Quote:
Originally Posted by Rabbit Snarer
Curious what you refer to as "bad game management" in this area. What was done wrong that caused the disappearance of elk and moose?
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Clearwater Area Elk - WMU 328, 416, 417, 418, 420, 422, 426, 428, 429, 430, 432, 434
Elk provide a significant hunting opportunity, both for recreational and subsistence hunting. In addition, elk are an important source of food for predators, especially wolves. In the Clearwater Area, long‐ term trend surveys, hunter success and general public perception suggest that elk are currently experiencing a new phase of decline.
Ya Ha Tinda Ranch: 408
Upper Clearwater River: 142
South Ram River: 76
Ranger Creek: 33
Elk Creek: 1
Rough Creek: 1
North Saskatchewan River: 25
Nordegg: 14
Kootenay Plains: 90
Blackstone River: 10
Brazeau River: 0
Total Count: 800
Survey type conducted: Winter Range Trend Survey
Date of survey: January 23rd to 24th, 2008
12 WMUs containing vast areas of elk habitat and only 800 elk. It wasn't long ago that just one of these WMUs which is completely roadless contained over 4000 elk. Extensive research concluded that wolf predation was the overwhelming dominant factor in the elk population decrease.
Most of these areas are under draw licensing and no antlerless harvest. Licenced hunting is not responsible for any downward pressure on recruitment.
The "bad management" is perspective. Unlike some, many of us believe that it is good management to reduce predator populations in order to maintain higher population levels of ungulates so that we can enjoy them both visually and nutritionally. "What was done wrong" is the allowing of high wolf populations to become established.
The Alberta government enacted wolf population control measures in the 1900's, 1930's, 1950's and the 1980's. It is well past time to do it again.