegal hunting etc.
But when you have wolves killing dogs on the xcountry ski trails in Smithers.....................
6'8 has a high wolf population, lots of farmers shooting them on their property.
plus the elk population is exploding.
IMO the government should be spending some that money used to try and save the few introduced caribou in the Telkwas on moose/deer studies
hunting is an excuse to get outside and fill the freezer
With region 6 moose the issues need to be properly identified(even though some are plain as day) and steps taken to correct them not just reduce hunter harvest.
The question is will the govt have the parts to admit what all the issues are and address them or pussy foot around them to try not to offend the public or industry?
It is plain to see they way things are now is not working
I was up there in 6-6 helping some buddies in 2015 and in the 10 days I was there, we saw one bull but not shootable. I had to leave to go back to work, but they persisted and eventually got one each, but they had to invest nearly another week to do that. Saw one guide with a client and lots of resident hunters. The only FN folks I met were seeding a deactivated road with grass.