Page 16, The Cassiar Asbestos Sheet, March, 1974. Fouteté Lae BS ee ae "Yukon hunters currently enjoy huntable populations of all big game species, but the need for flexible and enforceable game laws and zoning to facilitate a bio- logical basis*for species management will become appar- ent in the near future."’ That statement was extracted from the 1973 Game Harvest Report and Summary of Ques- tionnaire Analysis released this week by the Game Branch The report documents the resident hunter success rate s and details the hunting expenses incurred by resident hunters. It also points out a need for game management zones in Yukon. The kill distribution of big game tends to be local- ized near population centers and concentrated along roads and navigable rivers. This information is cur- rently being used to help determine the management zones, A Game Branch spokesman said the management zones will be within well defined boundaries and based on the distribution of hunting pressure. There will be no major restrictions to hunters. The zones will be of "maximum convenience to the public and a minimum of interference to outfitters" said the spokesman. Statistics show there were 5,568 resident hunters, 448 non-resident hunters and 477 general licence holders in Yukon last season according to the summary of the big game harvest. The total kills include 1,632 moose, 1,774 caribou, 60 goat, 315 sheep, 150 grizzly and 191 black bears. Of the 3,568 resident hunters, 2,854 hunted big game. Of the 2,854 resident tag holders 33.6 per cent killed a moose in an average time of 8.34 days. The caribou killed were shot by 19.7 per cent of the resident hunters Goat tag holders had a 9.4 success rate and the rate for sheep tag holders was 7.5. Three per cent of grizzly tag holders were successful and 8.7 per cent of black bear tag holders were success- ful. Of all the hunters that tried this year 60 per cent killed no animal; 33 per cent killed one animal, usually a moose; five per cent killed two animals, usually a moose and a caribou; one per cent killed three animals and less than one per cent of the hunters killed four species of big game. The questionnaire used last year, along with aerial surveys, allowed the information to be gathered. The rate of return on the questionnaires was 33.5 per cent. According to a Game Branch spokesman the return was adequate but a higher percentage return is desirable. He thanks those hunters who returned the questionnaire. 1973 was the first year in which the Game Branch attempted a comprehensive inquiry into the status of big game populations, harvest estimates, the determina- tion of hunting pressure and the hunter success rates. The questionaires were mailed to resident hunters and notices were planted in local newspapers to inform residents of the need for the information. Non-resident kill statistics are gathered from out- fitters and statistics from trappers are gleaned from affidavits which are part of each general licence. The report does not include animals taken by Indians for meat, animals poached or lost by crippling. An estimated $483,092 was spent last season by 2,854 resident hunters for an average cost each of about $170. This figure includes travel, food, weaponry, lodging and a number of miscellaneous items. Questionnaires will be issued with hunting licences this year complete with a new management zone map. A limited number of Game Harvest Reports are available to the public through the Game Branch said a member of the Game Branch. YUKON NEWS A gold nugget was found in Dawson City, Yukon that weighed 72 ounces and 8.5 grains. It was nearly six inches long and was 2 3/4 inches wide at the heavy end and 11/4 inches at the smaller end. At $16 an ounce it was valued at $1,158 in 1898. KAKKKKKEKRERE The romantic era of the Klondike Gold Rush lives on in such aptly named creeks as Bonanza, Eldorado, Hunker, Last Chance, Allgold, Dominion, Gold-run, and Eureka, all near Dawson City, Yukon. KRRKKKEKKKKERER The landmark of Dawson City, Yukon is the Midnight Dome, or as it was called by some, King Solomon's Dome. The Dome can be reached by car and from the 4,220-foot level the whole panoramic view of the Klondike gold field area can be seen. . KKKKKKKEKEKEERE The steamboats Casca and Whitehorse, presently pre- served in Whitehorse, Yukon, are both typical of the old Mississippi model of shallow craft, flat bottom construction with a huge paddle-wheel in the stern. KKKKKKKEKKRE The Yukon River is navigable from Whitehorse to the Bering Sea, a distance of over 2,000 miles. The river winds through Yukon and Alaska and is completely ice free from June 10th until October 5th. KEKKKKEKKKERE River trips in the Yukon are fast becoming summer attractions. With tourists seeking more and more open country the Department of Travel and Information, Yukon, is supplying canoe travel information free for the asking. KKEKKKKKEKKE The Yukon River system offers the canoeist over 600 miles of historic wilderness river travel. The route starting at Lake Bennett, B.C. traces the gold stam peders quest to Dawson City and the Klondike. KEKEKKKKEKKERE More than 250 sternwheeler riverboats plied the Yukon River from 1896 to 1944. Except for a handful, the big majestic boats either sank or have been dis- mantled. KKEKKKKKRERER The Yukon, Stewart and Teslin Rivers in Yukon offer the wilderness traveller hundreds of spectacular miles of river travel. The Department of Travel and Infor- mation has surveys of over 15 Yukon Rivers. KEKKKKKKERER The conoeist in the Yukon will experience true wilderness travel. Sufficient supplies, in the form of dehydrated and freeze dried foods are available in Whitehorse and should be carried for the entire journey. KHRAKAKAKAKKKKER