Big Game Survey Results - 2017

Surveys Conducted

The following big game aerial surveys were flown in 2017:

Moose o Game Hunting Areas 13 and 13A (Porcupine Mountain area – Western Region) o Game Hunting Areas 18, 18A, 18B, and 18C (Duck Mountain area – Western Region) o Game Hunting Area 21 (Central Region) o Game Hunting Area 21A (Central Region)

Elk o Game Hunting Area 35A (Eastern Region)

Barren Ground Caribou o Manitoba contributed to a Nunavut lead population survey of the Qamanirjuaq

caribou herd – population shared with Manitoba (Northeast Region)

Due to insufficient snow cover, the moose survey planned for Game Hunting Area 17A and gray wolf surveys planned for Game Hunting Areas 13 and 13A; 18, 18A, 18B, and 18C; and 26 could not proceed.

Survey Summaries

Moose, Game Hunting Area 13, 13A (Porcupine Mountain area - Western Region)

Aerial survey results in 2010 suggested the moose population in Game Hunting Areas 13

and 13A were declining and as a result a suite of conservation actions were implemented

beginning in 2010. These actions included the suspension of licenced hunting and the

establishment of a conservation closure which closed the entire Game Hunting Area to rights-

based hunting. An aerial survey was conducted in Game Hunting Areas 13 and 13A from

February 2 to 10, 2017 to obtain information on the moose population, including whether

conservation efforts had been effective in the recovery of the moose population. A stratified

random block survey method was used and sample units (areas) were identified as low,

medium, and high moose density units. The survey area consisted of 64% of the total Game

Hunting Area based on previous surveys and historical distribution of moose. Intensive

sampling was conducted on 29% of the survey area. The survey produced a point estimate of

1,057 (90% CI: 884 – 1,230) moose and an average density of 0.47 moose/km² within the area

sampled. The calf/cow and bull/cow ratios were 49 (90% CI: 43 – 54) calves/100 cows and 64

(90% CI: 50 – 78) bulls/100 cows, respectively. Survey results suggest that there was no

statistically significant change in the size of the moose population when compared to the 2012

(817; 90% CI: 696 – 938) or 2010 (1,122; 90% CI: 940 – 1,305) surveys.

Moose, Game Hunting Areas 18, 18A, 18B, 18C (Duck Mountain area - Western Region)

Aerial survey results in 2010 suggested the moose population in Game Hunting Areas

18, 18A-C was declining and as a result a suite of conservation actions were implemented

beginning in 2010. These actions included elimination of licensed moose hunting and a

conservation closure which closed the entire Game Hunting Area to rights-based moose

hunting. An aerial survey was conducted in Game Hunting Areas 18, 18A-C from February 2 to

13, 2017 to obtain information on the moose population, including whether conservation

efforts had been effective in the recovery of the moose population. A stratified random block

survey method was used and sample units were identified as low, medium, and high moose

density units. The survey area consisted of 78% of the total Game Hunting Area. The area to

survey was determined based on the historical distribution of moose and the area of previous

surveys. Intensive sampling was conducted on 27% of the survey area. The survey produced a

point estimate of 1,958 (90% CI: 1,663 – 2,253) moose and an average density of 0.34

moose/km² within the area sampled. The calf/cow and bull/cow ratios were 35 (90% CI: 30 –

39) calves/100 cows and 69 (90% CI: 58 – 80) bulls/100 cows respectively. Survey results

suggests there was a statistically significant increase of approximately 25% in the size of the

moose population since the previous survey, conducted in 2012 (1,466; 90% CI: 1,284 – 1,648),

and approximately 31% since the 2010 survey (1,349; 90% CI: 1,173 – 1,526).

