Background
Historical
Nova Scotia’s moose population is made up of two genetically and
geographically distinct populations. Those on the mainland portion of the
province are descendants of moose that were here when European settlers
first arrived. Small remnant herds can still be found in many areas of
the mainland, but they number less than 1,000 animals in total.
Moose on mainland Nova
Scotia have been officially listed "ENDANGERED" under
the Nova Scotia Endangered Species Act. In accordance with the
Act, a Recovery Team has been selected and work is progressing
on development of a Recovery Plan. Hunting or even possessing parts
of a mainland moose are strictly prohibited and penalties for doing
so are significant. The Nova Scotia Endangered Species Act can
be seen at: http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/web/actregs.htm
Hunting of mainland moose has been illegal
in the western end of the province since 1936 and in the eastern portion
since 1981. Moose numbers on the
mainland continue to decline for reasons we don’t completely
understand. The problem(s) preventing herd growth is the subject of
an ongoing study.
Moose found on Cape Breton Island are an entirely different story. The
original moose population became extinct on the Island in the late 1800s.
In the late 1940s Parks Canada released 18 moose from Alberta in the
Cape Breton Highlands. Later surveys indicated that by the early 1960s,
the herd had grown to only about 100 animals.
Since the budworm epidemic in the late 1970s, the regenerating forest
has provided an abundance of high quality food for moose of the Cape
Breton Highlands. The prime habitat conditions have allowed the herd
on the upper plateau of the Highlands to grow to its current size of
about 4000 - 5000 animals. At lower elevation, towards the Mabou and
Port Hawkesbury areas, moose numbers have also increased.
Each year from 1986 to 2002 there have been 200 moose hunting licenses
issued through an application/draw. The hunt has been traditionally restricted
to the counties of Victoria and Inverness, mostly focused immediately
north or south of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Hunters
frequently complain that the number of animals harvested is too high.
This is believed to be a perceived problem, not a real one.
Hunter success rates in the past decade have been very high
(80-95%). As well there has also been a substantial number of moose taken
each year by Mi’kmaq harvesters. However, the overall number of
animals taken has not prevented herd growth although heavy hunting pressure
is occurring at the limited number of access points.
Limited vehicle access to the Highlands, the presence of Cape Breton
Highlands National Park, and very rugged terrain has protected much
of the herd from hunting.
A Change in Strategy
A new harvest management strategy was introduced in 2003,
which introduced Management Zones with specific bag limits in conjunction
with a split hunting season. The zone-based strategy allows harvest objectives
for each management zone to be adjusted if there is a significant change
in moose numbers in a specific area. Directing some hunters into previously
under utilized areas has the added advantage of increasing the number of
hunting permits (310 in year 2003).
Concerns expressed about the quality of the hunt and safety issues are
addressed by dispersing hunters over the full season. The previous two
week hunt has been split into two, one week hunts. As a result of these
changes, each moose hunting licence will now be valid in only one Moose
Management Zone and only during one of the seasons.
This new approach will mean greater opportunities to hunt moose and
a higher quality hunting experience for those who are successful in receiving
a permit.
For more information on the late hunt, see Moose
Management Zones and Seasons.
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