Abstract

Topic: Moose management and monitoring

Keeping an eye on the moose population: a comparative survey approach to assess hunter observations as a monitoring tool for ungulate populations.

Laura Saggiomo¹, Fredrik Widemo², Kjell Leonardsson²

Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd, 907 36, Umeå, Sweden
Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Abstract
Wildlife monitoring, while potentially expensive and time-consuming, is essential for adaptive management of both native and invasive species, as well as for maintaining updated species catalogues. The increasing ungulate populations in the Northern Hemisphere have led to economic conflicts, particularly between game management and the forestry sector, making damage mitigation a key management priority. Accurate estimates of population density and abundance are critical for effective wildlife management, monitoring trends, and setting appropriate harvest quotas. In this study, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of the "ÄlgObs" monitoring method, which relies on hunter observations during the hunting season. We determine, using data from 2016 to 2023, the observation-hour thresholds required at different spatial scales [i.e., county, Moose Management Area (MMA), and hunting district (HD)-] to obtain reliable estimates of population characteristics, including relative density, sex ratio, age ratio, and calving rate. Additionally, we assess the proportion of monitoring areas meeting or exceeding these thresholds and analyse uncertainty trends across different observation-hour ranges. While our findings confirm the robustness of the method, with many monitoring units surpassing the necessary observation levels, we also identify limitations and propose directions for future improvement.