Published
1 year agoon
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department wants to know how your hunt went this year.
Many – but not all – hunters will receive a harvest survey via e-mail or the Postal Service beginning Oct. 16, and continuing throughout the hunting season. This survey gathers harvest information and feedback on the 2023 hunting season. Wildlife managers use hunters’ responses about their season when making wildlife management decisions.
Game and Fish Quantitative Biologist Jason Carlisle said harvest surveys are the best way to gather large amounts of data from the public. He said the department uses the responses to estimate harvest, hunter success and hunter effort.
“Hunter feedback is important information and is a valuable tool for monitoring populations, setting future quotas, season dates and other regulations. We appreciate every response,” he said.
Due to the large volume of antelope, deer and elk license holders, a random sampling of those licensed hunters are surveyed; not all license holders of those species will receive a harvest survey.
However, the Game and Fish states that nearly all license holders for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, black bear, mountain lion, gray wolf, wild turkey, furbearer, sandhill crane, small game, upland game, migratory game bird, light goose conservation order and sage-grouse are included in the survey process throughout the year as each season closes.
“If you get a survey, it’s important to fill it out, even if you didn’t hunt or harvest,” Carlisle said.
Some hunters may receive a survey before their season ends; but, Game and Fish is requesting that hunters wait until they are finished hunting or their season is over before filling out the survey. According to the Department, responding online is the best way to submit your response, and hunters who complete their antelope, deer, or elk harvest surveys by the deadline will be entered in a drawing to win one of several gift cards or prizes donated by outdoor retailers and organizations.
Deadlines to submit harvest surveys for a chance to win a prize:
Antelope: Jan. 4, 2024
Deer: Jan. 25, 2024
Elk: Feb. 5, 2024
Harvest surveys are being conducted by the Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC) at the University of Wyoming on behalf of Game and Fish. All responses to the surveys are confidential.
Hunters who have questions about the surveys can contact the WYSAC survey team directly at 1-866-966-2715 or email wyhunter@uwyo.edu.
For questions related to hunting regulations or license applications, please call Game and Fish at 307-777-4600.