Overview
Aerial surveys are the primary method used to assess the population size, distribution, population trends and herd composition of ungulates in Alberta.
These pieces of information are crucial to the effective management and conservation of ungulates, and are used by the Government of Alberta to set hunting licence allocations, identify areas with agricultural depredation problems, and determine priority areas for recovery actions.
Aerial surveys of ungulates have a long history in Alberta, and have continuously evolved to take advantage of new analytical techniques, aircraft, and knowledge of the abundance and distribution of ungulate species.
Currently, aerial surveys are used to monitor all species of ungulates in the province, including:
- bighorn sheep
- bison
- caribou
- elk
- moose
- mountain goats
- mule and white-tailed deer
- pronghorn antelope