Today a unique moose migration takes place every spring and every autumn between the lower areas west of lake Mjøsa - and the higher areas in Espedalen, Skåbu and Murudalen areas west of Gudbrandsdalen valley.
This migration counts up to 500-700 animals every year. As the snow begins to fall in October/November, many of these individuals begins their up to 50 km migration north-west to the winter ranges located in Murudalen valley.
Elgland is not a zoo and the wild animals wander wherever they want when they want. The moose do not do this in big heards, but spread out - both in time and in the area they are wandering through.
In opposite to other moose migrations in other parts of the world - the moose wander to spend the winter at high elevation - and wander back to the low elevation in the Spring.
The moose are highly faithful to their migration routes - and in this area they have been following the same routes for 10000 years!
A vast number of hunting pits has been discovered in this area- within a short distance of 25 km from Gausdal and along the Espedalen lake towards Skåbu 376 hunting pits has been registered divided in 26 hunting systems. The large number of hunting pits in a relatively small area indicates that the moose migration must have been very concentrated in our area.
Appr. 800 hunting pits divided in 50 hunting systems are found on the west side of the valleys from the Lillehammer area to Espedalen in Gausdal municipality. A vast number of hunting pits are in addition registered both south, north and west of Gausdal.
In a letter from 1412 it states that at least four persons at the same time used the hunting systems in Espedalen.
Photo in heading: Sjur Sande
The green lines is the migration routes the moose has been following the last 10000 years. The red areas are remains of hunting systems. Source: Fylkesarkeologene, Oppland Fylkeskommune.