ANNUAL REPORT OF BIG TROPHY GAME HARVEST - Wyoming

ANNUAL REPORT

OF

BIG &

TROPHY GAME

HARVEST 2014

ANNUAL REPORT OF

BIG & TROPHY GAME HARVEST

2014

For the Biological Year June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015

Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Prepared by Gail Sheridan, Harvest Survey Coordinator Wildlife Division, Statewide Wildlife and Habitat Management Section

July 2, 2015

Table of Contents

Big & Trophy Game Survey Job Completion Report: Investigations Project ............................................... 1 Summary of Big and Trophy Game Harvest Statewide ..................................... 2 Summary of Big Game Hunters....................................................................... 3 Hunter Satisfaction Questions: Resident Response by Species ......................... 4 Hunter Satisfaction Questions: Nonresident Response by Species ..................... 5 Wyoming Antelope Hunter Survey Form ....................................................... 6 Wyoming Deer Hunter Survey Form ............................................................ 10 Wyoming Elk Hunter Survey Form .............................................................. 14 Wyoming Moose Hunter Survey Form .......................................................... 18 Wyoming Black Bear Hunter Survey Form ................................................... 20 Wyoming Mountain Lion Hunter Survey Form ................................................. 22

Pronghorn Antelope Harvest Antelope Harvest Statewide by Total Hunters: Table I ........................................ 25 Antelope Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table II ........................... 25 Antelope Harvest by Method: Table III .......................................................... 26 Antelope Harvest, Hunting Pressure and Hunter Success by Hunt Area: Table I-A .... 27 Antelope Harvest by Herd Unit: Table I-H.......................................................... 37 Antelope Harvest by Method by Hunt Area: Table III-A ..................................... 41 Antelope Harvest by Method by Herd Unit: Table III-H ..................................... 53 Confidence Intervals for Total Antelope Harvest by Herd Unit: Table I...V .................. 58 Sales, Response Rates, and Confidence Intervals for Antelope Harvest

by Hunt Area and License Type: Table V .............................................. 59 Antelope Archery Hunting - Harvest by Hunters Holding an Archery Tag: Table VI... 63 Antelope Archery Hunting - Total Days by Hunters

Holding an Archery Tag: Table VII ....................................................... 63 Antelope Hunting Seasons: Chapter 5............................................................... 64 Antelope Hunt Area Map ............................................................................... 89

Deer Harvest Total Deer Harvest Statewide by Total Hunters: Table I........................................ 91 Total Deer Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table II ...................... 91 Mule Deer Harvest Statewide by Total Hunters: Table III ....................................... 92 Mule Deer Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table IV ...................... 92 Mule Deer Harvest by Method: Table V ........................................................... 93 White-tailed Deer Harvest Statewide by Total Hunters: Table VI ........................ 94 White-tailed Deer Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table VII ............. 94 White-tailed Deer Harvest by Method: Table VIII .......................................... 95 Mule Deer Harvest, Hunting Pressure and Hunter Success by Hunt

Area: Table III-A.................................................................................... 96

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Deer Harvest (continued) Mule Deer Harvest by Herd Unit: Table III-H....................................................... 108 Mule Deer Harvest by Method by Hunt Area: Table V-A ................................... 111 Mule Deer Harvest by Method by Herd Unit: Table V-H ................................... 125 White-tailed Deer Harvest, Hunting Pressure, Hunter Success

by Hunt Area: Table VI-A ................................................................... 129 White-tailed Deer Harvest by Herd Unit: Table VI-H ........................................ 142 White-tailed Deer Harvest by Method by Hunt Area: Table VIII-A ........................ 143 White-tailed Deer Harvest by Method by Herd Unit: Table VIII-H ........................ 158 Confidence Intervals for Total Deer Harvest by Herd Unit: Table IX ........................ 159 Sales, Response Rates, and Confidence Intervals for Mule Deer Harvest

by Hunt Area and License Type: Table X ............................................... 160 Sales, Response Rates, and Confidence Intervals for White-tailed Deer Harvest

by Hunt Area and License Type: Table XI ............................................... 162 Total Deer Archery Hunting - Harvest by Hunters Holding an

Archery Tag: Table XIII ...................................................................... 166 Total Deer Archery Hunting - Total Days by Hunters Holding an

Archery Tag: Table IX ...................................................................... 166 Deer Hunting Seasons: Chapter 6 ................................................................... 167 Deer Hunt Area Ma...p .................................................................................... 201

