Salmon Region Helicopter Surveys to Begin Soon

Wildlife biologists in the Salmon Region will start annual helicopter surveys for big game species as early as January 15. Surveys scheduled for this winter begin with elk in Game Management Units 30 and 30A, east of Highway 28, and 36 in the Stanley Basin. While in the Stanley area, biologists also will survey mountain goats in the Sawtooth Mountains. A short amount of time will be spent surveying recently released mountain goats in the northern end of the Lemhi Range and capturing deer in Unit 30. Depending on helicopter and pilot availability and weather, surveys could start as early as January 15 and should be completed by the first week in February. Surveys for bighorn sheep in Unit 27 will likely occur in early April. Each winter and early spring, biologists conduct a variety of surveys designed to gather data on big game age and sex ratios as well as population numbers or trend and distribution. Surveys are conducted during winter because animals are concentrated on winter ranges where they tend to be more visible, and biologists can survey less area to reduce costs. Disturbance to animals is kept to the minimum needed to acquire accurate information, generally less than a few minutes. In part because costs for helicopter services have increased, Salmon Region biologists will fly less this year than in recent years.