The availability of significant forest land areas in the Lake Ladoga region is of particular importance for commercial
hunting, while it is here that animal and bird abundance is the highest. Numerous medium- and small-sized lakes and mires, a ramified net
of watercourses are essential not only for the conservation of wetland game resources, but also for the reproduction of valuable fur
animals. What makes the habitat favourable for game is the dominance of conifers in the tree stand structure, and the admixture of
conifers in deciduous stands, which raises their value as hunting grounds (see "Environment").
Hunting grounds in southern Lake Ladoga area belong to five administrative districts (tab. 4.5.1).
Table 4.5.1. Structure of the main hunting ground categories in southern Lake Ladoga area (1000 ha)
Districts
Total
Forests
Fields
Wetlands
Area under game enterprises
Volkhovsky
578.3
378.2
56.8
143.3
462.5
Vsevolozhsky
229.6
183.1
26.7
19.8
25.3
Kirovsky
147.0
93.6
12.9
40.5
137.1
Lodeinopolsky
480.6
384.8
23.5
72.3
380.6
Priozersky
344.5
254.0
32.4
58.1
208.5
Region
1780
1293.7
152.3
334.0
1214.0
Priladozhje is home to representatives of 22 game mammal species and over 50 bird species. Even despite prolonged depression of grouse birds (black, hazel and willow grouse) the recreational importance of these species (as well as of capercaillier and woodcock) remains significant.
Table 4.5.2. Ratio (%) of various waterfowl groups on the Ladoga shore and duck broods in the water bodies of the southern Lake Ladoga area (after: Moskalev, 1990)
Objects of Observations
Ladoga southern shore (1400 ha)
Fish-rearing pond 150 ha)
Lake Volochkovo (35 ha)
Mallard
14.2
28.2
16.7
Teals
3.6
15.4
-
Other puddle ducks
21.4
17.9
27.8
Diving ducks
28.6
38.5
55.5
Coot
32.2
-
-
Southern Ladoga lake region is famous for the large number of water bodies and watercourses that attract abundant waterfowl, intensively hunted during spring and autumn migrations.
Table 4.5.3. Tetraonid density in Karelian Lake Ladoga area, data of the 1997 winter counts (ind. in 1000 ha)
District
Wood grouse
Black grouse
Hazel grouse
Willow grouse
Sortavalsky
1.9
5.8
9.1
0
Olonetsky
4.5
18.7
11.9
21.2
Pitkarantsky
0.97
6.5
1.7
0
Lahdenpohsky
2.9
2.9
12.1
0
An important game in the northern Lake Ladoga area is grouse birds. This group is hunted both by local residents and hunters coming from outside the area.
Table 4.5.4.Population density of hunted mammals in southern Lake Ladoga area in 1997 (ind./1000 ha of hunting grounds)
Species
Volkhovsky
Vsevolozh- sky
Kirovsky
Lodejno- polsky
Priozersky
Red squirrel
22.8
13.4
42.0
62.0
18.3
Variable hare
5.1-15.5
2.1-10.9
6.0-16.8
7.0-20.1
15.0-19.1
European harå
0.3
-
0.3
-
0.3
European wolf
0.04
-
0.07
0.07
0.06
Stoat
0.1-0.5
-
0.4
0.5-1.1
0.3-2.3
Red fox
0.8-2.1
0.2-1.4
0.7-2.3
0.2-0.9
0.9-3.0
European lynx
0.03
0.09
-
0.05
0.02
Pine marten
0.2-1.9
0.9
0.5-1.3
0.1-1.2
0.6-0.8
Polecat
0.1
0.1
0.2-0.4
0.2
-
Elk
0.5-1.0
0.9
2.3-4.4
0.4-1.4
2.3-7.8
European wild boar
0.3-0.8
0.1-1.4
0.2
-
0.4-0.6
Note: "-" - no data.
Counts of the species density and abundance in the Lake Ladoga area are hindered by the mixed assortment of landscapes. Data
of long-term observations of waterfowl and wood game abundance is presented in the tables 4.5.2 and 4.5.3. The abundance of game mammals
varies considerably under the effect of human activities. Major hunting mammals in the region are ungulate stocks and fur animals
(tables 4.5.4 and 4.5.5.).
Table 4.5.5. Population density of hunted mammals in Karelian Lake Ladoga districts in 1997 (ind./1000 ha of hunting grounds)
Species
Sortavalsky
Olonetsky
Pitkarantsky
Lahdenpohsky
Red squirrel
27.4
29.4
33.3
22.2
Variable hare
11.9
11
7.2
8.2
European harå
-
-
European wolf
0.06
0.16
0.1
0.19
Stoat
1.8
2.2
1.4
1.3
Red fox
1
0.5
0.3
0.7
European lynx
0.04
0.22
0.08
0.01
Pine marten
0.3
0.6
0.6
0.4
Polecat
0
0.77
0.11
0.07
Elk
2.6
1.9
2.77
1.65
European wild boar
0.07
0.06
0.17
0.66
Note: "-" - no data.
Current trends in development of hunting in the region are described in the section
"Economy. Hunting.".
