Results P.E.I. GAME SURVEY Average Harvest A second mailing to non-respondents resulted in an 2007-2008 increased survey response rate. Of 1,164 survey Average season harvests from 1971 to 2007 for all cards mailed, 463 (39.8%) were returned. Non- game species are summarized in Figure 3 (over). residents had the highest return rate (58.4%), RANDY DIBBLEE, WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST, followed by residents (32.9%) and youth (32.1%). The average season bag for ruffed grouse P.E.I. FORESTS, FISH & WILDLIFE DIVISION.

decreased to 4.4 and reflects a downward trend in Survey results are presented in the following The annual survey of P.E.I. small game hunters the grouse population cycle. This usually occurs figures, table and discussion. provides a yearly index to game abundance and just past the mid point in the decade. Although

harvest. A questionnaire was mailed in February to snowshoe hare were reported to be high, the one-half of all licensed hunters (resident, non- Total Harvest number of snowshoe hare harvested per hunter resident and youth) and the responses to that decreased from 9.2 in 2006 to 5.3 in 2007. The questionnaire are summarized below. Harvest estimates for all species in 2007 are average goose kill increased to 7.4 from 5.9 the presented in Table 1 (over). The 2007 estimated previous season. Better hunting weather and more Hunting Licenses harvest results and comparisons with previous geese rafting in PEI during the season contributed years are summarized in Fig. 2.

Figure 2. Estimated total harvest of all species. Sales of resident hunting licenses again declined in The ruffed grouse harvest decreased to 4,954 from 2007 to 2,032 from 2,054 in 2006 (Fig. 1), while RUFFED GROUSE SNOWSHOE HARE 7,637 in 2006, and remains below the 28-year 20 60 non-resident license sales decreased to 613 from average of 8,348. Grouse seemed to be numerous 15 743 the previous year. Commercial fishers & 40 in western PEI but declining elsewhere. The 10 farmers are now required to purchase a resident 20 5

snowshoe hare harvest decreased significantly to Thousands Thousands hunting license so comparisons are now based on 2,261 from 6,198 the previous year, due primarily 0 0 71 81 01 71 81 01 total resident hunters. The Youth hunting license, 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 to a decline in hunter effort in 2007. The kill of required for those 12 to 15 years of age, increased GREY PARTRIDGE WOODCOCK Canada geese (15,302) increased significantly slightly from 151 in 2006 to 158 in 2007. The total 4 800 from 2006 (11,956) and is approaching the 28-year 3 600 average of 16,101. The goose harvest in 2007 Figure 1. Annual sales of provincial hunting 2 400 licenses reflected the increase in goose numbers over 2006 1 200 Thousands and better hunting weather during much of the 0 0

8000 71 81 01 71 81 01 season. The harvests of black ducks increased 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07

7000 while other ducks remained the same as last year. CANADA GOOSE BLACK DUCK The black duck harvest was 10,379 while 6,525 25 6000 30 other ducks were retrieved. In 2007, fall aerial 20 20 15 5000 counts of Canada geese and black ducks in PEI 10 10

4000 were higher than 2006. Thousands Thousands 5 0 0

71 81 01 71 81 01 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 3000 The extended 4-week season for grey partridge OTHER DUCKS COMMON SNIPE 2000 resulted in an increased harvest for this species in 20 1500

1000 2007. Total kills of woodcock and snipe vary 15 1000 considerably from year to year due to the small 10 0 500 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 number of hunters that pursue each, and variability 5 Thousands TOTAL LICENCES RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT FISHER/FARMER YOUTH resulting from the small sample size. Interest in 0 0 01 01 81 81 71 71 03 05 07 03 05 07 83 93 95 97 99 83 93 95 97 99 woodcock and snipe continue to be low. 73 75 77 79 73 75 77 79

number of licenses issued in 2007 was 2,803, A better indicator of hunter success and species to the increase in average kill in 2007. The sub- down from 2,948 the previous year. This abundance is the average season kill per active population of geese in the eastern Atlantic region represents a decrease of 162 (4.9%) from 2006. hunter. remains healthy. Grey Partridge continue to provide recreation to a limited number of hunters.

