Aerial Captures in Sheridan Area 

Wildlife managers in the Sheridan Region are conducting two mule deer management projects in January 2026 involving low-level aircraft flights that may be visible to the public in areas along the eastern and western foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. 

Wyoming Game and Fish Public information Specialist Christina Schmidt spoke on two mule deer projects happening in the Sheridan Region over the month of January. The first is a survey of the Upper Powder River Herd Unit, covered here. 

Schmidt said the other mule deer project also involves aerial captures of the animals which will take place in mid-January as part of the statewide Mule Deer Monitoring Project. The project is collecting data on five focal mule deer herds around the Cowboy State, including the North Bighorn deer herd that encompasses Deer Hunt Areas 24, 25, 27, 28 and 50-53. Current capture dates are Jan. 17-22, though dates may shift due to daily weather conditions. 

C. Schmidt

This project seeks answers as to why mule deer have declined in recent years and identify potential solutions. Final captures will take place in early 2027.

In the Sheridan Region, captures will happen over several days on public and private land from the Montana-Wyoming state line to south of Buffalo. Captures will also take place in the Cody Region, along the northwestern foothills.

C. Schmidt

Schmidt said animals will be netted from a helicopter by a professional wildlife capture crew, have blood drawn and be fitted with a GPS collar at the capture site and released. These collars collect and store a location every two hours, resulting in thousands of data points per collar that will be downloaded and analyzed when the collar is retrieved. 

The goal is to start each year with collars on 30 bucks, 80 does and 100 juveniles (6-month old). January’s captures will replace several collars of adult animals that have died in the past year and place collars on 100 juveniles.

Collars on adults are programmed to drop off in 2028. Collars placed on juveniles are programmed to drop off in early 2027. 

According to the department, data gathered from the project will help wildlife managers better understand herd performance, causes of mortality, harvest strategies, and update seasonal range maps.