Beginning Dec. 5, Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists will be flying at low levels throughout the state's southeast region in order to get a bearing on how deer and elk populations are progressing compared to the agency's desired population models.

West of Interstate 25, flights will start in Lake and Chaffee counties, and will work west into Park and Fremont counties north of Hwy 50, and on in to El Paso and Teller counties, finally, south through Pueblo, Custer, Huerfano and Las Animas counties.

East of Interstate 25, flights will start along the South Republican river drainage from Flagler to the Kansas state line, then work south into Kit Carson and Cheyenne counties followed by Kiowa, Prowers, and Baca counties. Finally, flights will classify for deer and elk along the Arkansas River drainage from the Kansas state line to Pueblo, Colo., and south along the Purgatoire River.

All flights to the east of the interstate are expected to be complete before Christmas, weather permitting, while flights to the west could continue into early January.

For more information on CPW's wildlife population objectives, visit: http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/HerdManagementPlans.aspx