Wagonmaster
04-12-2015, 06:51 PM
Elk (Region 1) - In 2014, there were 17 authorizations available for my zone and management unit. This year there are 13. If last years odds were 100:1, that would mean that there were 1700 applications. If the same 1700 hunters apply for the 13 animals available this year, the odds will increase to 130.8:1. Not insignificant.
Total number of elk available in Region 1: 2011 253
2012 272
2013 270
2014 247
2015 216
In spite of a few idiots poaching elk on the Island, I believe the consensus is that the Island elk populations are healthy. Can we assume, then, that the reduction in authorizations available this year is not due to conservation concerns? A reduction of 29 animals available to resident hunters puts a pretty big dent in the infamous 60 animal reduction assertion. And that's one zone of one management unit in Region 1.
Moose (Region 5) - In my zone in one of Region 5's management units, there is a reduction from 23 in 2014 to 18 for this year. Five less animals available equals a sizeable reduction in my chances of success.
In making comparisons in allocations over the last five years, I thought I would see a decreasing trend, and I did, in fact, in my chosen hunts. However, just to throw a wrench in things, I found a couple of surprises to consider. The total moose available in my zone in Region 5 went from 229 in 2011, to 75 in 2012, to 227 in 2013, to 146 in 2014, to 124 in 2015. The trend is expected, but the anomaly in 2012 is puzzling. The second surprise I discovered is that the total moose authorizations available in all of Region 5 this year is 2722, whereas last year it was 2451. That is an increase this year of 271 authorizations. With a higher percentage going to guide outfitters, should the number of authorizations not have gone down? With the conservation concerns of depressed populations in Region 5, should the number not have gone down? Note there are 285 authorizations available in Regions 5-04 and 5-05 which are on "aboriginal title lands". Perhaps the Ministry figures no one is going to apply there, hence the corresponding increase.
Total number of elk available in Region 1: 2011 253
2012 272
2013 270
2014 247
2015 216
In spite of a few idiots poaching elk on the Island, I believe the consensus is that the Island elk populations are healthy. Can we assume, then, that the reduction in authorizations available this year is not due to conservation concerns? A reduction of 29 animals available to resident hunters puts a pretty big dent in the infamous 60 animal reduction assertion. And that's one zone of one management unit in Region 1.
Moose (Region 5) - In my zone in one of Region 5's management units, there is a reduction from 23 in 2014 to 18 for this year. Five less animals available equals a sizeable reduction in my chances of success.
In making comparisons in allocations over the last five years, I thought I would see a decreasing trend, and I did, in fact, in my chosen hunts. However, just to throw a wrench in things, I found a couple of surprises to consider. The total moose available in my zone in Region 5 went from 229 in 2011, to 75 in 2012, to 227 in 2013, to 146 in 2014, to 124 in 2015. The trend is expected, but the anomaly in 2012 is puzzling. The second surprise I discovered is that the total moose authorizations available in all of Region 5 this year is 2722, whereas last year it was 2451. That is an increase this year of 271 authorizations. With a higher percentage going to guide outfitters, should the number of authorizations not have gone down? With the conservation concerns of depressed populations in Region 5, should the number not have gone down? Note there are 285 authorizations available in Regions 5-04 and 5-05 which are on "aboriginal title lands". Perhaps the Ministry figures no one is going to apply there, hence the corresponding increase.