Moose Resource Report Wildlife Management Unit 49 Moose Management in Ontario In Ontario, the moose population and its habitat is managed using an ecological approach. This approach takes into account a wide range of factors related to moose and uses the best available science and information on moose populations and harvest. Ontario’s Cervid Ecological Framework and Moose Management Policy give specific direction on how to manage moose across the province. They can be found online at ontario.ca/moose. As part of managing moose, an objective is set for the number of moose that should be in an area. Ecological, social, cultural and economic factors related to moose are incorporated when making decisions about harvest allocation and what management actions are needed to help achieve that objective. WMU 49 Description Cervid Ecological Zone D2 Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) Moose and white-tailed deer and 49 (Figure 1) is located inland from elk live in this zone. For moose, Georgian Bay north of the Muskoka the goal is to maintain a moderate Lakes and south of the to high density population. The Magnetawan River stretching summer and winter habitat of white across to Highway 11 east of -tailed deer are both managed to Algonquin Park. It is 3,670 square maintain a moderate density kilometres in area, 68% private Map of WMU 49 land, 31% crown land and 1% First population. Elk are found in parts Nations reserve lands . Protected of this zone and management of areas including provincial parks and their habitat is considered at the conservation reserves comprise local level as needed. The 282 square kilometres of the crown ministry’s management objective land area most of which is open to within this CEZ is to have moose, hunting. The network of roads and white-tailed deer and elk on the trails is well developed making most same land base, and to maintain of the unit accessible for hunting. densities which reflect natural WMU 49 is part of Cervid Ecological ecological conditions. Zone (CEZ) D2. Map of Cervid Ecological Zone D2 ontario.ca/moose Moose Habitat Suitability The habitat is characterized as a gently sloping plain of Moose aquatic feeding areas are generally bedrock ridges with fairly broad pockets of silty clay and found in cool water lakes, along medium- sand (Noble, 1984). The terrain reflects the influence of sized and shallow rivers and on shallow glacial Lake Algonquin including a mosaic of wave- basins of cold water lakes. washed bare bedrock ridges, shallow sandy till over bedrock and lacustrine sands, silts and clays. Stands of hardwood (e.g., hard maple, red oak, yellow birch), conifer (jack pine, white and red pine, hemlock, white spruce, cedar and balsam fir) and mixed wood stands (white birch, aspen, poplar, white and black ash, black spruce and tamarack) occur where soil deposits are suitable. Moose aquatic feeding areas are abundant in wetland complexes, beaver ponds and small lakes. Using a range of landscape habitat analysis models, the Moose aquatic feeding area ministry has calculated that the overall average carrying capacity, or number of moose that the habitat can support, for WMU 49 is about 41 moose per 100 km2. This considers growing season browse, aquatic feeding Early winter habitat is primarily made up areas, and both early and late winter habitats. of mature or over-mature, open canopy, mixed-wood stands with less than 60 per cent tree cover, as well areas that had been burned or cutover about five to twenty years ago. Early winter habitat Seasonal movements of moose in Ontario Late winter habitat consists of denser stands of mature conifer with good overhead cover. Mixed stands made up of less than half mature conifer should also be considered as late winter habitat if pure conifer stands are not available. Upland sites are preferred. Growing season browse Late winter habitat Moose Management in WMU 49 Moose management considers the best available knowledge, including scientific, local and Aboriginal traditional knowledge, as well as social, cultural and economic values. It also respects Aboriginal peoples’ unique perspectives and practices related to moose management, including the exercise of constitutionally protected Aboriginal and Treaty rights. The ecosystem based management of moose includes the management of populations, harvest and habitat, with consideration of potential stressors, such as climate change, predator- prey interactions and disease. Population Status and Trends Managing moose populations requires information on their Photo: NortheastMNR Region abundance, distribution, harvest, and recruitment trends. In Ontario, the size of the moose