Moose, Game Hunting Area 21 (Central Region)

An aerial moose survey was conducted in Game Hunting Area 21 from January 14 to 17,

2017 to obtain information on the moose population following concerns about possible

population declines over the nine years since the previous survey. A stratified random block

survey method was initially planned and stratification transects were flown throughout the

entire Game Hunting Area over four consecutive days. Signs of moose (beds and craters) and

number of animals were recorded. Results from the stratification survey were to be used to

delineate strata by predicted moose density in Game Hunting Area 21. However, low densities

of moose observed during stratification necessitated a modification of survey methodology and

a strip transect method (500 m wide strips flown 1.75 km apart) was used to produce a

population index. Using a strip transect method, the population index was estimated at 67 (90%

CI: 42 - 92) moose. In 2008, using a stratified random block methodology, the population

estimate was 346 (90% CI: 283 – 408) moose. Although these two population estimates cannot

be directly compared, survey results suggest the moose population in Game Hunting Area 21

has declined over the past nine years and has become critically low.

Moose, Game Hunting Area 21A (Central Region)

An aerial survey was conducted in Game Hunting Area 21A from January 27 to February

4, 2017 to obtain current information on the moose population following concerns about its

potential decline. A stratified random block survey method was used and sample units were

grouped into two sample unit categories (strata). Intensive sampling was conducted on 34.2%

of the total survey area. The survey produced a point estimate of 132 (90% CI: 76 – 188) moose

and an average density of 0.06 moose/km² within the area sampled. The calf/cow and bull/cow

ratios were 38 (90% CI: 25 – 50) calves/100 cows and 18 (90% CI: 7 – 28) bulls/100 cows,

respectively. Survey results suggest that the moose population in Game Hunting Area 21A has

declined significantly since the previous survey conducted in 2011 (308 moose; 90% CI: 245 –

370).

From February 8 to 10, 2017 a separate survey was flown to obtain a minimum count of

moose on ten islands within Game Hunting Area 21A. This survey included: Hecla, Black, Deer,

Punk, Matheson, Tamarack, Moose, Little Moose, Bakers and Long Islands. A total of 61 moose

were counted on these islands.

Elk, Game Hunting Area 35A (Eastern Region)

An aerial survey was conducted in a portion of Game Hunting Area 35A in southeast

Manitoba from February 18 to 24, 2017 to determine the status of the elk population in the

Vita-Caribou elk range. The primary objective of this survey was to obtain a minimum

population count of the Vita-Caribou elk population in Manitoba. Strip transects (500 m width)

were flown every 1.75 km apart throughout the survey area over two days. Signs of elk such as

tracks and the number of animals detected were recorded. Subsequently, an intensive sampling

approach was used whereby an attempt was made to count every elk within 19.6 km2 blocks

where animals and signs of animals were seen during the first portion of the survey. The

intensive sampling phase was conducted over a three and half day period on 32.9% of the total

area within the elk survey area (total survey area = 1,626.8 km2). The survey provided a

minimum population count of 163 elk in area.

Barren Ground Caribou Survey (Northeast Region)

The Qamanirjuaq barren ground caribou population migrates through four provincial/territorial

jurisdictions and is co-managed predominantly by the governments of Nunavut and Manitoba

with input from Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. A 2014 survey of the

Qamanirjuaq herd suggested a ~47% decline since 1994. The Qamanirjuaq herd is one of the

last barren-ground caribou populations that supports indigenous, resident and foreign resident

hunting. An aerial survey was conducted by the Nunavut government in June to produce

updated estimates of population size, birth and calf survival rates, and age and gender

composition for the Qamanirjuaq herd. Manitoba contributed $100,000.00 to support this

survey. The results from this survey are not available at this time.

Swan River

Vita

1

2

39

9A

3A

2A

4 7A

7

10

5

866A

11

1215A

1614

1721

1315

14A13A18A

20

18B

18 19A

21A17A

19B

18C2519

22

23A

2625A23 2434B

3425B 34C

36

2730 34A

35

3832

3328 35A312929A

31A

Gypsumville

Hodgson

PROVINCIAL BIG GAME AERIAL SURVEYS 2016 - 2017

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