The role of predation, forestry and productivity in moose harvest at different spatial levels of management units

Abstract

Management of ungulate populations to the desired density and/or demographic composition are challenged by contrasting aims of different stakeholders. For example, hunters may want to maximize hunting opportunities whereas commercial forest owners may want to minimize moose densities to mitigate browsing damage. In addition, the return of large predators such as wolves Canis lupus affects the possible harvest yield of ungulates and influences the population composition through their selection of specific age classes. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of factors related to the variation in moose Alces alces harvest. We used moose harvest statistics from the period 2012–2020, wolf annual monitoring data, annual brown bear Ursus arctos density, proportion of young forest per management unit, and proportion of agricultural land per management unit (index for productivity and roe deer Capreolus capreolus density) to explain variation in moose harvest across different management units at two spatial levels in two bordering countries, Sweden and Norway. The results showed variable responses in total harvest to changes in wolf territory density both at the regional and local management level. The proportion of young forest was correlated with both increased total harvest and proportion of calves. Increased proportion of agricultural land was linked to both increased total harvest and proportion of calves, likely due to that increased roe deer densities re‐directed wolf predation from moose to roe deer, and an inverse relationship with brown bear density. Differences between countries may be due to differences in the management regime of moose, both in an historical and present perspective. Improved monitoring for individual hunting areas over time will be important for both the understanding of how different ungulate populations are affected by various factors and for the desired management of wildlife populations shared across borders.