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Migration is a behavioral strategy used by many ungulates to access resources and avoid predation in heterogenous landscapes. If migratory individuals access higher quality forage and avoid predation, then they should attain greater fitness. Migration can also expose individuals following distinct migratory tactics to differential mortality and harvest. We investigated how transboundary migration affected male elk (Cervus canadensis) survival and antler size when subjected to harvest with different antler point restrictions (APRs) and year‐round harvest by treaty First Nations in a multi‐carnivore system in Alberta, Canada. We measured antler size and age for 35 unmarked, harvested male elk and 90 global positioning system (GPS)‐collared adult male elk. We also estimated radio‐collared elk survival and cause‐specific mortality (105 elk‐years) from 2018 to 2020. Antler size increased as a non‐linear function of age and exposure to high quality forage for migrants. The biological effect size of exposure to higher quality forage (i.e., lower biomass) obtained by migrants was variable but biologically equivalent to the antler size difference (i.e., 33–54 cm) predicted between 5‐ and 6‐year‐old male elk. Annual mortality rate was 0.304 and the primary cause of death was hunting (cumulative incidence functions [CIF] mortality rate = 0.203, n = 33 mortalities) of which a third was by First Nations treaty harvest (CIF = 0.101, n = 12). Non‐human‐caused mortality was rare (CIF = 0.015); only 2 males died because of predation by wolves (Canis lupus). Six‐point APRs resulted in lower annual survival rates (S = 0.42) for male elk with ≥6 antler points, which were usually >4 years of age. Harvest risk increased by 20% for every 1‐km closer to an access road. Elk harvested by licensed recreational or First Nations hunters were similar with respect to male elk age, antler size, date, and location. There was very little evidence that multiple species of large carnivores influenced male elk survival. These results indicate forage quality and vulnerability to harvest by humans influence male elk age structure, and hence antler size, of transboundary and partially migratory populations, even in carnivore‐rich complex systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decomposing variation in juvenile recruitment is a key component of understanding population dynamics for partially migratory ungulates. We investigated reproductive parameters of adult female elk (Cervus canadensis) with calves at heel, and survivorship, cause‐specific mortality, and intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting risk of mortality for calves in a partially migratory elk population from 2013–2016 in Alberta, Canada. Elk calves born to resident mothers had 45% lower survivorship on average compared to migrant calves (0.24 vs. 0.69) and nearly twice the mortality rate (0.37 vs. 0.19) from bears (Ursus spp.), the dominant source of mortality. Contrary to our predictions, we found that increasing levels of maternal ingesta‐free body fat were associated with increasing risk of calf mortality, indicating predation may have overwhelmed nutritional effects. We found no evidence that timing of calf birth or birth weight differed between migratory tactics or influenced mortality risk. We found that as percentage of cut forest increased, risk of calf mortality marginally decreased, which benefited migrant elk that were exposed to more clear‐cuts compared to residents. Exposure to bear predation risk was unimportant during the hiding phase (≤10 days after birth) for either migratory tactic, presumably because neonatal hiding behavior reduced vulnerability. In contrast, bear predation risk was important for mortality risk after 10 days in age, especially for resident elk calves, which were exposed to higher bear predation risk compared to migrants. We conclude that relative differences in bear predation between migratory tactics are contributing to the dynamics of partial migration in this population through additive effects on calf mortality. Thus, wildlife managers should anticipate that recovering grizzly bear (U. arctos) populations may substantially lower elk recruitment through effects on summer calf survival, especially in areas with diverse carnivore assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of migratory behavior or shifts in migratory ranges are growing concerns to wildlife managers. How ungulates prioritize safety from predators at the expense of high‐quality foraging opportunities during calving may be key to understanding these shifts and long‐term reproductive success. We compared trade‐offs in selection for forage and predation risk by elk (Cervus canadensis) following 3 migratory tactics (western and eastern migration