Elk Harvest Elk Harvest Statewide by Total Hunters: Table I ................................................. 203 Elk Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table II .................................... 204 Elk Harvest by Method: Table III ................................................................... 205 Elk Harvest, Hunting Pressure, Hunter Success by Hunt Area: Table I-A ................ 206 Elk Harvest by Herd Unit: Table I-H ................................................................. 217 Elk Harvest by Method by Hunt Area: Table III-A................................................. 221 Elk Harvest by Method by Herd Unit: Table III-H ................................................. 233 Confidence Intervals for Total Elk Harvest by Herd Unit: Table IV........................... 238 Sales, Response Rates, and Confidence Intervals for Elk Harvest

by Hunt Area and License Type: Table V ............................................... 239 Elk Archery Hunting - Harvest by Hunters Holding an Archery Tag: Table VI ........... 243 Elk Archery Hunting - Total Days by Hunters Holding an Archery Tag: Table VII ..... 243 Elk Hunting Seasons: Chapter 7...................................................................... 244 Elk Hunt Area Map........................................................................................ 277

Moose Harvest Moose Harvest Statewide by Total Hunters: Table I ........................................... 279 Moose Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table II ............................. 279 Moose Harvest, Hunting Pressure, Hunter Success by Hunt Area: Table I-A ........... 280 Moose Harvest by Herd Unit: Table I-H ........................................................... 283 Moose License Data Summary: Table III ..................................................... 283

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Moose Harvest (continued) Moose Hunting Seasons: Chapter 8 ................................................................. 284 Moose Hunt Area Map.................................................................................... 292

Bighorn Sheep Harvest Bighorn Sheep Harvest Statewide by Total Hunters: Table I.................................. 293 Bighorn Sheep Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table II .................. 293 Bighorn Sheep Harvest, Hunting Pressure, Hunter Success by

Hunt Area: Table I-A ............................................................................. 294 Bighorn Sheep Harvest by Herd Unit: Table I-H................................................... 296 Bighorn Sheep License Data Summary: Table III ........................................... 297 Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Goat Hunting Seasons: Chapter 9 ........................... 298 Bighorn Sheep Hunt Area Map ....................................................................... 304

Mountain Goat Harvest Mountain Goat Harvest Statewide by Total Hunters: Table I ............................... 305 Mountain Goat Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table II .................. 305 Mountain Goat Harvest, Hunting Pressure, Hunter Success by

Hunt Area: Table I-A ............................................................................. 306 Mountain Goat Harvest by Herd Unit: Table I-H ................................................. 306 Mountain Goat License Data Summary: Table III ........................................... 306 Mountain Goat Hunting Seasons (see Bighorn Sheep above) Mountain Goat Hunt Area Map ....................................................................... 307

Wild Bison Harvest

Wild Bison Harvest Statewide by Total Hunters: Table I........................................ 309 Wild Bison Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table II ........................ 309 Wild Bison Harvest, Hunting Pressure, Hunter Success by Hunt Area: Table I-A ..... 310 Wild Bison Harvest by Herd Unit: Table I-H ...................................................... 310 Wild Bison License Data Summary: Table III ................................................. 310 Wild Bison Recreational Hunting Seasons: Chapter 15 ........................................ 311 Wild Bison Hunt Area Map ............................................................................ 315

Black Bear Harvest Black Bear Statewide Totals by Total Hunters: Table I ...................................... 317 Black Bear Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table II ........................ 317 Black Bear Harvest, Hunting Pressure, Hunter Success by Hunt Area: Table I-A ..... 319 Black Bear Spring Harvest by Management Unit: Table I-MS ........................... 323 Black Bear Fall Harvest by Management Unit: Table I-MF ............................... 324 Black Bear License Data Summary: Table III ................................................. 325 Black Bear Hunting Seasons: Chapter 3 ........................................................... 326 Black Bear Hunt Area Map ............................................................................ 337

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Mountain Lion Harvest Mountain Lion Statewide Totals by Total Hunters: Table I ................................... 339 Mountain Lion Ten-Year Comparison of Statewide Harvest: Table II ................... 339 Mountain Lion Harvest, Hunting Pressure, Hunter Success by Hunt Area: Table I-A.. 340 Mountain Lion Harvest by Management Unit: Table I-M .................................... 343 Mountain Lion License Data Summary: Table III ............................................ 343 Mountain Lion Hunting Seasons: Chapter 42...................................................... 344 Mountain Lion Hunt Area Map ....................................................................... 352

