State of Deer and Elk: Counting herds, and how hunters help through mandatory hunter reports
Because aerial surveys take a lot of time, personnel and resources, Fish and Game must rotate their survey resources around the state. Most deer and elk populations typically get an aerial survey about every 5 to 6 years, and there are different kinds of surveys.
(Photo courtesy IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME)
A “composition” survey counts a minimum number of animals, say 500 to 1,000 deer or elk in a geographic area, and carefully track how many are male or female, and adult or young.
The more accurate hunter reports are that Fish and Game receives, the better biologists understand what’s happening to deer and elk herds on the ground, and the quicker they can react with any needed management changes.
Fish and Game biologists and researchers started experimenting with remote cameras to estimate elk populations back in 2014. That research has been used to estimate the state-wide wolf population for the last four years.
Deer and elk live throughout Idaho in habitats ranging from desert to mixed conifer forests, and a big part of a wildlife manager’s job is to estimate how many are out there.
What role do hunters play in that? More than you might realize...
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