and resident) during 2 time periods in a declining (by almost 70% from 2002–2016), partially migratory elk population adjacent to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. We hypothesized that regardless of migratory tactic, maternal elk would show stronger trade‐offs between high‐quality foraging associated with higher predation risk and forage resources of lower‐quality yet lower risk on calving ranges than on ranges used during summer because of vulnerability of their offspring. Additionally, we hypothesized these trade‐offs would occur at high (2002–2006) and low (2013–2016) elk population sizes. We used a machine‐learning algorithm to predict dates of parturition based on global positioning system (GPS) movements of elk equipped with vaginal implants (n = 60) and predictions were within 1.43 ± 0.85 (SE) days of the known date. We applied the model to an additional 58 GPS‐collared elk without vaginal implants. Based on changes in localized movements, we defined calving areas as the 26 days post‐parturition and compared habitat characteristics of calving areas to 10 similar‐sized areas centered on random locations during summer for the same individual in a latent selection framework. Across the 2 time periods, parturition occurred from 8 May–11 July with median parturition dates differing among migratory tactics and residents shifting towards an earlier parturition date in the later period. All elk, regardless of migratory tactic and time period, selected calving areas with greater forage resources than were available on areas used during summer, with no evidence for greater selection of areas that reduced predation risk at the expense of higher‐quality foraging. Calving season selection for areas with abundant forage exposed western migrants to high risk of bear (Ursus spp.) predation, residents to high risk of wolf (Canis lupus) predation, and eastern migrants to low risk of bear and wolf predation. Patterns in exposure to predation risk during calving between migratory tactics were consistent with the recent decline in western migrants and increase in eastern migrants, implying that conditions on calving areas contributed to observed changes in the number of elk following these tactics. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although most wildlife professionals agree that science should inform wildlife management decisions, disconnect still exists between researchers and managers. If researchers are not striving to incorporate their findings into management decisions, support for research programs by managers can wane. If managers are not using research findings to inform management decisions, those decisions may be less effective or more vulnerable to legal challenges. Both of these situations can have negative consequences for wildlife conservation. We outline a collaborative research‐management approach to bridging the gap between wildlife managers and researchers. We describe differences in perspectives, perceptions, and priorities between managers and researchers; outline how and why the divide between researchers and managers has likely occurred and continues to grow; and present specific strategies and recommendations to foster stronger collaborations between managers and researchers. We advocate increased synergy between managers and researchers based on a shared vision of conservation and a collaborative structure that rewards researchers and managers. Most importantly, we suggest that relationships and communication between managers and researchers must be established early in research development and decision‐making processes, fostering the trust needed for collaboration. Institutions and agencies can facilitate these relationships by creating opportunities and incentives for integrating collaborative research into management decisions. We suggest this approach will strengthen ties between researchers and managers, increase relevance of research to management decisions, promote effectiveness of management decisions, reduce legal challenges, and ultimately produce positive, tangible, and lasting effects on wildlife conservation. © 2019 The Wildlife Society. We outline a collaborative research‐management framework where relationships and communication between managers and researchers are developed early in the research development and decision‐making processes. We suggest this approach will strengthen ties between researchers and managers, increase relevance of research to management decisions, promote effectiveness of management decisions, reduce legal challenges, and ultimately produce positive, tangible, and lasting effects on wildlife conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People whom the editors would like to thank as they served as reviewers for the "Journal of Wildlife Management" in 2015 are mentioned.

