How does WY generate harvest reports?

[shootist]

My brother and I went on a public land DIY mule deer archery hunt last year. We were both successful. The unit we hunted in shows in the 2014 report that there were 10 successful hunters, and 3 of them were non residents. Since we never received a harvest survey, I was wondering how they get such specific data. It almost has to be inaccurate, unless there is something I'm missing. Surely our 2 weren't part of the 3 they showed? The local biologist knew we killed, but I doubt he would record it because he'd have to know we didn't also receive surveys.

Thanks for the insight that I'm sure you all will provide me.

 

[Hilltop]

I have received a survey the last few years I have hunted Wyoming. I believe they are trying to survey everyone but I'm not sure. This past year I actually received surveys through the mail as well as emailed surveys. No clue how accurate the numbers are though as I'm sure some people don't fill it out.

 

[ScottR]

If you talked to him he wrote it down.


Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator

 

[WY ME]

I have received a survey the last few years I have hunted Wyoming. I believe they are trying to survey everyone but I'm not sure. This past year I actually received surveys through the mail as well as emailed surveys. No clue how accurate the numbers are though as I'm sure some people don't fill it out.

They don't send them to everyone. Being a resident I buy a number of tags for my family every year yet we never get surveys sent to us for all of the tags we bought. So I would assume they are extrapolating the harvest numbers. The game warden may have wrote it down but if the game warden submitted his own separate harvest data that could cause a double count in the reporting data. The surveys are randomly issued to hunters and the game warden would have no way of knowing who got the surveys and who didn't. From what I remember, a high percentage of the hunters who get surveyed do respond to the surveys, so the harvest data should be fairly accurate.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

They don't send them to everyone. Being a resident I buy a number of tags for my family every year yet we never get surveys sent to us for all of the tags we bought. So I would assume they are extrapolating the harvest numbers. The game warden may have wrote it down but if the game warden submitted his own separate harvest data that could cause a double count in the reporting data. The surveys are randomly issued to hunters and the game warden would have no way of knowing who got the surveys and who didn't. From what I remember, a high percentage of the hunters who get surveyed do respond to the surveys, so the harvest data should be fairly accurate.

Wyoming game and fish publishes survey response rates for every area. These stats follow the harvest stats.

 

[hoshour]

The WYGF annual report gives the "usable reponse rate" for each unit or region as a percentage of surveys returned and of total tags sold. The first figure seems to run about 50% and the second about 30%. I don't see a figure for what percentage of tagholders got a survey but it should be related to the lower figure.

When there are a lot of tags for a unit, that may not be bad but when the numbers are low, that does seem concerning. If you've noticed, the MRS tables have a 3-year average success rate for each, so does help some.

 

[WapitiBob]

As a nr I get a survey every year and everyone I know also gets one.

 

[huntabsarokee]

When does the 2014 elk harvest results come out? I have a general tag this year and putting all the data into a spreadsheet to help me decide which unit(s) to target.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

When does the 2014 elk harvest results come out? I have a general tag this year and putting all the data into a spreadsheet to help me decide which unit(s) to target.

keep checking, they should be out soon.

 

[shootist]

I only got a survey for my cow elk tag, and my brother did not get one at all. Neither of us got one for our mule deer tag.

 

[WY ME]

I looked into it a little on their website and the 2014 numbers vary significantly by species.

Moose.....100% of the hunters were surveyed.....95% of the hunters responded to the survey
Sheep.....100% of the hunters were surveyed.....99% of the hunters responded to the survey
Goat.......100% of the hunters were surveyed.....100% of the hunters responded to the survey
Buffalo....100% of the hunters were surveyed.....99% of the hunters responded to the survey
Antelope...39% of the hunters were surveyed.....52% of the hunters responded to the survey
Mule Deer..74% of the hunters were surveyed.....38% of the hunters responded to the survey
Elk............n/a

 

[kesand72]

My buddy n I both harvested elk in unit 23 for the 2014 season. I had received a "blood sample" vial in the mail before season, hand delivered it to the biologist, and asked about reporting our harvest. I was told to stop at any check station I came across ( never did), other than that, congrats, and thanks for the blood sample. Neither of us received surveys either. It really surprised me, as Illinois requires reporting of every deer harvested immediately!