The one-week increase in the hunting season

resulted in an increase in the harvest. Both total Hunter Activity TOTAL EST.HUNTERTRIPSPERSEASON HUNTER SUCCESSRATE(GAME/TRIP) AVERAGE TRIPSPERACTIVEHUNTER NO.SURVEYED HUNTERSWHOHUNTED % LICENSEDHUNTERSWHOHUNTED NO. KILLEDBYSURVEYEDHUNTERS AVG. KILLPERACTIVEHUNTER ESTIMATED NO.OFLICENSEDHUNTERS ESTIMATED KILLBYLICENSEDHUNTERS kill estimate:2007-2008. Table 1.Hunterperformance& kill and kill per active hunter increased in 2007. Statistics on the amount of time spent hunting each Total harvest of snipe decreased in 2007 but the species were again gathered this year. Results are average harvest increased. Both remain well summarized in Table 1. Surprisingly, more time below the long-term average. The number of was spent hunting black ducks than any other woodcock hunters decreased in 2007 but total species (14,807 hunter trips). This was followed by Canada geese (13,407), ruffed grouse (8,364) and Figure 3. Average season harvest per active other ducks (7,876). Snowshoe hare hunters took hunter. 2,574 hunter trips, grey partridge hunters 1,211, and woodcock and snipe hunters 307 and 26 RUFFED GROUSE SNOWSHOE HARE hunter trips, respectively. This year’s figures for 20 total hunter trips and average trips per active 6 15 hunter showed an increase for black ducks, geese, 4 10 other ducks and grey partridge. Decreases were 2 5 noted for grouse, hare, woodcock and snipe from Average Kill Average Kill Average 2006. GROUSE

0 0 RUFFED 71 81 01 71 81 01 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 32.5% 8,364 1,111 4,954 0.59 149 650 7.4 4.4 GREY PARTRIDGE WOODCOCK Additional Information 3 8 2.5 This report presents a brief summary of the

6 PARTRIDGE 2 information gathered from the game survey. More

1.5 4 GREY 1,211 6.8% 0.35

228 421 details may be obtained by contacting: 5.2 1.8 1 31 56 2 Average Kill Average 0.5 Kill Average 0 0 Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division, 71 81 01 71 81 01 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07

SNOWSHOE Department of Environment, Energy & Forestry, CANADA GOOSE BLACK DUCK P.O. Box 2000, Charlottetown, 14.8% HARE 2,574 2,261 0.66 297 428 5.9 10 5.3 68 P.E.I. C1A 7N8 6 8 6 4 Phone: 902 368-4683 4 2 COMMON Fax: 902 368-4713 SNIPE Average Kill Average 2 Kill Average 0.7% 1.4 1.7 2.3 19 50 26 E-mail: [email protected] 0 0 3 7 71 81 01 71 81 01 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 OTHER DUCKS COMMON SNIPE WOODCOCK 8 AMERICAN

6 2.6% 0.49 153 307 1.8 3.6 80 6 12 21 4 4 2 2 Average Kill Average Kill Average BLACK 10,379 14,807 52.3% DUCK 1,478 1,508 0.72 240 6.2 0 0 8.5 71 81 01 71 81 01 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07 73 75 77 79 83 93 95 97 99 03 05 07

DUCKS OTHER 40.3% 7,876 1,133 6,525 0.86 185 969

6.1 5.2 season harvest increased. The average season

harvest increased to 1.8, and is approaching the

CANADA GOOSE 15,302 long-term average of 2.0. 13,407 74.7% 1,929 2,555 343 7.5 1.2 6 2008 - P.E.I. Environment, Energy & Forestry