No Surprises at Annual Moose-Hunt Draw by Beth Cameron

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No Surprises At Annual Moose-Hunt Draw!

by Beth Cameron

June 30th, 1999 Middle River, N. S. - Two hundred Nova Scotians have been given the opportunity to hunt for moose in the province this fall. The Minister of Natural Resources, Ken MacAskill was on hand to begin the annual 'moose draw', plucking the first names from a barrel containing
the 14,497 applications received this year.

The season will run from October 11th to 23rd in Inverness and Victoria
counties, which have the highest moose populations in the province. In 1998 hunters bagged 192 moose, compared to 182 in 1997 and 174 in 1996. There has not been a moose hunt on the mainland since 1981.

According to Tony Nette, a wildlife manager with the Department of Natural Resources in Kentville, the department had considered raising the number of licenses available this season. Mr. Nette says that while the population could withstand a larger hunt the department decided against increasing the numbers at this time. Mr. Nette notes that the difficulty in ensuring a more equitable hunt throughout the hunting area, as well as the damage caused by the use of all-terrain vehicles, were important factors in the decision.

To better manage these factors, as well as the herd itself, DNR is
considering the possibility of dividing the hunting region into zones,
similar to the division of the provincial moose herd in 1997.