WYOMING – Game and Fish biologists and wardens are counting and classifying deer throughout the Sheridan Region this month. The department is conducting air and ground surveys of deer as part of regular procedure following the close of the hunting season.
According to Wyoming Game and Fish, winter weather and breeding season make deer more visible and accessible. Ground surveys are done in the majority of the region, but helicopter flights are required in areas with low road densities.
Personnel began in mid-November counting and classifying every deer they encounter on flights or on driving routes. Deer are noted as either female, juvenile, yearling male, or adult male.
The results are then analyzed as herd ratios—including doe:fawn ratios and number of bucks for every 100 does counted. Herd ratios allow managers to monitor trends in the proportion of fawns and bucks in a herd from year-to-year. Classification surveys are not a total count of the entire herd, but rather a sample of the population.
The gathered data will be compiled in coming weeks to determine overall numbers, fawn to doe ratios and buck to doe ratios. These numbers give game managers information on fawn survival and other factors that will influence future management decisions.
During the flights, the wardens and biologists are concentrated on locating and counting animals, but on the way to and from surveys they were able to capture some scenic shots from the helicopter between Buffalo and Kaycee. Check out the pics!
