Relationship of Community Characteristics to Harvest Reporting: Comparative Study of Household Surveys and Harvest Tickets in Alaska |
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| Authors: | Jennifer I Schmidt F Stuart Chapin III |
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| Institution: | 1. Scenarios Network for Alaska and Arctic Planning (SNAP), University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), Fairbanks, Alaska, USA;2. Institute of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Troms?/The Arctic University of Norway, Troms?, Norwayjischmidt0@gmail.com;4. The Institute of Arctic Biology and Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), Fairbanks, Alaska, USA |
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| Abstract: | Accurate harvest reporting is critical for wildlife management. Rural Alaskan communities reported a median of 42% of moose harvested via traditional harvest tickets compared to those reported in household surveys. This harvest-report ratio did not change over time. Twice as many moose were reported harvested during subsistence household surveys (n = 8,039) than on hunter harvest tickets (n = 3,557). Percentage of the community that was indigenous, used and shared moose, and absence of a wildlife biologist or road access were associated with low harvest-report ratios. Analysis revealed that household surveys provide important information about moose harvest rates and their use should be expanded. Reporting rates might be improved by building trust through respectful dialogue between hunters and managers and by placing more emphasis on the benefits of reporting harvests and less emphasis on enforcement. |
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| Keywords: | Alaska harvest reporting hunting moose subsistence wildlife management |
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