THE STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF MOOSE IN NORTH AMERICA CIRCA 2000-01

Abstract

At the turn of the century 2000, the North American moose population was estimated at about 1 million distributed in 28 jurisdictions. Populations occur in 11 Canadian provinces or territories, and in at least 17 U.S. States. Densities are believed to be increasing in 12, stable to increasing in 14, and stable to decreasing in only 2. Moose continue to expand their range in New England and several western U.S. States. In 2000-01, an estimated 382,951 licensed moose hunters harvested 82,619 moose in 23 jurisdictions, down from 418,619 and 89,027 a decade earlier. Additional harvests by Native and subsistence users although largely unquantified, are believed substantial in Alaska, Minnesota, and all 11 Canadian jurisdictions. A wide variety of active and passive harvest strategies used to manage moose are discussed. Population estimates are presented for 28 of 35 National Parks where moose occur, but where licensed hunting is prohibited.