Longarone's report
The ungulate population in the province of Belluno is stable . The coverage of the harvest plans validated by ISPRA (the Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, the research institute and operational arm of the Ministry of the Environment) is consistent with previous years. This is confirmed by the report "Ungulate Management in the Province of Belluno," which essentially represents the results of the 2023-2024 wildlife and hunting season. It was presented this morning at Longarone Fiere during the "Hunting, Fishing, Nature" event, with the results from the 66 Alpine hunting reserves (plus three wildlife and hunting companies).
The numbers in detail
The latest censuses, carried out last spring, said that there are an estimated 33.366 ungulates in the Belluno area (excluding wild boar and fallow deer). In particular 12.511 roe deer, 12.120 deer, 7.435 chamois, and 1.300 mouflon. The harvest plans for 2023-2024 amounted to 6.645 heads (1.814 for roe deer, 3.467 for deer, 844 for chamois, 421 for mouflon and 99 for fallow deer). The total reached at the end of the hunting season is 5.519, 6.199 if we also add the wild boars killed (which are an eradicable species, subject to total control to prevent the spread of swine fever). That is, 83% coverage of withdrawal plans.
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The sampling of ungulates
In particular, 1.567 roe deer were collected (therefore 86% of the animals foreseen in the collection plan), 3.069 deer (89% of the plan), 751 chamois (89% of the plan), 131 mouflons (31 % of the plan) and 1 deer (1% of the plan). The data is in line with those of recent years. In particular, there is a stabilization between 80 and 90% regarding the coverage of deer, roe deer and chamois culling plans. A correct distribution of withdrawals by sex class (male and female) is also visible. The population estimate of ungulates is stable.
A new census method
The Province of Belluno has already experimented with a new method of census of ungulates, testing the use of photo traps and thermal cameras for roe deer in the Belluno alpine reserve. A new way of compiling population estimates is also being studied with consultants from the University of Sassari, which takes into account the presence of the wolf: the large predator is in fact a regulator of the fauna as regards deer, roe deer and other ungulates, especially females and young.
