HUNTING RESOURCES OF THE “MOLTY” BASE TERRITORY OF THE TRAINING AND EXPERIMENTAL HUNTING FARM OF IRKUTSK SAU “GOLOUSTNOE” AND THEIR USE (SOUTHERN PRE-BAIKAL REGION)
Judging by the results of hunting in the seasons of 2017-2020, hunting for sable and squirrel did not go beyond the limits of norm removal with a relatively low state of their numbers. The accounting areas, as well as the territory of the “Molty” hunting base, can be attributed to the optimal (best) habitats of roe deer and red deer (Manchurian deer) and suboptimal habitats of sable, squirrel, musk deer, and hazel grouse. For large predators in general, these are also suboptimal habitats. This may contribute under similar other conditions to approximately the same number of sable individuals in the 2021-2022 hunting season and possibly a significantly larger number of squirrels. The number of wolves on the territory of the base according to the data for the observed period was about 4 individuals, similarly to the lynx. Moreover, the prey averaged three wolves per year and one lynx, which was far from being hunted every year. The use of the resources of the red deer also did not go beyond the permissible limits at a high state of its numbers. The number of this species under the current circumstances, taking into account the annual winter feeding and sowing of forage fields, can remain high. The state of the number and prey of the wolf and lynx is relatively stable. Judging by the results of hunting and the proportion of individuals remaining on the territory in 2020, hunting for hazel grouse with an average state of its numbers, was moderate. This allows us to assume no less autumn number of individuals in the hunting season 2021-2022 with relatively identical other conditions.