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Hunting and Conservation of Taiga Bean geese in the Nordic Countries from Hunters perspective. Niklas Liljebäck & Ere Grenfors. Hunting on B ean G oose in Finland and Sweden. Very highly valued game species in Finland: BIG GAME
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Hunting and Conservation of Taiga Bean geese in the Nordic Countries from Hunters perspective. Niklas Liljebäck & Ere Grenfors
Hunting on Bean Goose in Finland and Sweden • Very highly valued game species in Finland: BIG GAME • Considered one of the hardest catch when hunted in breeding area --> very alert and shy species • Traditional way to hunt in Northern and Eastern Finlands breeding areas • One hunter and his dog alone in wilderness • Minimum risk for overharvesting • Hunting season traditionally has started in 20. August nowadays season starts much later because of the restrictions • Highly valued but few hunters focus on the species- more “exotic” than Greylag- and Canadagoose • Normally hunted over decoys in agricultural areas • More attracted to decoys than Greylags. • High pressure on hunters to reduce agricultural conflict- TBG one of other species
Hunting period in Finland and Sweden 2013 1 = North Lapland breeding area: Hunting season starts on 1. September 2 = South Lapland and North Karelia: Hunting season starts on 10. September 3 = Rest of Finland: Hunting season starts on 10. October 4 = South-East Finland: Hunting season starts on 1. October (A. fabalisrossicus migration rest area) Latestchange in 1992 (?) when twoweeksopenseason in Norrbotten wasclosed No changes in last review on periods (2011)
Finland – Bean Goose (Anser fabalis) • Finnish Hunters’ Association official statement on the new restrictions: • Conclusions • The area division is artificial and complicated • The restrictions stop bean goose hunting almost completely • Annual game bag method now is not valid because it is highly inaccurate • Our suggestion • Game bag quota: 1 goose / 1 hunter / year • Tagging the caught goose (North American model) • Duty to report and send wing samples to the research institute • Work for flyway management and training to identify subspecies • Russians also have to get involved in conservation work
Look a like-issue Moreeducationneeded. New methods!? For Anser-species; more focus on calls/voice of sp. For sspofbeangeese not applicableduringhunting. Regulationofhuntingofssphaveto be on species level and adequate geographicalscale
Bag statistics in Finland and Sweden- from hunters pointofview • Data collected by Swedish Association for Hunting and WildlifeManagement since 1939 • Two parallell systems since 2000. • inquirytoindividual hunters (11 000 in 2012) • Volontaryreporting by hunting team/club (30-40% of Sweden covered) • Hunters trust in system high • Judgment on bean goose data • Reasonable for actual number • Good for indicator of trend Random sample method (inquiry to hunters, 5000?, per post, made by Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Hunters trust in the system low Judgment on bean goose data - Low quality Denmark hunters obligated toreport Norway hunters obligated to report
Swedish and Finnish bag of Bean Geese 1997-2011/12 Finland Mean 6350 Sweden Mean 3150
Crippling! Both Swedish and Finnish Hunters NGO’s workwith the problem • Critical mass of shooting ranges • Decreasing numbers of shooting ranges- Expensive and administrative burden • More important that single hunters are aware of their capability • than increasing “overall shooting skills” • Education- hunting methods in focus • Danish experiences/studies • Matter of attitude- TBG as a valued game or a problem (protective hunting) • Find crippling rates presented for different species of geese and swans • extremely high and hard to explain!? Who is shooting on swans?
Adaptive Management is a goodidea! BUT: “Are all geese equal, or are some species more equal than others?”
Conclusions on hunters’ view on Taiga Bean Goose Management Sustainableusehaveto be in focus Valuableecosystem services- high status game Avoid a new BarnacleGoose problem! Russiahaveto be on the bus! Commitment of hunters is crucial • Hunters are a resource in the system butwith limitations • Fundingcountings • Collecting data • Funding research
Sustainable use of TBGthe way to reach successful conservation and fun for the next generation… Thank you!