The Republic of Buryatia

Characteristics of habitat conditions

The territory of the Republic of Buryatia is characterized by a sharply continental climate with large annual and daily fluctuations in air temperature and uneven distribution of precipitation over the seasons of the year; cold winters and hot summers are typical here.

A feature of the climate of Buryatia is the development during the cold period of the year of a powerful northeastern spur of the Siberian anticyclone, which occurs in September-October and disappears in April-May. Therefore, winter is characterized by the number of sunny days and low air temperatures. The lowest temperatures are observed in river valleys and basins, where stagnation and intense cooling of the air occur. The average air temperature in January is -20°С, -30°С, the absolute minimum is -45°С, -55°С. Slightly cloudy, low-wind or calm weather prevails with a minimum amount of precipitation per year. During this period, a significant amount of precipitation does not fall, so the thickness of the snow cover is small.

Severe windless winter gives way to late windy and dry spring with night frosts. During this period, the barometric pressure decreases and cold air flows from the northern regions of Siberia rush into the territory. This contributes to the return of cold weather and the appearance of long and strong winds.

The summer is short, dry in the first half with separate dry winds that have developed on the territory of Mongolia, in the second (July-August) cyclonic activity gradually intensifies, as a result of which moist air masses come from the Pacific Ocean. The wind speed increases and the bulk of atmospheric precipitation falls: 60-70% of the annual norm falls in July and August. The average temperature of the warmest month - July - reaches +15 ºС, +20 ºС, and its absolute maximum is +30 ºС, +38 ºС.

Autumn is short and dry with sharp diurnal temperature fluctuations and often with early frosts.

An essential feature of the climate of the Republic of Buryatia is the long duration of sunshine - 1900-2200 hours, which in this indicator is not inferior, and sometimes exceeds the southern regions of Russia.

In general, the climate is formed under the influence of 3 contrasting components: the dry and cold climate of the northern regions, the hot and dry climate of the Mongolian deserts, and the humid climate of the Pacific Ocean.

The situation regarding the availability of forage for all types of game animals in 2020 within the boundaries of the BNT was characterized as “good”. There was an abundance of mouse-like in most areas, the yield of pine nuts and berries was average, the yield of mushrooms, with the exception of some areas, was “good”.

The prevailing natural and climatic conditions of habitat in 2020 did not cause mass migrations of squirrels, sables, with the exception of certain areas where during the autumn-winter period there were sharp jumps in the number of populations of these fur species caused by migration. There were also annual seasonal migrations of ungulate species, mostly roe deer.

Condition of hunting resources

• Ungulates
• Fur-bearing species
• Predators

• Ungulates
• Fur-bearing species
• Predators

Ungulates

Manchurian wapiti. According to the state records of 2020, the number is 17,864 individuals, which is 4% lower than in 2019. Population stability has been observed over the previous five years. 501 permits were issued for the hunting of this species in the hunting season of 2020 on the territory of the hunting grounds of the BNT, the production amounted to 388 individuals (77% of the number of permits issued).

Wild boar. The number of the species in 2020 in the BNT was 4,703 individuals, which is 3% higher than the number recorded in the previous year. In the hunting season of 2020, 1,822 permits for hunting wild boar were issued in the areas included in the BNT, in total, 897 individuals were hunted, which is 5% more than the harvest of the previous hunting season.

Musk deer. According to the ZMU, in 2020, there were 27,727 individuals in the territory of the BNT, which is 2% higher than the value of the previous year. In total, in the hunting season of 2020, permits were issued for the hunting of 1,086 musk deer individuals, of which 1,083 individuals were harvested. The harvest amounted to 99.7% of the number of mining permits issued, and 4% of the population in the BNT.

Siberian roe deer. The number of the species in the BNT in 2020 amounted to 34,602 individuals, which is 25% higher than in 2019. In the hunting season of 2020, permits were issued for the hunting of 1,840 roe deer in the territory of the BNT, of which 1,504 individuals (81.7%) were hunted. The volume of production increased by 7% compared to the data of the previous hunting season.

Elk. The number of moose in the reporting year at the BNT was estimated at 5,487 individuals, which is 6% lower than the previous year. In the 2020 hunting season, the number of hunting permits issued under the BNT amounted to 110, 75 permits were mastered, which is 10 animals more than last season.

