Atlin Moose LEH

The public is invited to comment on the proposed hunting regulation described below.

Status: Proposed

Region: 6

Management unit (MU): 6-25, 6-26

Regulation type: Limited Entry Hunting

Species: Moose

Closing date: 16:30, March 22, 2024

Decision statement: Pending

Current regulation

Moose are currently managed under general open seasons in MUs 6-25, 6-26, season dates and antler restrictions vary depending on location/access. In accessible areas the season is Aug 23 to Sept 15 and Oct 16 to Oct 31, restricted to spike-fork, tri-palm, or 10 point (SOFT-10) bull moose only, Sept 16-Sept 30 for any bull, and closed to licensed moose hunting from Oct 1-Oct 15.  

Proposed regulation

Repeal the General Open Seasons in the accessible portions of M.U.s 6-25 and 6-26 and replace with Sept 1-Sept 24, Sept 25-Oct 10, and Nov 1-Nov 7 LEH any bull hunts.

Rationale

Recent population inventory work completed for the Atlin Moose Population Management Unit (PMU) has indicated concerns for Atlin moose at the sub-PMU scale, specifically in areas highly accessible by road known to be hunted. In the Atlin PMU, population metrics are calculated at two spatial scales: first at the Regional Atlin Moose (RAM; not the full PMU) scale, and secondly, at a smaller scale, the Local Atlin Moose (LAM) area. The LAM represents the accessible roaded area around the community of Atlin, and is understood to be the preferred area of harvest for many First Nations harvesters and highest use area for BC-licensed hunters.

The most recent population survey estimated a demographic ratio of 17 bulls:100 cows in the LAM. This ratio is lower than the surveys conducted in 2007 and 2015 and is also below the provincial PMU-level guideline of 50 bulls:100 cows for a low-density moose population. Additionally, a decreased calf ratio was found, although it is acknowledged the calf ratios can be more variable year-to-year, as indicated by the higher calf:cow ratios in the smaller LAM area (30:100) compared to the larger RAM area (24:100). Overall, these population metrics signal a concern for the LAM within the overall Atlin PMU. It is also noteworthy that in the RAM, bull:cow ratios are stronger (34:100) meaning targeted regulatory change in the LAM could reduce hunter density in the area of concern, while still allowing for hunting in the less accessible and unroaded areas in the RAM.

Bull harvest in the larger area has remained relatively consistent from 2018 to 2021. Since 2018, most bull harvest in the LAM occurs during the Sept 16-30 any-bull general open season, due to overlap with rut timing and ease of (roaded) access, and the estimated BC-licensed bull harvest rate in the LAM is relatively high (mean of 43% between 2018 and 2022. Preliminary 2022 CI data showed a consistent level of harvest within the RAM, but an increase in the number of bulls harvested within the LAM.

The intent of this regulation proposal is to manage licensed hunter harvest of moose in the LAM to ensure bull:cow ratio targets are met. The Atlin Lake Moose Area, a boundary initially defined in the 2018 synopsis that is familiar to hunters, has been refined in this proposal to better align with the boundary of the LAM.

• Objectives of this proposal are to:
  • At the Local Atlin Moose (LAM) area
  • Increase bull:cow ratios.
  • Improve ability for First Nations harvesters to meet sustenance and cultural needs (e.g., personal, household, and community food security throughout the year and exercising traditional practices).
• At the RAM scale:
  • Increase bull:cow ratios.
  • Improve hunting quality and peaceful enjoyment of the land by reducing crowding, specifically in camps and cultural areas, and reducing land use conflicts between community members and licensed hunters.
  • Maintain a diversity of hunting and recreational opportunities.
  • Implement a precautionary principle management approach to address scientific information gaps and uncertainties.

Additional information

Proposed Atlin moose LEH areas