Hunters taking fewer bison

Low snowfall and the cold snap earlier this winter are blamed for a bison harvest that is less than desired.

Low snowfall and the cold snap earlier this winter are blamed for a bison harvest that is less than desired.

Dennis Senger, a spokesman for the Department of Environment, said with below-normal snowfall, travelling through the bush by snowmobile is much more difficult, if not impossible in some areas.

And nobody likes to hunt in the -50 Celsius temperatures that gripped the territory for a couple of weeks last month, he pointed out.

This winter’s desired harvest level is in the neighbourhood of 102 animals.

The annual harvest is the only means of trying to keep the growing number of bison in check, as there is no evidence of any pressure from predators, since the animals were first introduced to the Aishihik and Hutshi areas in the 1980s.

While wildlife managers favour a population size of 500 to minimize disturbance of habitat for natural moose and caribou populations. it is estimated there are more than 1,000 bison, and perhaps as many as 1,300.

To assist hunters with locating the bison, the results of aerial survey work will be plotted on a map and put on the department’s website, Senger said, adding the intent is to update the map weekly.

March 31 is the end of the season.

Reports to the wildlife branch indicate there have been 38 bison taken to date: 27 bulls and 11 cows. Word has it that another five to seven animals have been harvested, though the paperwork hasn’t been filed yet.

“The low snow is not only affecting bison hunters,” bison biologist Tom Jung said in an interview this morning. “We have heard similar stories from trappers who can’t access this trap lines.”

Jung said harvest levels usually increase in March and February because of warmer temperatures and the longer daylight hours.

There are more than 100 permit holders who are still eligible to hunt this month, Jung said.

“We do expect the numbers will come up quite a bit, because that is what they normally do each year.”

As a result of an extensive aerial survey last summer, the bison population was estimated at 1,109 animals, ranging from a low of 970 bison to a high of 1,307, Jung said.

There were a total of 281 permits issued this year.

To increase the harvest level, several changes to the Wildlife Act are being proposed.

The Alsek Renewable Resource Council has asked to get rid of the permit system altogether and open up the hunt to all licenced hunters, while implementing strict mandatory reporting rules that will allow wildlife managers to closely monitor the harvest level.

The resource council maintains the permit system is counterproductive to achieving the desired harvest level each year.