CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) is sending out a survey to learn how elk, deer and antelope harvests went during the 2024 hunting season, beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Many hunters will receive the harvest survey electronically via email or postcard throughout the hunting season. According to the WGFD, the feedback will be used by wildlife managers to help make wildlife management decisions.
“A harvest survey is the best way to gather large amounts of data from the public,” WGFD Quantitative Biologist Jason Carlisle said via press release. “We use the responses to estimate harvest, hunter success and hunter effort. 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.”
Hunters who complete their antelope, deer or elk harvest surveys online by the deadline, will be entered in a drawing to win one of several gift cards or prizes donated by outdoor retailers and organizations.
Deadlines to submit harvest surveys for the chance to win a prize:
- Antelope: Jan. 3, 2025
- Deer: Jan. 24, 2025
- Elk: Jan. 31, 2025
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 harvest survey. All harvest surveys are conducted electronically. Hunters will not receive paper surveys this year.
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, goose and sage-grouse are included in the survey process throughout the year as each season closes.
“If you get a survey it’s important to fill it out, even if you didn’t hunt or harvest,” Carlisle said.
Some hunters could receive a survey before their season ends. However, Game and Fish asks hunters to wait until they are finished hunting or their season is over before filling out the survey. Harvest surveys are being conducted by the Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center (WYSAC) at the University of Wyoming on behalf of Game and Fish. All responses are confidential.
Hunters who have questions about the surveys can contact the WYSAC survey team at 1-866-966-2715 or email wyhunter@uwyo.edu. For questions related to hunting regulations or license applications, call Game and Fish at 307-777-4600.
