CPW Northeast Region to conduct annual low-flying helicopter surveys of deer, elk herds
Kara Van Hoose
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-829-7143 / [email protected]
December 3, 2025
CPW Northeast Region to conduct annual low-flying helicopter surveys of deer, elk herds
DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be conducting deer and elk herd classification flights from mid-December through mid-February, weather permitting. Low-flying helicopters could be seen during the week over the Front Range, South Park, the eastern plains and other urban areas. CPW biologists and wildlife officers will be flying in helicopters, observing deer and elk herds, collecting herd size, age, and sex information.
The annual aerial surveys are a crucial step in gathering data to scientifically manage Colorado’s wildlife populations. Biologists analyze the information in the late winter into early spring, which will be used during the hunting license setting process. CPW also utilizes the data from classification flights to inform population objectives for individual herds as a part of herd management plans.
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
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