Animal movement studies regularly use movement states (e.g., slow and fast) derived from remotely sensed locations to make inferences about strategies of resource use. However, the number of movement state categories used is often arbitrary and rarely inferred from the data. Identifying groups with similar movement characteristics is a statistical problem. We present a framework based on k-means clustering and gap statistic for evaluating the number of movement states without making a priori assumptions about the number of clusters. This allowed us to distinguish 4 movement states using turning angle and step length derived from Global Positioning System locations and head movements derived from tip switches in a neck collar of free-ranging elk (Cervus elaphus) in west central Alberta, Canada. Based on movement characteristics and on the linkage between each state and landscape features, we were able to identify inter-patch movements, intra-patch foraging, rest, and inter-patch foraging movements. Linking behavior to environment (e.g., state-dependent habitat use) can inform decisions on landscape management for wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stratification is commonly used to improve sampling efficiency of aerial surveys of ungulate populations with strata typically based on a priori information, such as preflight animal observations or vegetation attributes as surrogates for animal densities. We evaluated the usefulness of stratifying survey units for elk (Cervus elaphus) in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Alberta, Canada, using a resource selection function (RSF). We compared precision and design efficiency (DEFF) of population estimates from stratification approaches based on an RSF model to the past approach using amount of forest cover. We used a sample of telemetry relocations taken over a 3-year period from 165 elk, rarified to times of the day and months of the year when aerial surveys are conducted, to develop the RSF. We then used the top RSF model, based on Akaike's Information Criterion, to derive the average RSF value for an 8-km² survey unit. Using survey data from the first year, we evaluated binning schemes to define RSF-oriented strata based on poststratification and showed that Jenks natural breaks in the RSF values provided the greatest improvement in DEFF and increased precision, compared to 2 other stratification schemes. We then used this approach with data from 2 additional surveys to find that stratification by RSF consistently improves relative precision and design efficiency of elk population estimates, whether we employ pre- or poststratification. Where a RSF is available it could be used as a surrogate for animal densities when conducting stratified sampling for population surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimates of kill rates remain a key limitation to addressing many predator-prey questions. Past approaches for identifying kill sites of large predators, such as wolves (Canis lupus), have been limited primarily to areas with abundant winter snowfall and have required intensive ground-tracking or aerial monitoring. More recently, attempts have been made to identify clusters of locations obtained using Global Positioning System (GPS) collars on predators to identify kill sites. However, because decision rules used in determining clusters have not been consistent across studies, results are not necessarily comparable. We illustrate a space-time clustering approach to statistically define clusters of wolf GPS locations that might be wolf kill sites, and we then use binary and multinomial logistic regression to model the probability of a cluster being a non-kill site, kill site of small-bodied prey species, or kill site of a large-bodied prey species. We evaluated our approach using field visits of kills and assessed the accuracy of the models using an independent dataset. The cluster-scan approach identified 42-100% of wolf-killed prey, and top logistic regression models correctly classified 100% of kills of large-bodied prey species, but 40% of small-bodied prey species were classified as nonkills. Although knowledge of prey distribution and vulnerability may help refine this approach, identifying small-bodied prey species will likely remain problematic without intensive field efforts. We recommend that our approach be utilized with the understanding that variation in prey body size and handling time by wolves will likely have implications for the success of both the cluster scan and logistic regression components of the technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To maximize success, reintroduction programs generally select predator-free release areas having high habitat quality. Past studies provide little insight into recovery efforts where multiple, potentially novel, mortality hazards occur. The ability of translocated animals to cope with novel environments can be affected by both pre- and postrelease experiences with habitat and mortality risks. We experimentally released elk (Cervus elaphus) having different background experiences into an area where predators and hunters were prevalent and habitat quality varied. Using a competing risks approach, we predicted the postrelease survival of individuals and their fidelity to release areas as a function of animal source and postrelease encounters with forage resources and areas used by wolves (Canis lupus) or humans. Mortality patterns were consistent with prerelease exposure to mortality risks but not habitat differences among source areas. Wolf predation, poaching, and legal Native hunting were equivalent in magnitude and accounted for the majority of elk mortalities. Familiarity with either wolves or hunters prior to release yielded first-year survival rates 1.9-2.2 times greater than observed for animals naïve to both risks. These 2 primary sources of mortality traded off temporally as well as spatially given the proximity of roads, which wolves avoided. The prevalence of forage resources in release areas increased fidelity to release sites but coincided with higher mortality risk during the critical first year, potentially setting an ecological trap for animals naïve to local risks. Translocated individuals largely mediated their respective vulnerabilities over time, showing second-year survival rates equivalent to resident elk. In addition to using source populations that are able to adjust to mortality risks in release areas, spatial and temporal variation in mortality risks might be exploited when planning releases to increase the success of translocations into risky landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article lists the reviewers for the "Journal of Wildlife Management" in 2013 including Pelayo Acevedo, Bruce Ackerman and Jessica Blickley.

An introduction is presented in which the editors discusses the aim and scope of the periodical, along with information on the manuscripts and publication policy of the periodical.

In this article, the author discusses the role of supplemental materials for readers provided in the periodical. Topics discussed include increase in manuscripts with supplemental materials in published articles of the journal, information on author-maintained websites to be hosted by the publishers and, submission of materials through digital publishing for supporting published articles.

The article reflects on the editorial policy of the periodical in which the editor discusses the challenges in sustaining a pool of reviewers and impact of less reviewer availability on the review process along with information on the subscription and acknowledgement to the periodical's staff.

In this article, the author focuses on importance of suitable title for the scientific periodicals, and suggestion for authors to choose title. The author mentions use of short title, avoid abbreviations, and use good database indexing to increase research ability. The author informs a study which shows that geographic regions does not improve citation rate.

In this article, the author presents her experience as editor-in-chief of the periodical "Wildlife Society Bulletin." She mentions that the periodical emphasizes on professional training opportunities of students. She informs about the 75th anniversary celebration of the journal. She further discusses career of several editor-in-chiefs of the periodical including Bill Block and Christine Ribic.

A correction to the article "Habitat selection by elk before and after wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park," is presented.