Delegated Big Game Surveys 2012-2013 Survey Season

Author(s)

Mike Ranger and Corey Rasmussen

Summary

Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) uses levies on hunting and fishing licenses to collect and analyze population inventory data that can be used by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) in setting hunting and fishing seasons and regulations. Big game surveys (BGS) are currently used to determine the population status and trends for ungulates in select areas of Alberta, and provide information for setting hunting guidelines. Beginning in 2007, ACA became an active partner in delivering big game surveys, and now works collaboratively with ESRD to plan and conduct surveys and to summarize survey data. A portion of the overall survey plan is delegated to ACA for delivery (D-BGS) in collaboration with ESRD. During the 2012/2013 fiscal year, ACA funded and delivered 171 surveys across Alberta. These surveys included summer range trend surveys for pronghorn antelope and mountain goats, winter range trend surveys for elk, and random stratified block surveys for moose, white-tailed deer and mule deer. This document summarizes the methods used to conduct these surveys, as well as the survey results.

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