Delegated Aerial Ungulate Surveys 2009-2010 Survey Season

Author(s)

Mike Ranger and Shevenell Webb

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 Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD) in setting hunting and fishing seasons and regulations. Aerial ungulate surveys (AUS) are the primary method used to determine the population status and trends for ungulates in Alberta, and therefore are an integral component for setting hunting guidelines. Beginning in 2007, ACA became an active partner in delivering the AUS program, and now works collaboratively with ASRD to plan and conduct surveys and to summarize survey data. ASRD continues to set provincial priorities for survey locations and rotations, and uses these data in the management of ungulate populations. A portion of the overall survey plan is delegated to ACA for delivery (D-AUS) in collaboration with ASRD. During the 2009/2010 fiscal year, ACA funded and delivered 241 AUS across Alberta. These surveys included summer range trend surveys for pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) and mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), winter range trend surveys for bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and bison (Bison bison), and random stratified block surveys for elk (Cervus elaphus), moose (Alces alces), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). This document summarizes the methods used to conduct these surveys as well as the survey results.

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