- Jul 8, 2015
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Harvest Reuslts
- Thread starter mallardsx2
- Start date
bdan68
Active Member
I've been wondering about the same thing. Checking every day. The antelope harvest report has been available for quite a while now. I get it won't be too much longer. They're probably just still crunching the numbers.
Hilltop
Veteran member
The harvest results are a joke in Wyoming in my opinion- basically they are a guess. Until they make it mandatory to check in harvests or fill out surveys, it will be a guessing game. There is no way under their current system that they are getting even remotely accurate information.
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,921
- 3,240
I 100% agree you Hilltop.
They didn't even survey anyone in my group when we hunted there.
If anyone cares though, they will be posted by this Friday.
They didn't even survey anyone in my group when we hunted there.
If anyone cares though, they will be posted by this Friday.
WapitiBob
Veteran member
Hilltop
Veteran member
I elk hunted last year and shot a bull. I deer hunted the year before last and shot a buck. I never received a survey for either hunt so neither animal was accounted for. Even if every hunter received a survey the results wouldn't be reliable as there is no incentive for them to be filled out or to be filled out accurately. Wyoming relies on their spring population counts to set quotas and seasons and frankly doesn't seem interested in accurate harvest success percentage. I'm not complaining at all as it seems to be working well for them- I just feel compelled to let other hunters know that the data published isn't reliable to consider when researching a hunt. Speaking with area biologists and other hunters familiar with the area are better ways to gauge potential hunts.
If you want to record your harvest next year you can go to the g&f website and do it. I've recorded mine every year
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Hunting/Harvest-Surveys
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Hunting/Harvest-Surveys
wy-tex
Veteran member
I know when we get a survey and don't get it filled out in time they call us for answers.
I guess I'm an optimist, everyone I know is honest and fills out their survey for G&F and I hoped NR were the same.
I always leave some comments too.
I guess I'm an optimist, everyone I know is honest and fills out their survey for G&F and I hoped NR were the same.
I always leave some comments too.
WA has a mandatory reporting time period for big game. You;ll get a $10 fine if you don't get your survey in on time and you can't buy your next years tags until you pay the $10 bucks. the incentive to get your harvest survey in, is that they give away a few all season buck deer and bull elk tags. Thats the ONLY good thing our game dept does. They real suck compared to WY game and fish dept
JM77
Member
Until something other than internet forum complaints tells me otherwise, I trust the professionals here. They tell me they are satisfied with the accuracy of harvest surveys (my wife and I get them every year) and along with post season surveys, they do a good job managing our wildlife in Wyoming.
Most of you agree, I would assume, based on the increases in license applications every year.
Hilltop
Veteran member
As I stated before, I am happy with the way WG&F manages their wildlife. They use fairly accurate spring counts to set seasons and quotas. Several have replied that they receive surveys regularly- thats great but WG&F will even tell you that they do not send out surveys to all hunters. They send to a % of hunters in each given area for LQ and a % to general tag holders. They then take the % that they receive back and use averages to determine the "estimated" harvest for a given area. Plain and simple, it's a guess what the actual harvest was, especially in the general tag areas. My point made, which seems to have been lost on some replying, is that harvest % is not a reliable gauge to use when determining your chances on a hunt in a given area because it is relying on too many variables.
JM77
Member
Considering that winter counts are made using models(averages) too, I'm not sure what makes you think they are more accurate than harvest surveys.
Bottom line: since harvest surveys are all made using the same models, the percentages you see, whether highly accurate or not, can be compared to determine the areas with the highest kill %. It is a mistake IMO, to not do the homework and check resident draw odds when determining the "best" areas to apply for. Harvest percent may not tell the whole story, as every area is different and has it's own quirks. Harvest percent is also not reliable for determining trophy quality. I just don't see the need at this point for mandatory reporting and G&F Admin isn't convinced either. But, like everything else that could change in the future.
HiMtnHnter
Active Member
Harvest surveys aren't a guess, they're a sample based on submitted surveys. Someone correct me if i am wrong, but i believe every hunter is sent a survey. Most areas have around a 50% response rate from what I have seen. Harvest results are not the end all, be all. They're just another piece a data to look at. Take them with a grain of salt. If you're more serious about and area, I recommend going back 5 years to compare data.
Hilltop
Veteran member
No, all hunters are not surveyed- approximately 60% are sent surveys and they receive information back from an average of 50% of those surveyed. That means that they are basing harvest % off of 30% of the hunters out there by average on a given year.
"Not all hunters are surveyed, but depending on the species and hunt area, at least 60 percent of hunters will receive survey cards. "Survey recipients are randomly selected," Sheridan said. "Even though hunters may be members of a hunting party, there is no guarantee all members of the party will receive a survey." Sheridan said if not enough hunters respond to the initial mailing, follow up phone calls are made and surveys are sent until enough are received to obtaining statistically valid estimates of hunter effort and harvest."
"Not all hunters are surveyed, but depending on the species and hunt area, at least 60 percent of hunters will receive survey cards. "Survey recipients are randomly selected," Sheridan said. "Even though hunters may be members of a hunting party, there is no guarantee all members of the party will receive a survey." Sheridan said if not enough hunters respond to the initial mailing, follow up phone calls are made and surveys are sent until enough are received to obtaining statistically valid estimates of hunter effort and harvest."
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,921
- 3,240
Like I said, nobody in my group of 6 received a survey when we hunted there.
Also, the DOW lied to me. They did not post the results by last Friday like they said. They are probably reading this post wondering how they are going to blow smoke up everyone butts since we are clearly onto their ways. lol
I cant believe they dont have mandatory reporting.
Also, the DOW lied to me. They did not post the results by last Friday like they said. They are probably reading this post wondering how they are going to blow smoke up everyone butts since we are clearly onto their ways. lol
I cant believe they dont have mandatory reporting.
wy-tex
Veteran member
Maybe our blizzard had something to do with the late posting of results. State offices were closed for 2 days.
Winter counts can be very accurate some years, no just based on models. They actually fly and count animals, antelope excepted.
Winter counts can be very accurate some years, no just based on models. They actually fly and count animals, antelope excepted.
JM77
Member
Even when they fly Pam, they use models for total counts. They never fly the whole area, except under extreme conditions. G&F doesn't have the budget for it. The deer herd we study in our MDI group was counted in total this year for the first time to try and get a base population. Even counting "every square inch", like we were told, they used a model for missed animals.
wy-tex
Veteran member
Yes they use models , I was trying to state they do actually fly for counts also. Didn't come out right thanks JM.
Last winter G&F had high confidence in their numbers around here based on how many animals they actually counted . Elk counts this year did not go as well, they were scattered all over winter range and in the timber.
But , sorry for high jacking the thread. I use harvest numbers for a general reference. I find the hunter days number interesting on the stats. It helps to know how the weather or conditions may have affected hunters when looking at any of the harvest reports. Lots of variables in success rates, or lack of.
Last winter G&F had high confidence in their numbers around here based on how many animals they actually counted . Elk counts this year did not go as well, they were scattered all over winter range and in the timber.
But , sorry for high jacking the thread. I use harvest numbers for a general reference. I find the hunter days number interesting on the stats. It helps to know how the weather or conditions may have affected hunters when looking at any of the harvest reports. Lots of variables in success rates, or lack of.