JACKSON, Wyo. — Don’t be alarmed if you’re seeing extra helicopter activity in the air.
Wildlife biologists and game wardens with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) are currently conducting their annual big game surveys in Jackson via helicopter.
The animals are counted and classified as males, females and juveniles. These data, when compared to previous years, help inform wildlife managers as to how the various big game populations are trending. With hunting being a primary tool used to keep populations at the publicly-established population objectives, wildlife managers will be looking at the current population trends to see if any adjustments to the fall hunting seasons are warranted.
Wildlife managers will present the wildlife population trend data and their proposed fall 2023 hunting seasons at public open-house meetings tentatively scheduled for March 21 in Thayne and March 22 in Jackson.
This is not an abnormal method to collect data for big game, as WGFD was using helicopters to capture and monitor mule deer back in November.
