Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

In Sweden hunters and wolves both have an interest in hunting moose. This thesis is therefore a contribution to the current carnivore-game conflict resulting from this interest. The use of a production function approach is applied in order to value the impact of wolves on hunting values. An open access model is developed which derives a regression equation setting hunters’ harvest of moose per km2 as the dependent variable. Data on wolves, the moose harvest, hunting licenses and different Swedish game series is included in the analysis. Estimating empirically for the study period from 2002 to 2011, we identify the marginal product of wolves, the marginal cost in terms of loss in hunting revenues. We also compare the level of hunting effort with and without wolves in the system. This is done in the short term and for a steady-state equilibrium in the long term. The latter assumes a constant moose population and thus an effort adjustment by hunters. Our findings suggest a significant negative impact of the wolf on the moose harvest. When looking at both national data and different county groupings, there appear to be differences in marginal impacts as well as costs. Wolves in the counties with high wolf densities have lower marginal impacts than in counties with fewer wolves. This is reasonable, as wolf packs kill similar amounts of moose per year irrespective of their size.
The marginal productivity of hunting effort did not vary much within and between groupings, whether there were wolves present or not. Under the current debate, this study adds in terms of shedding light on the change in hunters’ harvest revenues by wolves. However, the results do not consider social costs and thus conclusions for the wolf policy in Sweden have to be made with caution. Actions already attempt to address the conflict, yet it remains to be seen whether they are effective.