Loss of habitat because of clear-cutting and increased access via forestry roads nearly wiped out the moose during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s in Iyiyuuschii, says the Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Coordinating Committee.
The moose population is still at low levels and needs more protection, according to a recent report from the committee.
This was reflected in the fact that Waswanipi and Mistissini reported a poor moose hunt this year, despite several years of restrictions on hunting. In Mistissini, no kills were reported. This left wildlife officials surprised, since Mistissini is surrounded by three wildlife reserves that are supposed to protect moose from the sports hunt.
Other communities did, however, report a good moose hunt.
The southern part of James Bay, known as Zone 17, has the second-lowest density of moose in Quebec. It is the area most affected by forestry operations and sport hunting.
The population of 1,008 moose in 1985 fell to 551 by 1991 in Zone 17. During this time, 196 moose were being killed each year on average. But only 131 were being born each year, said the report.
The lack of moose has affected subsistence hunting by Crees. The average kill in the 70’s was 143 per year in Zone 17. This fell to 103 in the late 80’s, and to 64 in 1994-96, according to the report.
This year the committee agreed to a five-year plan with special measures to increase the moose populations. Previous year’s plans were made on a year-to-year basis.
The committee is cautiously optimistic that things are looking up due to restrictions on moose hunting. A target of growing the moose population to 800 in Zone 17 has nearly been achieved. The new target for the year 2003 is 1,200 moose. Targets in Zone 22 are also on track.
The committee is recommending that Crees voluntarily not kill females but go after the males and fauns only. Zone 17 will see sports hunting of males only with a maximum of 40 kills allowed for the territory.
Simon Pash, the Cree representative on the joint Cree-Quebec committee, said the plan is good, but the Crees would like to see further measures, like more control over sports hunters. Pash said the lack of game wardens is a problem, and a lot of Crees are qualified. One Cree proposal is provincial recognition of the talleymen as management experts who would set quotas for their traplines. “This worked for thousands of years,” said Pash. Talleymen should be seen as auxiliary game wardens, suggested Pash.
Pash also said the Cree side felt the restrictions applying to zone 17 should also apply to Zone 22.
The Quebec Environment and Wildlife Ministry says Crees are mainly responsible for Zone 22 as 90 percent of the kills are by the Cree. But there are indications that the moose in Zone 22 are overharvested too, The plan calls for alternating years where the females are exempted in Zone 22. This year the hunt allows male and females to be killed.
Zone 22 has an estimated moose population of 4,680, the lowest density in Quebec.