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JOB COMPLETION REPORT INVESTIGATIONS PROJECT

STATE OF Wyoming

NAME: Big and Trophy Game and Wild Bison Harvest Surveys

PROJECT N. W-27-R-43

PREPARED BY: Statewide Wildlife and Habitat Management Program Bob Lanka, Supervisor and Gail Sheridan, Harvest Survey Coordinator

PROJECT OBJECTIVE NO. 1 JOB NO. 1

PERIOD COVERED: June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015

ABSTRACT: This report contains harvest survey results for the 2014 big and trophy game and wild bison hunting seasons. Harvest and hunting activity estimates for all big game (antelope, mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat) and trophy game (black bear and mountain lion) were obtained by sampling licensed hunters via emailed and regular mailed questionnaires. Respondents could reply via a web based survey, call the Harvest Survey Coordinator or return a completed hard copy survey via the USPS. Wild bison results were obtained through mandatory license holder reporting.

OBJECTIVES: 1. To determine the 2014 big and trophy game and wild bison harvest. 2. To determine the number of active hunters, days spent hunting, the number of days required to harvest an animal, and the

percent hunter success during 2014 hunting season.

PROCEDURES: The 2014 antelope, mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk harvest surveys were conducted by Tetra Tech, Inc., the Department's harvest survey contractor for these species. This year was the first time the Department used email to contact license holders. A sample pool was created by randomly selecting license holders. Those in the sample pool that offered an email address during the license purchase process were sent a message with a link to the internet site Tetra Tech established for this purpose. Those with only a USPS mailing address were sent a postcard with instructions for accessing the internet site. Those that did not respond online were sent a hardcopy survey followed, if necessary, with reminder email messages or postcards. In those instances where the required license type sample size was not obtained by these methods, Tetra Tech followed up with phone calls to specific license holders until sample size requirements were met.

In general, a stratified systematic random sample was drawn from holders of antelope, deer and elk licenses. License holders were stratified by residency, license type, hunt area(s) or nonresident deer region in which their licenses were valid. Resident general deer and elk license holders were stratified as those who obtained their license from the draw or by the county in which their licenses were purchased. Nonresident general elk licenses were all issued through the license draw.

Antelope, deer and elk license holder samples adequate to meet survey objectives and contract requirements for accuracy and precision for both resident and nonresident hunters were drawn from license data, and included both general and limited quota license types. Big game harvest estimates were made for each license type valid within a hunt area and for each herd unit within the state. Herd units are populations of animals consisting of one or more hunt areas. Harvest for a herd unit was determined by combining harvest estimates from the appropriate hunt areas and removing duplicate hunters (counting a hunter using two hunt areas within the same herd unit only once). Statewide harvest was determined by combining harvest estimates from all herd units and removing duplicate hunters (those hunting two or more herd units).

Hunters with general licenses are allowed to hunt many areas. Even hunters with limited quota licenses are allowed to hunt more than one area with some license types. As a result, two steps are required to eliminate double or triple counting of hunters and provide accurate estimates of individual hunter numbers. When estimates of the number of hunters per herd unit are made, we count those who hunted more than one hunt area within a herd unit as one hunter. Likewise, for statewide hunter estimates, we considered those who hunted more than one herd unit as only one hunter. Thus, adding hunter numbers for hunt areas, herd units and the entire state would produce three different estimates of hunter numbers. All are accurate, but with a different frame of reference.

Additional questions were asked of hunters in an attempt to determine the method used to take animals, hunter satisfaction and hunter use of the lands enrolled in the Department's Private Lands Public Wildlife program.

Surveys for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, wild bison, black bear and mountain lion were conducted by Department personnel. Survey objectives and methods for these species were similar to those used for big game except all license holders with a useable address were surveyed.

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2014 Summary of Big and Trophy Game Harvest

Statewide

Species Antelope Mule Deer White-Tailed Deer Elk Moose Bighorn Sheep Rocky Mountain Goat Bison Black Bear Mountain Lion

Number

Days

of Hunters Hunted

38,346 138,801

48,426 254,975

23,264 115,714

58,266 496,771

461

3,849

210

1,848

29

155

321

908

3,223

22,990

1,335

10,408

Harvest 35,464 26,086 13,828 25,905

415 168 28 299 399 266

Hunter Success

92.5% 53.9% 59.4% 44.5% 90.0% 80.0% 96.6% 93.1% 12.4% 19.9%

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