Survey underway to gauge public opinion on fish, wildlife management

A survey of Montana residents is currently being conducted by researchers at Colorado State University to better understand public opinions about fish and wildlife management. The survey is part of a national effort sponsored by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

During the next couple of months, researchers will be contacting randomly selected Montana residents by mail and requesting that they complete a short survey. While Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is not conducting this research directly, we strongly encourage residents who receive the survey to respond.

Information gathered from the survey will be made available to FWP and will help us better understand residents’ underlying views about fish and wildlife management in the state.

Public opinion is one of many important pieces of information that wildlife managers consider when making decisions about how to best manage our state’s fish and wildlife. By participating in the survey, you are not only ensuring that your voice is heard, but also that our information about public opinions is as accurate as possible.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the research team directly by emailing wcnr_wildlifesurvey@colostate.edu or calling 888-810-4460.

Hunter harvest surveys now underway

Fish, Wildlife and Parks is currently conducting its annual hunter harvest surveys.

These surveys are done by calling hunters who purchased licenses for 2017 and asking them a variety of questions, including whether they were successful and where they hunted.

The information gleaned from these surveys is valuable in many ways for wildlife management. It gives the department important data about hunter effort and success, which is critical when gauging the effectiveness of a particular hunting season in managing wildlife. It also is informative about the amount of hunter effort in Montana.

Additionally, deer and elk hunters will be asked if they saw wolves or moose. This information is used to help determine population and distribution of those two species.