The preliminary results of the elk flight census carried out in January show that the number of elk in Lapland has decreased.
The preliminary results of the elk flight census carried out in January show that the number of elk in Lapland has come down.
For example, there were just under 550 elk sightings in elk management area eight, which includes the areas of the game management associations of Simon, Keminmaa, Tervola and Ylitornio. In the previous aerial census in 2019, just over 750 moose were seen.
– Although the analysis of the calculation band based on the distance method is still in progress, it does suggest that there has been some downward movement from the 2019 calculation, Paasivaara says.
Flight counts found empty areas of deer
Already during last autumn’s moose hunt, hunters received information that there are more and more areas empty of moose.
– Yes, the flight calculation supports these findings. We are probably already at such a density that there are beginning to be areas where many of the party get pretty much an empty rake, at least somewhere towards the hunting season.
Antti Paasivaaran, a specialist researcher at the Finnish Natural Resources Agency, says that especially in the Simon area, it seems to be empty near the coast and somewhat inland.
– Empty areas were found in the areas of each game management association. In winter, moose congregate in particular places. For good mineral soils and nurseries, at least this way in the middle of winter at the time of aerial survey there are those gaps.
According to Antti Paasivaara, when the hunt starts, the situation is probably different, the moose are then more evenly distributed.
In July, the number of elk permits for the next hunting season will be known
– Based on them, the taxation plans and the final permit amounts will be made. If we compare it to the previous flight calculation, it has gone down from there. Of course, the goal has been to come down towards these current moose goals.
According to Sami Tossavainen, the three-year target set for this deer management area is still in use for one more year, i.e. the target is 2.2–2.7 deer per thousand hectares.
– This spring, the regional game council will also consult the regional stakeholders regarding the management of the deer population. There you will hear from different parties how they have succeeded in managing the deer population.
At the end of July at the latest, it will be known what the number of hunting permits for next fall will be.