Moose Management Report.pdf

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game's Division of Wildlife Conservation submitted an annual report to the Alaska Board of Game on intensive management for moose with wolf, black bear, and grizzly bear predation control in Game Management Unit 19D East. The program's objective is to achieve a moose population size of 6,000-8,000 with a harvest of 400-600. The current predation control program was originally authorized in 1995 and has been renewed several times, with the most recent renewal in 2014. The program area covers 8,513 square miles, and the predation control area includes a Wolf Control Focus Area (WCFA) of 4,484 square miles and a Bear Control Focus Area (BCFA) of 528 square miles. The report provides data on moose abundance, age and sex composition, and harvest, as well as wolf abundance and trend. The results show a statistically significant increasing linear trend in moose abundance within the BCFA, with the highest estimate in 2017. The moose harvest reached a peak in 2015, but decreased in 2018 due to poor weather. The report recommends continuing the program.