DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Mandatory Reports for Deer, Elk, Bear, and Turkey
In 2003, 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, 2004 or within ten days if an animal was taken. The deadline
for the submission of hunter reports was January 31, 2004. 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 2004 license year. 2003 hunter reports will
be accepted until the 2004 hunting licenses are no longer for
sale (April 1, 2005). Because around 35 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 2003 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 2003 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. 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 2003 Small Game Hunter sample was drawn from the licensed
hunter files based upon responses to questions that were asked
when purchasing 2003 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, 2004. 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.
