A unit of Lasting Forests
Sustained forests; sustained profits
evolving since March 30, 1999

of an Alternative Wildlife Resource Management

Key Concepts and Review

Small game in good habitat cannot be over-harvested by classical harvest techniques.

Hunting may be additive, taking more than natural mortality, or compensatory, taking animals that nature may not take.

Hunting rarely is area-wide or of equal intensity.

The hunted area is that in the stippled zone around the road.

Hunting intensity tends to decrease with distance from roads.

"Hunters per unit area" should have a strong area analysis (e.g., no hunting on steep areas, safety zones, across water, etc.)

Hunting regulations should include (1) area, (2) season length, (3 start date, (4) end date, (5) weapon type, (6) ammo type and number, (7) equipment, and (8) licenses/permits.

"Vulnerability" is a hunter concept. How vulnerable is an animal to a hunter of type x? Where x is sex, age, experience, health, weapon, and knowledge of the area.

Rather than use permits or season length to regulate a hunt, a season may be closed when the zth animal is checked in.

Hunting tends to be self-regulatory. Hunters go home when the return rate on effort is poor. The result is that a small breeding population is usually left.

Hunting tends to have high returns on the opening days. Closing, then opening a season can get an extra "opening day phenomenon".

Hunting has secondary effects on animals:
· disturbance - change in behavior - movement to less-than-best areas
· accidents (due to disturbances)
· reduced time of feeding
· increased energy losses
· reduced feeding on high quality food
· extra cost of feeding

Hunting "success" rarely requires taking animals but includes
· getting away
· recreation and exercise
· social benefits
· re-living family or historical events
· re-living cultural or historic traditions
· planning
· equipment purchases
· stories and tales of success or failure
· nature appreciation and study

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Last revision July 20, 2000.