population is estimated on a Estimated Calves/100 Cows WMU basis through the use of Moose Aerial Inventories. Minimum Desired # Calves/100 Cows Inventories use a consistent method across the province for estimating moose populations from an aircraft, and are 80 generally conducted every three to five years. Five surveys have been conducted since 1996 providing 60 population estimates ranging from approximately 579 to 1183 moose (Figure 2). The last survey in 2010 estimated a 40 population of 1183 +/- 308 moose, a density of 32 moose per 2 100 km . It confirmed that the population has remained 20 stable since 1999. In 2010 the population was composed of # Calves / 100 Cows 100 / Calves # 31% bulls, 48% cows, and 21% calves, with 43 calves per 0 100 cows. 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 Calf moose generally experience higher mortality from a Year variety of sources, including predation and harvest. In WMU 49, calf survival has declined since 1996, but has not fallen below the desired minimum threshold of 30 calves per 100 Figure 1: Calf recruitment (# Calves per 100 cows to help ensure the population is maintained (Figure 1). Cows) trends estimated from moose aerial inventories compared to lowest desired level. M oose Density (with 90% confidence intervals) Ecological Population Density Upper and Lower Limits of density for CEZ D2) A goal of moose management is to keep the moose density within a range at which they can fulfill their 50 natural role in the ecosystem. The desired ecological 40 population density varies between Cervid Ecological 30 Zones across the province. 20 Key factors affecting natural moose ecology are 10 habitat suitability, other cervid species, natural predators such as wolves and black bears, and km2 Moose/100 # 0 climate change. 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 Since 1999 all estimates of the moose population for Year WMU 49 have been within the limits of the desired * there is a 90% chance the population falls within the range shown ecological density (20 - 40 moose per 100 km2) for Cervid Ecological Zone D2 (Figure 2). Figure 2: Moose Density (with upper and lower limits of the ecological density for CEZ D2) Moose Management in WMU 49 Harvest Management The moose hunting season in WMU 49 begins on the third Monday in October and lasts for six days. This season is for resident hunters only and allows rifles, shotguns, bows and muzzle-loaders to be used . Presently there is no separate archery or muzzle- loader season. Harvest Statistics The estimated number of moose harvested annually by Adult Validation Tag Quotas residents hunters from 1996 to 2011 has ranged from Harvest planning, including adult validation tag 98 to 205 animals per year, averaging 15% of the quotas, is done annually to reflect the most recent population (Figure 3). Calves averaged 49% of the population survey and harvest information. From harvest decreasing to 45 % over the last five years. 1996 to 2011 the number of adult validation tags allocated to resident hunters averaged 176 tags (Figure 4). The average number of adult tags allocated to tourist outfitters during this period was 5. Over the last five years, the average Bull Cow Calf number of resident tags increased to 188 while 350 tourist outfitter tag average remained at 5. 300 250 Hunter Interest 200 Hunter interest in WMU 49 is very high. As in 150 most of Ontario, the number of hunters interested \ 100 in hunting in WMU 49 greatly exceeds the amount 50 of available adult tags. In 2011 there were 3430 0 # Moose Harvested Moose # Choice 1 applicants for 190 adult tags resulting in 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 an average of one tag for every 18 resident hunter Year applications (Figure 4). Resident tag numbers for Figure 3: Resident Harvest 2012 were 134 bull and 47 cow. Some harvest of moose in this unit is taken by nearby First Nation community members. In addition to harvest data, information on the past success rates of hunters in filling their moose tags is used when planning the harvest. Tag fill rate for bull hunters has averaged 41% (range: 33-55%). Fill rate for cow hunters averaged 51% (range: 36-65%) and has remained higher than bull hunter success in most years. Bull Tags Cow Tags Total Applicants 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 Report resource abuse. Call the # Applicants or # Applicants Tags toll free reporting line at any time: 500 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) 0 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 MNR 51953 Year © Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2013 Figure 4: Resident Gun + Archery Tag Supply .