CPW Northeast Region to conduct low-flying helicopter surveys of deer, elk herds

Kara Van Hoose
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-829-7143 / [email protected]

Dec. 2, 2024
 

CPW Northeast Region to conduct low-flying helicopter surveys of deer, elk herds

DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife Northeast Region will be surveying deer and elk herds using low-flying helicopters starting December 3 through mid-January. The flights will be low to the ground and could be seen from urban areas along the Front Range. Operations will be weather-dependent. 

CPW biologists will be classifying deer and elk herds from the air near Fort Collins, South Park, Castle Rock and across the eastern plains. They will be noting herd size and sex of the wildlife spotted. The flights are also a chance to assess the health of the deer and elk populations through calf reproduction.

The annual aerial surveys are a crucial step in gathering data to better inform the hunting license numbers set for each unit. Biologists and wildlife officers will synthesize these numbers in the late winter and early spring during their licensing setting process. CPW also uses this data to craft population objectives for each herd in herd management plans.

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