DOES GETTING A BULL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE VALUE? THE NET ECONOMIC VALUE OF MOOSE HUNTING IN MAINE

Abstract

Five years (1988-1992) of survey data of moose (Alces alces) hunting are analyzed to consider whether getting a bull significantly increases the net value of the hunt to participants. We find that getting a bull significantly increases net value for both resident and nonresident hunters. Nonresidents, however, Are more likely to desire to shoot a bull and to actually shoot a bull. Thus, nonresident hunters are more likely to be trophy hunters and resident hunters may be more likely to balance the meat quality of the animal with the opportunity to take a trophy bull. Given these findings, the use of aggregate harvest records to monitor moose populations should investigate differences in resident and nonresident harvests and policies to manage moose populations may require differing regulations for resident and nonresident hunters.