Idaho Moose Management Plan 2020-2025 DRAFT December 10, 2019 1 This page intentionally left blank. 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Shiras Moose (Alces alces shirasi) occur across much of Idaho, except for the southwest corner of the state. Moose are highly valued by both hunters and non-hunters, providing consumptive and non-consumptive opportunities that have economic and aesthetic value. Over the past century their known range has expanded from small areas of northern and eastern Idaho to their current distribution. Population size also increased during this time, likely peaking around the late 1990s or early 2000s. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is concerned that current survey data, anecdotal information and harvest data indicate moose have recently declined in parts of Idaho. Several factors may be impacting moose populations both positively and negatively including predation, habitat change (e.g., roads, development, timber harvest), changing climate, disease or parasites and combinations thereof. IDFG was established to preserve, protect, perpetuate and manage all of Idaho’s fish and wildlife. As such, species management plans are written to set statewide management direction to help fulfill IDFG’s mission. Idaho’s prior moose management plan (Idaho Department of Fish and Game 1990) addressed providing a quality hunting experience, the vulnerability of moose to illegal harvest, protecting their habitat, improving controlled hunt drawing odds and expanding moose populations into suitable ranges. The intent of this revision to the 1990 Moose Management Plan is to provide guidance for IDFG and their partners to implement management actions that will aid in protection and management of moose populations in Idaho and guide harvest season recommendations for the next 6 years. This plan directs IDFG to maintain or increase moose populations and hunting opportunities across the state. To accomplish this goal, IDFG has identified statewide management directions and strategies. IDFG will engage partners interested in moose management including hunters, federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, tribes and other interested individuals and groups as this plan is implemented. Partnerships can help IDFG accomplish goals to maintain sustainable populations, healthy habitat and hunting opportunity. IDFG has identified a need to improve our ability to estimate population size and productivity and changes in these measures over time. We also need to be able to identify the causes of increases and decreases in populations and what management strategies we can employ to address these issues. Habitat, parasites, pathogens, predators, changing climate, development, etc. could all impact moose survival and productivity. As portions of Idaho continue to change, identifying areas projected to experience the greatest increases and decreases in moose numbers relative to the potential changes will help prioritize research and management. Moose use a wide variety of habitats in Idaho including mesic, aspen and dryland conifer, mountain brush and sagebrush steppe. During winter they will use a variety of habitats including sagebrush steppe and dense forest. Moose habitat in Idaho can be broadly grouped into 3 types; coniferous forests of north Idaho, mixed aspen and conifer forests of southeast and central Idaho and riparian cottonwood and willow communities found in parts of southern Idaho. We divided the moose distribution into 20 Data Analysis Units (DAUs) based on our current knowledge of habitats, distribution and connectivity among populations, harvest, and other management concerns (e.g., social tolerance). 3 Hunters are allowed to harvest one bull and one cow moose in Idaho in their lifetime, except Super Hunt tag winners and left-over tag holders may harvest a moose regardless of any previous moose harvest. All tags are issued under a controlled hunt structure and are allocated through a lottery system. Relatively few tags are offered and they are highly sought after with demand having increased over time. Moose are more vulnerable to human exploitation (e.g., poaching, hunting, vehicle collisions) than other ungulate species such as elk (Cervus canadensis) or deer (Odocoileus spp.) due to their large size, high visibility, low population densities, habit of frequenting roadsides and tendency to be less wary. Moose are polygamous, allowing for more male harvest than female harvest. However, male moose cannot be harvested at as high of rates as other ungulate species, like deer and elk, because of lower densities and breeding behavior. Currently, Idaho suffers from a lack of data to monitor population and productivity trends, identify causes of decline and prescribe management actions. This plan identifies management direction and strategies to gather data and improve our ability to manage moose populations. Implementation of all strategies will be subject to available funding and personnel. Statewide moose management direction in this plan includes: • Increase our knowledge of moose survival, recruitment, habitat use, genetics and the impacts of disease, habitat changes, predation and recreational activities. • Improve the quality of moose population monitoring data to better evaluate population trends. Create guidelines for moose translocations in Idaho. • Collaborate with private landowners and land management agencies to incorporate measures in land use and resource management plans that benefit moose. • Provide harvest opportunity while maintaining stable to increasing moose populations statewide. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 3 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Moose Management Plan (1990) Goals and Accomplishments ............................................................... 8 POPULATION MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................... 10 Distribution ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Survival .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Population Monitoring ............................................................................................................................ 16 HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND DISEASE ............................................................................................ 19 Parasites and Pathogens ......................................................................................................................... 19 Genetic Diversity ..................................................................................................................................... 21 Monitoring .............................................................................................................................................. 21 Translocation ........................................................................................................................................... 21 PREDATION............................................................................................................................................. 23 HABITAT .................................................................................................................................................. 25 North Idaho Habitat Zone (DAUs: North Idaho, Prairie, Upper St. Joe-CDA, Lower St. Joe-Dworshak, Hells Canyon, Elk City, Lochsa-Selway) ................................................................................................... 27 Central Idaho Habitat Zone (DAUs: McCall, Middle Fork, Salmon Mountains, Beaverhead, Pioneer, Smoky-Bennett) ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Southeast Idaho Habitat Zone (DAUs: Medicine Lodge, Island Park, Teton, Snake River, Caribou, Bannock) ................................................................................................................................................. 29 CLIMATE ................................................................................................................................................. 33 HARVEST MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................. 39 Hunting Opportunity ............................................................................................................................... 39 Hunting Tag Allocation Strategies ........................................................................................................... 40 Harvest Monitoring ................................................................................................................................. 40 DATA ANALYSIS UNITS ....................................................................................................................... 42 North Idaho DAU (GMU 1) ...................................................................................................................... 42 Prairie DAU (GMUs 2, 5, 8) .....................................................................................................................