Low-Altitude Helicopter Flights Begin This Week to Survey Southern Colorado Big Game Herds

Colorado Parks and Wildlife will launch low-altitude helicopter flights this week to assess the health and size of big game herds across southern Colorado. The aerial surveys will span a wide region—from Trinidad north to Leadville.

CPW biologists use these flights to count deer, fawns, and elk calves that have reached about six months of age, a key indicator of overall herd health and survival rates.

Residents can expect to see low-flying helicopters over South Park, the Upper Arkansas River Valley, the Pikes Peak region, and throughout the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains as wildlife crews conduct their assessments.