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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
Legend2017 Big Game Hunting Areas SurveyedBig Game Hunting Areas - ManitobaTowns