Den öländska älgstammens förvaltning : en granskning av förvaltningsplanerna och jaktens upplägg

Sammanfattning: To Swedes in general and, to hunters in particular, there is a great interest for moose (Alces alces), witch is Sweden's largest deer species. In the province of Öland (Sweden's second largest island) the local people show a great interest for the moose existence, both for consumptive (hunting) and non-consumptive use (tourism). This became apparent in 2002 when the moose hunters on Öland voluntary agreed to temporarily postpone the moose hunt on the island. This was agreed upon because the moose population believed to be too small for a sustainable harvest. The break lasted for four consecutive hunting seasons. Before the on set of the hunt in the fall of 2006, two moose management areas had been established; one for Borgholm and one for Mörbylånga municipalities respectively. The areas have identical moose management plans. In order to maintain a sustainable moose population and sustainable harvest, including effects of future hunting, the managements plan direct on how the hunt should be carried out. This paper maintains a critical evaluation if the hunting plan is based on moose science or common knowledge. To get an overview of the moose population's development during the next ten years, a deterministic population model was designed. The model also displays how large the hunting harvest can be without a reduction in moose numbers, or major changes in age and sex distribution. My evaluation shows that the management plans are sound and that the moose population has a good chance to develop in the direction that the members of the management area's wishes. The hunting plan mainly is in agreement with scientifically derived knowledge. My overall conclusion is that the current plans serve as a good base so that Öland will be able to have a vigorous moose population.