Game and Fish hunting surveys now underway
by Wyoming Game & Fish
November 10, 2008
Big game hunting seasons are now over in much of the state and in the next few weeks both resident and nonresident hunters will be receiving harvest survey cards in the mail from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
More than 70,000 elk, deer, antelope and black bear hunters will be sent survey cards asking them to complete their harvest survey online. Hunters with Internet access can use the individualized code on the initial postcard they receive to complete the survey online at www.wyhunter.org. Hunters without Internet access will be mailed the detailed survey about two weeks following the postcard. The mailing schedule is staggered to send and receive surveys at different times to facilitate processing.
Christine Leonard, harvest survey coordinator for the Game and Fish, says the online survey is the best way for a hunter with Internet access to respond. "The online survey is more efficient, it saves money in postage and processing over the mail-in survey and it ensures greater accuracy," Leonard said.
Leonard stressed that it is important for all hunters to respond to the survey even if they didn’t harvest an animal. It is also important for hunters who were checked in the field or at a check station to respond.
Not all hunters are surveyed, but depending on the species and hunt area, 60 to 100 percent of hunters will receive survey cards. For moose and bighorn sheep, all hunters are surveyed and all who received moose and sheep licenses this year have been sent survey cards. Leonard said if not enough hunters respond to the initial surveys, follow up surveys are sent until enough surveys are received to obtaining statistically valid estimates of hunter effort and harvest.
"We especially need more response from resident deer and elk hunters who had general licenses," Leonard said. "The information they provide is very integral to management objectives we establish for the various herd units." Leonard said that some general elk and deer seasons are still going on, but stressed that if hunters with general licenses are done hunting they can complete their survey right away. "For hunters who still have some hunting to do, we would appreciate the survey as soon as they finish."
As in past years, hunters who get their surveys in by Jan. 31 are eligible for prize drawings. This year, prizes for those completing the elk survey include a hooded camo jacket with species logo, a $100 gift certificate from the Game and Fish gift store, a one year membership to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Browning skinner knife, and a pair of Steiner binoculars.
Those completing the pronghorn survey will be placed in drawings for a wildlife print with matching stamps, Brunton binoculars, a $100 gift certificate to the Game and Fish gift store and a fleece vest with species logo.
Deer hunters who get their surveys in will be eligible for drawings for two tickets to any Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, a framed pencil drawing of "Sage" Labrador Retriever Dog, a Marbles Cutlery field craft Mule Deer Foundation knife and a $100 gift certificate to the Game and Fish gift store.
Bear hunters will be eligible for Brunton binoculars, a one year membership to The Huntin’ Fool and Jerky board and knife kit.
All who complete the survey will receive free shipping on items purchased from the Game and Fish gift store. Those donating prizes are: Wyoming Wildlife Federation, Brunton Binoculars, PA Consulting Group, Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Cheyenne Frontier Days, The Huntin’ Fool, Hi Mountain Jerky and WGFD Biological Services.
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