Moose hunting: 17% drop in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean in 2022

MISE À DAY

Moose hunting has not been as successful as in past years in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean in 2022, especially since the number of moose harvested has decreased by 17% in zone 28 compared to the last year. 

“In the past years, we hit hard in the candy dish,” said the hunting and fishing columnist at the Journal de Québec, Julien Cabana, for whom hunters have a duty to take responsibility and protect the female moose.< /p>

“If we leave an adult female with a calf half the time, we arrive at 25 animals after five years”, he specified.

Julien Cabana has cited as an example the Gaspé where a specific number of female licenses is awarded each year by drawing lots.

“When we started protecting the female there were between 50 and 60,000 moose in Quebec. Seven years later, the herd numbered 122,000. This proves that this is the solution if we want to preserve the moose population.”

The climatic conditions and the evolution of moose hunting can also influence the behavior of animals, according to another expert.

“Before, people hunted mainly in a watchtower, explained the owner of Chasse et Pêche Chicoutimi, Éric Lapointe. New hunting techniques mean that hunters will go after game and this is one of the reasons why we see less of it, we disturb them.”

The Ministry of Faune is currently carrying out an aerial inventory of moose in zone 28. This is the first since 2006.

According to preliminary information obtained by Éric Lapointe, the moose population is in good health. in Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean.

Furthermore, the number of followers remained stable in the region.