Where are all the Dead Moose

[kkahmann]

Just a comment on the population surveys.

Fixed wing aircraft are a lot cheaper than helicopters as far as flying time goes. Thats why they were used to fly transects for many years--but the heli's are way better for countin moose from the air--plus they have more than 40 years experience doing this and they have gotten way better at it.

No one--absolutely no one is more critical of the MNR than I am. That said they really are good at counting moose from the air.

[B-man715]

A year and a half ago I deer hunted east of Isabella. In two days of hunting I saw zero deer.......... but 6 moose!

There was a pile of tater tots behind every other tree.........

It would be interesting to see how they are doing in that area now??

[sticknstring]

Quote:

I'm picturing the Far Side cartoon: a bunch of moose sitting around a Canandian tavern tipping Molsons and watching hockey. One says, "Yeah, I hear the DNR came through Sawbill to count last Thursday... we were already in Thunder Bay." The other replies, "This outta shut down the hunting season for a while!"

That's funny!

[B. Amish]

heard today that one of the collared moose from the new study already kicked the bucket.

[sticknstring]

That didn't take long... wonder if it was stress related from the capture. Were they able to get a necropsy done?

[MNpurple]

It doesnt matter whether you think the counting methods are accurate or not, what matters with wildlife surveys is that they are consistent. They could be using a terrible count method but as long as they are using the method consistently year after year, the results will be accurate concerning population increase or decrease. Might not be accurate on overall numbers though.

[CaptainMusky]

Though the method used to observe is consistent there are other factors that could affect the numbers seen that cannot be controlled mainly being being weather.