JACKSON, Wyo. — Hunters, keep an eye out for collared wildlife!
On Tuesday, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) requested that hunters in the state avoid targeting big game with GPS collars. Hunters could see mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bighorn sheep wearing collars. The agency said that, while it is legal to harvest collared animals, hunters are asked not to target those animals only for the sake of the collar.
“Hunters are a vital partner in wildlife conservation,” WGFD said in the statement. “Choosing to pass on collared animals when another opportunity is available is a great way for hunters to continue supporting wildlife conservation and management efforts.”
The GPS trackers are part of valuable studies designed to understand habitat use, survival and herd health. This research directly aids in wildlife management strategies. One such study in southeast Wyoming was described by WGFD Supervisor of the Science, Research and Analytical Support Unit Embere Hall: “We’re looking at how efforts to reduce elk numbers through hunter harvest changes how elk use the landscape, and how mule deer respond to lower elk densities.”
If a collared animal is harvested, WGFD asks that hunters do not cut or damage the equipment when removing it. Most can be removed by loosening the bolts. Notify a nearby WGFD regional office so that staff can retrieve the collar. Wildlife managers will download data from the collar and could choose to re-deploy it for future studies.
