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Larter N. and Allaire
D. 2003. Mackenzie
Mountain Non-resident
and Non-resident Alien Hunter Harvest Summary 2004.
51 pp.
ABSTRACT
Each
of the eight licensed outfitters and Renewable Resource Officers from the
Sahtu and Deh Cho Regions, with the Department of Resources, Wildlife
& Economic Development (RWED), collected data on big game harvest in
the Mackenzie Mountains during the 2003 hunting season.
Harvest data and observations of wildlife from non-resident and
non-resident alien hunters (collectively called ‘non-resident’ for
this report) were recorded.
For 2003, non-resident licences were bought by 347 hunters. Hunters
from outside Canada (non-resident aliens), primarily from the United
States of America, comprised 78% of the outfitted hunters in the Mackenzie
Mountains; Canadian hunters from outside the NWT (non-residents) comprised
19% of non-resident hunters.
Of the 347 non-resident licence holders,
339 came to the NWT and most spent at least some time hunting.
Of 257 tags purchased for Dall’s sheep, 213 rams were harvested.
This is the greatest number of rams harvested since 1998.
The average age of harvested rams was 9.7 + 1.7 years, which
represents the 7th consecutive year with an average age of 9.6
years or older for the Mackenzie Mountains.
Hunters reported seeing an average of 10.2 legal rams (horns at
least ¾ curl) during their hunts and observed an estimated 49.6 lambs and
82.6 rams per 100 ewes, respectively.
Of 247 tags purchased for woodland caribou 143 bull caribou were
harvested.
Hunters observed an estimated 38.9 caribou calves and 36.4 bulls
per 100 adult female caribou, respectively.
Of the 85 tags purchased for moose 48 bull moose were harvested.
Hunters observed an estimated 24.6 moose calves and 129.0 bulls per
100 adult female moose, respectively.
Of the 18 tags purchased for mountain goat, 6 billies were
harvested.
Hunters observed an estimated 61.5 goat kids and 70.5 billies per
100 adult nanny goats. Twelve wolves were harvested from 207 tags
purchased, 0 wolverine from 141
tags purchased, and no black bears harvested from 9 tags purchased.
There has not been an open season for non-residents to hunt grizzly
bears since 1982.
Hunter satisfaction remains high, with 97% of respondents rating
their experience as either excellent (82%) or very good (15%).
Of 191 respondents, 96% indicated that they would like to return to
the Mackenzie Mountains in future years and 36% were repeat clients,
returning for their 2nd to 12th hunt in the
Mackenzie Mountains. |
