The Wyoming Game and Fish Department wants to know how your hunt went this year. Many hunters will begin to receive a harvest survey via e-mail or the Postal Service. The survey gathers harvest information and feedback on the 2022 hunting season. Hunters’ responses about their season are used in making future wildlife management decisions.
“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 request to complete 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 and light goose conservation order are included in the survey process.
A change for sage grouse hunters
Sage grouse hunters can expect a new harvest survey this fall. Traditionally, sage grouse hunters are surveyed each spring as part of a larger questionarie to quantify the harvest of all upland game birds, migratory game birds and small game. This year, Game and Fish will conduct a separate survey of sage grouse hunters shortly after the hunting season concludes. Hunters who respond that they hunted sage grouse in 2022 from the upland bird survey will receive an additional follow-up survey.
“Specifically targeting sage grouse hunters will give the department more direct and timely information to inform management decisions,” Carlisle said.
Win great prizes
Hunters who do receive and complete an antelope, deer or elk harvest survey will be entered in a drawing to win one of several donated prizes. Prizes are donated by
- Hi Mountain Jerky
- Huntin’ Fool
- JAX Outdoor Gear
- Kenetrek Boots
- King’s Camo
- Maven Optics
- Montana Decoy
- Mule Deer Foundation
- Muley Fanatic Foundation
- National Bowhunter Education Foundation
- National Wild Turkey Federation
- OnX Hunt
- OtterBox
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
- Sporting Lead Free
- Stone Glacier Hunting Backpacks
- Tetra Tech
- West Laramie Fly Store
- Whitetails Unlimited
- Wild Sheep Foundation
- Wyoming Wildlife Federation
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department
“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 your response.
The antelope, deer and elk surveys are conducted by Tetra Tech, the survey research firm that won the competitive bid to conduct these large volume surveys on behalf of Game and Fish.
Hunters who have questions about the antelope, deer and elk surveys can contact Tetra Tech’s survey team directly at 1-800-216-0477. For all harvest surveys, hunters can also contact Game and Fish, for assistance at (307) 777-4589.
