Understanding Utah’s Wildlife: DWR Captures Record Number Of Big Game For Health Research

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) captures big game animals each year to conduct health assessments and place GPS collars, gathering data on migration and survival. This winter, a record 1,901 animals were captured.

The captures generally occur between November and March when animals migrate to lower elevations. Cooler temperatures also help them recover more quickly. Helicopter crews use net guns to safely capture animals, which are released after testing.

“We make a concerted effort to minimize chase times and keep all capture-related stress to a minimum,” said DWR Big Game Projects Coordinator Kent Hersey in a press release. “The information we collect is very valuable for managing populations.”

This year, DWR assessed species including 1,130 deer, 195 elk, and 363 pronghorn. Research in early winter focused on body fat and disease testing, while March efforts included pregnancy checks and fawn monitoring.

As part of this effort, 310 pronghorn from Parker Mountain were relocated to bolster populations in other parts of Utah, marking the first translocation since 2014.

“We have been conducting these captures for over a decade,” Hersey said. “Body fat impacts winter survival and the growth of newborn fawns, influencing overall population health.”This year, adult deer were in average to above-average nutritional condition, with a mild winter contributing to high survival rates. March captures revealed a high pregnancy rate of 84% among does.

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Data from health assessments and GPS collars also contribute to the Utah Wildlife Migration Initiative, established in 2017 to study migration patterns. “GPS collars provide crucial data for sustainable land use and habitat planning,” said Initiative Coordinator Makeda Hanson. “Wildlife crossing structures are one way to assist migration.”