CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department wants to know how hunts went this year.
Many hunters will receive a harvest survey via email or the Postal Service beginning Oct. 16 and continuing throughout the hunting season. The 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 said in a news release.
“A harvest survey is the best way to gather large amounts of data from the public. We use the responses to estimate harvest, hunter success and hunter effort,” said Jason Carlisle, Game and Fish quantitative biologist. “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.”
Because of 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, 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 asks hunters to wait until they are finished hunting or their season is over before filling out the survey. Responding online is the best way to submit a 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 are as follows:
- Antelope: Jan. 4, 2024
- Deer: Jan. 25, 2024
- Elk: Feb. 5, 2024
Harvest surveys are being conducted by the Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center at the University of Wyoming on behalf of Game and Fish. Responses are confidential.
Hunters who have questions about the surveys can contact the WYSAC survey team directly at 1-866-966-2715 or by emailing wyhunter@uwyo.edu. For questions related to hunting regulations or license applications, call Game and Fish at 307-777-4600.
