European elk fodder base evaluation in forestry fund of Vologodskoe hunting establishment

Using the example of the hunting farm «Vologodskoye», an assessment of the stocks of the fodder base of the European elk population was carried out and the optimal number of individuals from the point of view of damage and restoration of feed stocks was determined. At winter stations, it was found that the most visited areas by elk are plantations with the presence of young trees and shrubs, mainly deciduous — aspen (up to 25 years old), willow (up to 10 years old), birch (up to 20 years old), gray alder (up to 12 years old). The potential supply of branch fodder at winter stations reaches 1,62 tons, the winter consumption period is 220–230 days. The daily requirement for twig feed for one elk is 7–20 kg (depending on the age of the individuals), the annual consumption of winter wood-twig feed by one moose is about 3 tons. It has been established that, taking into account the potential stock of used feed and the volume of annual feed consumption, it is possible to feed 0,5 elk in the surveyed area of winter habitats, and 418 individuals, calculated for the entire area of the farm suitable for the habitat of the species.