CHEYENNE — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking hunters about their experience in the field this season with hunter harvest surveys. Antelope, deer and elk hunters are randomly selected to receive a 2026 harvest survey questionnaire, with additional surveys going out throughout the hunting season as more licenses are sold. Filling out your survey is important because wildlife managers use the feedback to inform wildlife management decisions.
“Harvest surveys are an easy way for Game and Fish to connect with hunters to learn how satisfied they are with their hunting opportunities beyond the numerical data,” said Kristy Palmer, Game and Fish Human dimensions of wildlife management specialist. “Understanding how many animals have been harvested in a given area, the age/sex of the harvested animals and hunter effort helps set future quotas, season dates and other regulations.”
Survey invitations and reminders are sent primarily via email. Due to the large volume of license holders, a random sample of hunters are surveyed. Not all license holders will receive a survey. In addition to receiving a harvest survey via email, antelope, deer and elk hunters may access their surveys by signing into their account on the Game and Fish website. The surveys are in the active license section on their dashboard.
For species such as bighorn sheep, mountain goat, sandhill crane, black bear and moose, Game and Fish attempts to reach all license holders. These surveys will be sent through email.
“If you receive a survey, we want to hear from you, whether you harvested an animal or not.” Palmer said.
Some hunters may receive a survey for a license before their hunting season ends or before they harvested an animal. 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, but hunters also have the option to provide information over the phone.
Harvest surveys are being conducted by the Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center at the University of Wyoming in partnership with Game and Fish. All responses are confidential.
Hunters who have questions about the surveys can contact the WYSAC survey team at 1-307-766-2715 or email wyhunter@uwyo.edu. For questions related to hunting regulations or license applications, call Game and Fish at 307-777-4600.
-WGFD-
