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DATA COLLECTION
AND ANALYSIS
Note: Work is
still being done to complete the harvest analysis of the general
hunting seasons. When the analysis for each one is completed, it
will be posted to this site.
Mandatory Reports
for Deer, Elk, Bear, and Turkey
In 2002, those
hunters obtaining transport tags for deer, elk, bear, and turkey
were required to submit a hunter report for each transport tag using
either a toll-free telephone number or a report form on the Internet.
The consequences of not doing this was a denial of the ability to
purchase a hunting license for the species with an outstanding hunter
report the following license year. An incentive permit drawing
was conducted for those hunters submitting all of their hunter reports
on or before January 10, 2003 or within ten days if an animal was
taken. The deadline for the submission of hunter reports was January
31, 2003. Hunter reports are still being accepted after the deadline,
since each hunter is required to report before a new hunting license
can be purchased for the 2003 license year. 2002 hunter reports
will be accepted until the 2003 hunting licenses are no longer for
sale (April 1, 2004). Because around 30 percent of the hunter reports
were not made on time, a follow-up hunter survey was conducted by
telephone in order to calculate the harvest of those who did not
report. This estimate was added to the tabulated mandatory reports
to determine the 2002 harvest and hunter participation figures presented
in this report. General season and special permit hunting activity
are presented in separate tables. Total harvest for any game management
unit can be calculated by adding the two together.
Small Game
Hunter Questionnaire
The 2002 Small
Game Questionnaire was sent to hunters licensed to hunt small game
animals. Some of the questionnaires went out to hunters that only
purchased a big game hunting license package. That is because these
hunters have the ability to hunt forest grouse. Hunters were also
given the opportunity to respond to the questionnaire using a form
on the Internet. The answers on the questionnaire formed the basis
upon which harvest estimates were made for upland birds, forest
grouse, waterfowl, and hunted fur-bearers. Hunters were asked if
they actually hunted, how many days they spent hunting, and where
it was done. They were also asked to record if they bagged anything.
If they did, they were asked what it was, where it was taken, and
how many they got.
The 2002 Small
Game Hunter sample was drawn from the licensed hunter files based
upon responses to questions that were asked when purchasing 2002
hunting licenses. Hunters were asked if they hunted certain animals
during the previous hunting season and, if they did, approximately
how many were bagged. This is called a stratified sampling technique
and is modeled after that used by the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service while conducting their annual migratory bird harvest survey.
Special Permit
Hunting Activity
In addition
to the deer and elk general hunting seasons, there are special permit
hunts which make it possible to hunt antlerless deer or elk, in
special areas, or during special times. Mountain goat, bighorn
sheep, and moose hunting are available only by special permit.
The same is true for spring black bear and fall turkey. All hunters,
both successful and unsuccessful, were required to submit a mandatory
hunter report by January 31, 2003. Special permit hunting activity
was inferred from the mandatory reports based on the special permit
hunt season dates, hunt boundary, and special restrictions. No
separate report was required or necessary. Harvest for these species
was tabulated and based solely upon the reports returned by the
hunters. Harvest was not estimated to include hunters who
did not submit a report.
Trapper Report
of Catch
All trappers
of fur-bearing animals are required to complete and return a trapper
report of catch. Harvest is calculated directly from the reports
and not expanded to include trappers that did not return a completed
report.
CITES Pelt
Sealing Reports
Bobcat and river
otter pelts must be sealed within ten days of the close of the trapping
or hunting season. This is done to gather harvest information and
to comply with the requirements of the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The harvest figures are drawn
directly from the pelt sealing records.
Cougar Pelt
Sealing Records
Each successful
cougar hunter is required to have his/her cougar inspected by an
agent of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, have it’s pelt sealed,
and submit a cougar tooth sample. Hunters with cougar transport
tags are not required to report cougar hunting activity if a cougar
was not taken. Other cougar are taken due to livestock depredation
or other dangerous situations and reported internally. In the 2000
hunting season, cougar public safety removals were begun. All of
these records are used to compile cougar harvest.
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