responsibility when using private roads to exercise the greatest amount of caution 

 and good manners. 



Prospects are good for another record season. Aerial inventories of the 

 moose herd indicate a high density population throughout the western, central and 

 northern moose ranges. Weather, as an unpredictable variable will continue to 

 influence the harvest. 



OTHER STUDIES 



An accurate census of the numbers of moose present is an essential part of 

 proper management of this species in Ontario. Each year District Fish and Wild- 

 life staff record the density and distribution of moose within the Forest District 

 by aerial sampling of a portion of the total moose range. Across most of northern 

 Ontario there has been no indication of an upward or downward trend in the 

 moose population with a density in suitable habitat of one moose for every one or 

 two square miles. 



As an additional check on the number of moose per square mile obtained 

 from the aerial survey, District staff conduct pellet group counts on a larger 

 number of systematically selected plots. 



Besides collecting data on moose per unit area and distribution in Ontario 

 most Districts attempted to assess what effect high moose populations have on 

 their habitat. Using a standard method, Lands and Forests personnel have studied 

 the browsing habits of moose in a variety of environments. 



The Department of Lands and Forests continued studies to determine the 

 various types of parasites and diseases and their normal occurrence in Ontario's 

 moose herd. The purpose of this study is to be able to detect, incidence of 

 increased disease or parasite activity in the moose herd and thereby enable the 

 game manager to exercise control measures. 



The technique of tagging moose from a helicopter which was developed in the 

 Sioux Lookout Forest District in 1959 was undertaken in the Geraldton Forest 

 District again this year for the fourth year in a row. Twenty-eight moose were 

 marked with metal ear tags in twenty-eight flying hours. The project is designed 

 not only to trace the animal movements of individual moose but also to determine 

 if moose from inaccessible regions move to range adjacent to roads, thereby filling 

 the vacuum created by the removal of animals during the open season. 



Spring Bear Hunting 



Bear hunting in the spring is gaining popularity with sportsmen. In 1965, 

 2,647 non-resident and 583 resident licences were sold. Bears are abundant 

 throughout northern Ontario and this fact is shown by high hunter success rates 

 as indicated in the following table. 



Table 6 



SPRING BEAR HUNTING 1964-65 



36 



