EXTERNAL FACTORS AFFECTING BULL MOOSE VOCALIZATIONS AND VULNERABILITY TO HUNTING

• Main Authors: Dussault, Claude, Huot, jEAN
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Lakehead University 1986
• Subjects: Alces alces
• Online Access: http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/1343

A study was conducted on the relationships between bull moose (Alces alces) vocalization activities, weather conditions and vulnerability of bulls to hunting. Vocalization behaviour was studied in the Pac National de la Jacques-Cartier (Québec) between August 15 and October 31, 1984 and hunting statistics were obtained for a 12 years period (1973-1985) for the Réserve des Laurentides. Vocalization activities peaked in late September and early October and hunting success for bulls was also greatest during the last week of September. None of the external factors was found to affect vocalization activities or hunting success for bulls. Breeding behaviour is probably under photoperiodic control and is responsible for the increased vulnerability of bulls, at least with the hunting technique used in Québec.