Hunting statistics as indicators of game population size and composition

Abstract

Game kill statistics are often reasonably good indicators of the main rhythm of variation in common small game and predatory species with marked short-term population fluctuations. However, they only poorly reflect general changes in population levels of small game. Yield statistics may indicate major changes in the population levels of some larger mammals like the larger carnivores and deer species. Kill statistics should be supplemented with data on age and reproduction in order to obtain an adequate picture of the age composition of the population. Hunting statistics are essential for proper management of many game species.