MN Moose permits to be halved

[Scott M]

Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn.

Officials of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources say they likely will cut the number of moose hunting permits in half for this fall's moose season.

That follows the latest moose population survey, which shows moose numbers continuing to decline in northeast Minnesota.

Last year, 212 permits were issued for the bulls-only moose season. Minnesota Public Radio News reports the DNR is expected to reduce that to a little more than 100 permits for the season that starts in October.

DNR area wildlife manager Tom Rusch in Tower says there is no clear answer why the moose population is declining.

Rusch tells MPR he also doesn't expect reducing the number of hunting permits will have much impact on the decline.

The DNR says final moose permit numbers are not confirmed yet.

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It's going to be a sad day when this state no longer has any moose, an icon for Minnesota's North Woods and Boundary Waters Canoe Area. I've got 4 years of preference points but realistically it'll be a pipe dream for me to hunt in this state.

[NoWiser]

Ouch......that hurts. My dream of hunting moose someday is just a little closer to being crushed. Let's hope the numbers start increasing soon, and they raise the permits available accordingly. Tough situation.

[matchset]

i heard the news yesterday. i was crushed as well. as a lover of moose, seeing this decline is hard to swallow! i'm very thankful i was able to draw and fill my once-in a lifetime tag last fall with my dad.

[sticknstring]

Not good at all... I guess it was just a matter of time. Chances are becoming bleak for taking a bull in MN.

[tonkapat]

I wonder if they cut the permits for the natives also. Good thing I got my tag 2 years ago on my first attempt. Good luck to alll that apply.

Have they ever thought about the wolf population in relationship to the moose decline?

[matchset]

or have we looked at how they conduct the annual moose survey?

[sticknstring]

Conditions for the annual aerial survey this year were "excellent." Sure, there's a margin of error but when the population is nearly cut in half over a 5 year period, that's alarming.

I think this is the first year the bull/cow ratio has been below a preset benchmark as well. If the ratio is below 3 years in a row, I think the season will be closed all together.

[mrklean]

dang wolves

[Fishalittle]

I don't believe the wolves are the problem with the moose decline... follow the studies and you will learn a great deal.

[MJ1657]

What I have heard is that they stress them by chasing and harrassing them to the point they cause severe health problems.

[skolfoppa]

Wolves are not the problem. The population decline is directly related to climate change. Moose are cold weather animals. They are stressed by heat in the summer, and moderate winters allow more parasites, ticks and brain worms, to survive. It is a combination of other factors too. Even the DNR cannot pinpoint a singular cause. If the trend continues the only place to see a living moose in MN will be at a zoo. How sad is that?! Skol.

[Billy_Burbout]

I dont understand. If the numbers are at 4,900 moose, why even have a hunt till the numbers rebound? I dont see the logic of it.

[pureinsanity]

I dont understand. If the numbers are at 4,900 moose, why even have a hunt till the numbers rebound? I dont see the logic of it.

Revenue...

[Bear55]

Looks like I will just have to head up to Canada.

[tonkapat]

I don't believe the wolves are the problem with the moose decline... follow the studies and you will learn a great deal.

I have read the studies. The cow calf ratio has been declining right along with the wolf population rising. With a good cow calf ratio there isn't near the decline in population if any. Now its not the only issue but its definately an important one.

Fishalittle follow the studies you will learn a great deal

[tonkapat]

I dont understand. If the numbers are at 4,900 moose, why even have a hunt till the numbers rebound? I dont see the logic of it.

They believe that taking out a small number of males has little to no effect on the overall population. The money from the hunt also helps to aid in funding of the research. Samples are taken by the hunters to aid in research. The samples taken are blood, liver samples, a tooth, etc... Without the hunting season they wouldn't have the info they have already.

[Jack Peterson]

Just let the Moose live...go hunt them in Maine where a bagillion get hit on the road every year.

[jkcmj]

Hunting will benefit the moose by the findings from the testing of harvested animals. There are over 3 times the males necessary to assure mating of all females in most areas.

The wolves are a huge reason for moose deaths, and hence, decline. If you have the ambition I encourage you to go follow a moose track, find the bedding areas, and look at the story being told in the snow. Wolves harass the moose over and over until they are week enough to kill. Reduce or eliminate the wolves, and moose can recover most likely. Every time I have been up north looking for moose sheds, I am finding consistant sign of moose harrassment around the heavy bedding areas. It makes me sick to look at what they go through. As a hunter, with a limited population of game to pursue in my backyard(MN), I don't take kindly to the Government allowing competition to destroy the species! Wolves prefer moose to deer and are much harder on them for that reason. Of course, don't spend to much time in those bedding areas you might stress the moose!

[tonkapat]

Jk well said. I see the exact same things your talking about. The moose constantly getting pushed all winter long. For every moose trail there is a pack that follows. I think the biggest issue is a cow that has 2 calfs has trouble defending both and loses at least one right away and according to the stats loses both often. I don't think we are getting the whole truth about this situation either.

[skolfoppa]

The wolves are a huge reason for moose deaths, and hence, decline.

Wolves are not the reason for the decline. Wolves expend a lot of energy pursuing and taking moose. Deer and smaller prey are preferred when available. Check the research that has been done on Isle Royal where there are no deer. The wolves cull the moose herd but invariably it is the moose population that determines the wolf population.

There are other, larger variables playing a role in the decline of our moose population. It's easy to deify the wolf, but that is too simple an explanation. If all wolves were suddenly eliminated the population would continue to decline. That is why it is such a frustrating issue. Skol.

[tonkapat]

The population decline is directly related to climate change. .

If that is the case why are they doing well in North Dakota and Maine? When the old growth forests were cut we lost most of the caribou and moose habitat. It will take a long time if ever to replace the habitat we have destroyed in the last century.

[skolfoppa]

They are not doing well in eastern NoDak. Much like the decimated western MN herd, nobody is certain as to why this is the case. Again, wolves are not one of the explanations. Sorry. The signs point to climate and whitetail range overlap. Whitetails are terrific hosts to several parasites that kill moose, liver flukes, ticks, and brain worm larvae. The research is out there. Skol.

[mainbutter]

have read the studies. The cow calf ratio has been declining right along with the wolf population rising.

Correlation does not imply causation.

[tonkapat]

Correlation does not imply causation.

I agree, but its typical of predator prey relationships.

Skol completely agree about the whitetails range intermixing. I have seen it in some areas of mn but not all. Where I hunted I never saw a single deer or track the entire time, while there were thousands of moose tracks. Habitat loss (logging of old growth) may be the biggest factor of all.

[matchset]

Wolves are not the problem. The population decline is directly related to climate change. Moose are cold weather animals. They are stressed by heat in the summer, and moderate winters allow more parasites, ticks and brain worms, to survive. It is a combination of other factors too.

then why are moose moving further and further into South Dakota; and thriving too?

go figure.

and to answer the question about why we have the hunt even when we have low numbers...

its simple math.

"state" hunters are only allowed to harvest Bull moose. as we all know, males are not the limiting factor in a population. the females are. 1 bull can breed "X" number of cows.

harvesting 110 bulls in a population of 4,889 is WAY less than 5% of the total population.