1. Periodic Harvest as a Method of Increasing Big Game Yields
- Author
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C. J. Walters, P. J. Bandy, and Colorado Cooper
- Subjects
Ecology ,Yield (finance) ,Statistics ,General Earth and Planetary Sciences ,Big game ,Age distribution ,Productivity ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Nature and Landscape Conservation ,General Environmental Science ,Mathematics - Abstract
Using theoretical arguments and a computer simulation model, we have concluded that in- creased yields may be obtained from some big game populations by harvesting only once every several years. Since productivity per female increases with age in most big game populations, and since hunting shifts the age distribution towards younger animals, annual harvest may result in lowered mean produc- tivity. Periodic harvest may help prevent changes in productivity. Computer simulation suggests that yield may be increased by 10 to 20 percent by periodic harvest and that the best interval between har- vests is usually 24 years. Abstract: Using theoretical arguments and a computer simulation model, we have concluded that in- creased yields may be obtained from some big game populations by harvesting only once every several years. Since productivity per female increases with age in most big game populations, and since hunting shifts the age distribution towards younger animals, annual harvest may result in lowered mean produc- tivity. Periodic harvest may help prevent changes in productivity. Computer simulation suggests that yield may be increased by 10 to 20 percent by periodic harvest and that the best interval between har
- Published
- 1972
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