CHEYENNE - The 15,000 Wyoming bird and small game hunters receiving harvest survey cards in the mail this month are alerted beginning this year they can complete those surveys online.

"We hope that being able to complete the survey online will increase the response rate," said Christine Leonard, harvest survey coordinator for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. "The more responses received, the more accurate the survey."

She urges hunters - both residents and nonresidents - who were selected as part of the random sample to complete the survey online as soon as possible. Go to the Game and Fish Web site at http://gf.state.wy.us and look for the "Harvest Surveys" link at the top of the homepage. If no computer response is received, they are asked to return the paper survey they will receive in early April.

The survey is designed to get the most accurate estimate possible of upland game bird and small game harvest and hunter participation. Survey results are used by the Game and Fish to set hunting seasons and limits.

"The survey is also an important way for us to gather hunter comments and insights from Wyoming’s bird and small game hunters," Leonard said.

(contact: Jeff Obrecht)