Effects of Hunting on Black Bears in Prince William Sound
Mcilroy CW. 1972. Effects of Hunting on Black Bears in Prince William Sound. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 36(3):828-837
Within recent years, hunting of black bears (Ursus americanus) has extended from areas near Valdez, Alaska, into previously unhunted regions in Prince William Sound. The success of unguided hunters has declined markedly since 1966, with greater numbers of hunters going on guided hunts and relatively more bears being killed at greater distances from Valdez. The length of time an area was hunted was found to be inversely correlated with the mean age of bears removed and the apparent abundance of bears remaining. The sample of the black bear population that was harvested by hunters was biased towards older male bears. However, relative comparisons of harvest data by time and space are valid. Although net population recruitment has not kept pace with removal of bears in heavily hunted areas, bear hunting has been productive only in certain areas and at specific times. There appears to be a density level of black bears below which further hunting with the techniques employed is unproductive.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Mcilroy, Carl
- Units
- CAKN , GLBA , KLGO , SEAN , SITK , WRST
- Keywords
- Abundance, Age, Hunting, Long Bay, Population, Port Fidalgo, Port Gravina, Port Valdez, Prince William Sound, Sex, Unakwik Inlet, Ursus americanus, Valdez, Valdez Arm