Management and regulated harvest of moose (Alces alces) in Sweden

Moose management has contributed to the large changes in the Swedish moose population during the last decades. Simulation experiments and monitoring of population parameters are two tools in the management system studied in this thesis. They can be used to increase the understanding of effects of different harvest strategies on game animals. A simulation model has been used to show how moose populations in south-central Sweden are affected by different hunting strategies and how factors like sex-ratio, age structure, and reproductive traits regulate population development. The population in the model can be effectively regulated by altering the hunting pressure between the productive (females) and non-productive (males and calves) categories. Use of models shows that some harvest strategies may have long lasting effects on the population. Different goals and populations require different harvest strategies. A goal does not have to be a single product (number of moose shot, kg of meat, or number of trophy males). It could be based on several sub-goals, where economic weights reflect preferences for the relevant products. Observation rates of moose reported by Swedish hunters are used to monitor moose populations. The accuracy of population parameter estimates can be improved by using observation rates obtained from large sampling areas. The quality required of the monitored parameters, together with the regional or local variation, should decide the size of the sampling areas. Hunter moose observation rates were affected by hunting efforts (individual hunting team, team size), length of observation period and by the various moose categories. Observation rates of male moose and different categories of females were modelled very differently. Identification, standardisation and calibration of relevant parameters and monitoring methods can improve the estimates of population size and its changes. Future moose management needs an integration of biological, technical, economic and human dimensions. Decision-makers should answer a number of questions before deciding on regulation strength of the population and number of moose to harvest. Finally, in order to obtain a complete management system consisting of planning, acting (regulation), monitoring and feed back, I particularly suggest an examination of how individual hunters view the hunt and its management