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Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Hunter survey helps small game management
1/4/08
Frankfort, Kentucky – Hunters and other outdoors enthusiasts often want to lend a hand to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in the management of wildlife. Anyone who hunts rabbit, quail, grouse or squirrels can help manage these small game species just by filling out a hunting log. Hunter success is a good way to gauge population trends of small game, and those who participate in Kentucky’s hunter cooperator survey receive a free hat in return.
“It is extremely difficult to ascertain wildlife populations statewide without the hunter cooperator survey and other volunteer efforts,” said John Morgan, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s small game program coordinator. “We need help to keep track of wildlife trends across Kentucky. The information provided in the hunter cooperator survey helps raise red flags when species such as bobwhite quail become imperiled.”
Information gleaned from hunter cooperator surveys helps increase awareness by biologists and the public. Awareness of species in distress makes it easier to obtain funding for studies and to implement programs that benefit those species.
“The hunter cooperator survey is our only mechanism to monitor some species such as squirrels,” Morgan explained.
The survey also is the only way biologists get statewide information and a large sample size. “We receive hunter cooperator surveys from almost every county,” Morgan explained. “If we relied on staff, we wouldn’t have statewide coverage.”
Morgan stresses that hunters must provide accurate information. “The correct time spent in the field is critical and round to the nearest quarter hour,” Morgan explained. “And, remember, zero is a number, too. Hunters feel they may not have to record anything since they didn’t harvest anything. It is important for them to accurately record what they harvest, even if that number is zero.”
The hunter cooperator survey provides valuable information about wildlife populations on private lands. “We desperately need more data on private land wildlife populations,” Morgan said. “The data we get from this survey helps drive our management decisions. The more data we have, the more confidence we have in our decisions.”
To find the hunter cooperator surveys, log onto Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s homepage at fw.ky.gov and click onto the “hunter cooperator survey” tab. You may also call 1-800-858-1549 and request a survey log.
Lee McClellan is an award-winning writer for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is a life-long hunter and angler, with a passion for smallmouth bass fishing.
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The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.8 billion annually. For more information about the department, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov.
Media Contact:
Lee McClellan (800) 852-0942 ext. 330
1/4/08
Frankfort, Kentucky – Hunters and other outdoors enthusiasts often want to lend a hand to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources in the management of wildlife. Anyone who hunts rabbit, quail, grouse or squirrels can help manage these small game species just by filling out a hunting log. Hunter success is a good way to gauge population trends of small game, and those who participate in Kentucky’s hunter cooperator survey receive a free hat in return.
“It is extremely difficult to ascertain wildlife populations statewide without the hunter cooperator survey and other volunteer efforts,” said John Morgan, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s small game program coordinator. “We need help to keep track of wildlife trends across Kentucky. The information provided in the hunter cooperator survey helps raise red flags when species such as bobwhite quail become imperiled.”
Information gleaned from hunter cooperator surveys helps increase awareness by biologists and the public. Awareness of species in distress makes it easier to obtain funding for studies and to implement programs that benefit those species.
“The hunter cooperator survey is our only mechanism to monitor some species such as squirrels,” Morgan explained.
The survey also is the only way biologists get statewide information and a large sample size. “We receive hunter cooperator surveys from almost every county,” Morgan explained. “If we relied on staff, we wouldn’t have statewide coverage.”
Morgan stresses that hunters must provide accurate information. “The correct time spent in the field is critical and round to the nearest quarter hour,” Morgan explained. “And, remember, zero is a number, too. Hunters feel they may not have to record anything since they didn’t harvest anything. It is important for them to accurately record what they harvest, even if that number is zero.”
The hunter cooperator survey provides valuable information about wildlife populations on private lands. “We desperately need more data on private land wildlife populations,” Morgan said. “The data we get from this survey helps drive our management decisions. The more data we have, the more confidence we have in our decisions.”
To find the hunter cooperator surveys, log onto Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s homepage at fw.ky.gov and click onto the “hunter cooperator survey” tab. You may also call 1-800-858-1549 and request a survey log.
Lee McClellan is an award-winning writer for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is a life-long hunter and angler, with a passion for smallmouth bass fishing.
-30-
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.8 billion annually. For more information about the department, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov.
Media Contact:
Lee McClellan (800) 852-0942 ext. 330