Wild reindeer. The number of the species in the reporting year in the BNT amounted to 2,981 individuals, which is 6% higher than the level of the abundance indicator in 2019. In the 2020 hunting season, permits were issued for the hunting of 241 deer individuals, in fact, 195 individuals were hunted in the hunting grounds within the borders of the BNT, which is 52.3% higher than the figure for the previous hunting season. Hunting was carried out on the territory of certain areas where the population size allows hunting, with the exception of areas where the forest subspecies of the Altai-Sayan population of wild reindeer lives, which is listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Buryatia and the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

Fur-bearing species

Squirrel. In the Republic of Buryatia, within the BNT, the number of squirrels in 2020 amounted to 149,475 individuals, which is 377 individuals less than the number of 2019. During the 2020 hunting season, 1,209 squirrel hunting permits were issued; 22,389 individuals were harvested, which is 4% lower than the volume of the previous hunting season.

Sable. According to the winter count, in 2020, the number of sable reached 35,061 individuals, which is 2% higher than last year. In the 2020 hunting season, 8,776 sables were hunted on the territory of the hunting grounds included in the BNT under 872 permits, which is close to the level of the previous hunting season.

White Hare. According to ZMU-2020, the number of species in the BNT was estimated at 62,706 individuals, which is not lower than the previous indicator. Hare production in the 2020 season at the BNT slightly increased (by 4% compared to last year) and amounted to 4,939 individuals.

Siberian Weasel. In 2020, the population of the species, according to state records, amounted to 7,243 individuals in the BNT, which is 10% higher than the value of the previous year. Production in the season of 2020 amounted to 396 individuals according to the realized production permits in the amount of 346 units.

Fox. In 2020, the number of foxes according to the BNT amounted to 1,824 individuals, which is 11.3% higher than in 2019. Since 2017, in 11 districts of the republic, in connection with the identification of foci of rabies, specialized measures have been taken to reduce its number, as a result, 243 individuals were caught in the reporting year on the territory of the BNT. The volume of amateur production amounted to 174 individuals.

Predators

Lynx. In the reporting year, the number of the species in the republic within the BNT increased by 12% and amounted to 2,309 individuals. In 2020, 119 individuals were caught at the BNT during the hunting season under 94 permits, which is more than 20% lower than the level of production last year.

Bear. In the Republic of Buryatia, in the BNT, the number of species in 2020 amounted to 4,634 individuals (one individual less than last year's values). During the 2020 hunting season, 122 permits for amateur sport hunting were issued within the borders of the BNT, as well as 59 permits for regulating the number of predators due to a threat to human life and health. As a result, 71 specimens were harvested, including 39 under regulation.

Wolf. According to the accounting data, in 2020 the number of species in the BNT was 1,007 individuals (24.2% higher). In 2020, 287 predators were caught within the borders of the BNT as part of amateur sport hunting and measures to regulate the number of wolves. At the same time, throughout the year there are constant migrations of wolves from neighboring regions and Mongolia, which greatly complicates the situation with the predation of wolves.

Upland fowl

Capercaillie. In 2020, in the BNT, the number of capercaillie and stone capercaillie amounted to 48,203 individuals and decreased by 37.3% compared to the previous year. Fluctuations in the number of birds are largely related to the peculiarities of winter counting and the location of the main places of bird concentration during the period under review, as well as to the conditions of reproduction in the spring. During the hunting season, 437 individuals were killed, which is 35.1% lower than last year's figures.

Grouse. Used as an object of amateur hunting. In 2020, the number of the species amounted to 201,236 individuals, which is 38.2% lower than the value of the previous year. The state of populations is significantly affected by climatic conditions during the brooding period, as well as significant anthropogenic impact from the use of forests, fires and other activities. In the 2020 hunting season, 6,044 individuals were hunted on the territory of the BNT, which is 8.2% lower than last year.

Black grouse. In 2020, the post-harvest population of black grouse, according to the ZMU data, in the territory of the republic reached 75,884 individuals, which is 29.9% lower than the value of the previous year. The harvest in the 2020 hunting season was less successful than in the previous hunting season and amounted to 957 individuals in terms of BNT, 24.3% lower than in 2019.

White partridge. It lives mainly in the alpine and subalpine zones. Due to the remoteness and inaccessibility of habitats, information on the abundance is not received in full. The number of the species in 2020 amounted to 17,295 individuals in the BNT, which is 52.4% lower than last year. Obtained from random encounters.

Daurian partridge. Habitats are confined to field lands. According to the data for 2020, the total number of Dahurian partridge in the BNT was 101,469 individuals, which is 27.4% lower than last year's value. In the hunting season of 2020, 3,701 birds were caught, which is 2.4% less than in 2019.