MOOSE HUNTING IN RUSSIA

Abstract

Moose (Alces alces) have become one of the popular big game species in Russia, whereas only decades ago, low moose numbers precluded hunting. The rapid increase in moose numbers is primarily the result of forest harvest practices and intensive moose management policies. At present, according to the Russia Statistical Committee, the moose population is stable at around 700,000 animals. Use of intensive biotechnical moose management measures such as ashtree cutting, feeding of wood waste, and rock salt, combined with large scale protective measures have also favored this population increase. However, data collected by the All–Union Research Institute show that moose density in some regions has exceeded the carrying capacity of game preserves for many years. This is the result of poor moose population estimates and low harvest rates. As a result of low harvest intensity, and in the absence of management actions aimed at increasing the carrying capacity on moose preserves, forest resources and habitat quality have been damaged in some economic regions and severely degraded in areas of the ASSR. The author suggests a winter feeding strategy for moose on hunting preserves that would use wood waste that is left after logging. This strategy would allow a more effective means of supplementing winter forage, but may be difficult to implement.