Report 165

165. Larter N.C. and D. Allaire D.  2005.  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 Dehcho Regions, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), collected data on big game harvest in the Mackenzie Mountains during the 2004 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 2004, non-resident licences were bought by 337 hunters. Hunters from outside Canada (non-resident aliens), primarily from the United States of America, comprised 87% of the outfitted hunters in the Mackenzie Mountains; Canadian hunters from outside the NT (non-residents) comprised 13%.  Of the 337 non-resident licence holders, 330 came to the NT and most spent at least some time hunting.  Of 237 tags purchased for Dall’s sheep, 201 rams were harvested (including 10 by resident hunters in the Mackenzie Mountains).  The average annual harvest of rams over the past 15 years has been 199.  The average age of harvested rams was 9.95  + 1.76 years; the 17^th consecutive year the average age of harvested rams from the Mackenzie Mountains has been 9.5 years or older.  Hunters reported seeing an average of 11.6 legal rams (horns at least ¾ curl) during their hunts and observed an estimated 53.4 lambs and 92.9 rams per 100 ewes, respectively.  Of 243 tags purchased for woodland caribou,135 bull caribou were harvested.  Hunters observed an estimated 41.5 caribou calves and 37.9 bulls per 100 adult female caribou, respectively.  Of the 84 tags purchased for moose 55 bull moose were harvested.  Hunters observed an estimated 30.0 moose calves and 101.0 bulls per 100 adult female moose, respectively.  Of the 24 tags purchased for mountain goat, 6 billies were harvested.  Hunters observed an estimated 57.1 goat kids and 77.1 billies per 100 adult nanny goats.  Eighteen wolves were harvested from 166 tags purchased, no wolverines or black bears were harvested from 89 and 8 tags purchased, respectively.  There has been no season for non-residents to hunt grizzly bears since 1982.  The number of wolverines observed by hunters in 2004 was up substantially from the past 4 years.  Hunters observed family groups of wolverines as well as the usual lone animals.  Hunter satisfaction remains high, with 94% of respondents rating their experience as either excellent (84%) or very good (10%).  Of 229 respondents, 59% indicated that they would like to return to the Mackenzie Mountains in future years and 27% were repeat clients, returning for their 2^nd to 8^th hunt in the Mackenzie Mountains.