Effects of Hunting on Survival and Productivity of Dall Sheep
Murphy EC, Singer FJ, Nichols L. 1990. Effects of Hunting on Survival and Productivity of Dall Sheep. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 54(2):284-290
We examined Dall sheep (Ovis dalli) populations in Alaska to determine if the harvest of old rams affected either the survival of young rams or lamb and yearling production. We hypothesized that proportions of young rams would be lowest in areas where old rams were most heavily harvested if survival of young rams is depressed when old rams are culled. However, there were no significant (P>0.05) relationships between the proportions of young and old rams in analyses of helicopter and ground surveys or fixed-wing aerial surveys. Two comparisons of population composition between nearby unhunted and hunted populations showed no relationship between the harvest of old rams and the proportions of young rams in the populations, and no effect of hunting on lamb or yearling production was evident. Likewise, a comparison of population composition in 2 areas soon after closure to hunting and several years later showed no clear relationship in proportions of old rams and young rams. Overall, survival of young rams and production of lambs and yearlings did not appear to be affected by harvest of old rams, but the hypothesis deserves more rigorous testing.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Murphy, Edward; Singer, Francis; Nichols, Lyman
- Units
- CAKN , DENA , WRST , YUCH
- Keywords
- Calving, dall's sheep, Human Disturbance, Hunting, Mammals, Mortality, Ovis dalli, Reproduction, Ungulates