ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF BIG GAME HUNTING: AN ALBERTA CASE STUDY *

This article deals with moose hunting activity in the northern half of the Province of Alberta. Canada, for the purposes of reporting the method used in estimating extra‐market benefits and summarizing the research findings. An attempt was made to determine the ecologic and economic implications of a significant increase in Northern Alberta moose hunters as a result of a government program in effect since 1967. Notwithstanding aesthetic, scientific, and other social values, the net social benefits of hunting activity alone amounted to an estimated three‐quarter million dollars for society in general during 1968 and nearly double that amount because secondary net social benefits are included for the people of Alberta for the same season. However, even greater annual social net benefits could result if public policy were implemented to increase hunter activity and ensure its distribution within Northern Alberta in a manner compatible with patterns of moose harvest potential . Cet article traite de la chasse àľorignal dans le nord de la province. Elle a pour but de faire un reportage sur les ‘méthodes employées pour évaluer les bénéfices supplémentaires au marché el de résumer les conclusions de ľétude. Un essai a été fait pour déterminer les implications écologiques el économiques de ľaugmentation du nombre de chasseurs dans cette région depuis le changement du réglement par le gouvernment provincial en 1967, Néanmoins les valeurs esthétiques, scienlifiques et sociales, la chasse àľorignal a rapportéà la société en général environ trois quarts de million de dollars et presque le double à la province parce que les bénéfices secondares sont inclus en Alberta pour la même saison. Cependant un plus grand profit pourrait être réalisé si la politique était changée pour assurer une augmentation du nombre de chasseurs et la répartition de ceux‐ci dans le nord de la province ďune façon plus compatible avec la population de ľorignal . Summary The moose resources of Alberta Big Game Zone 1 are of considerable value to society as a whole and to the people of Alberta in particular. Notwithstanding aesthetic, scientific, and other values, the net social benefits of hunting activity alone amounted to approximately $750,000 for society in general during 1968 and nearly double that amount for the people of Alberta for the same season (Table 4). However, the moose resources in Zone 1 as a whole are currently underutilized. At least 7,000 harvestable surplus moose will be available into 1972 (Table 1). To the extent that social net benefits to the province are directly a function of the number of resident and nonresident hunters, substantial increases in these benefits can be realized. For example, should the projected 23 percent increase in Zone 1 resident hunters for 1973 relative to 1968 (Table 2) be accompanied by a smiliar increase in nonresident hunters, annual social net benefits to the province would be in the order of 1.8 million dollars (1968 dollars) by 1973. 22 However, gradual increase as exemplified here depends largely upon implementation of policy to ensure a distribution of hunters compatible with area harvest potential.