Yukon government officials are offering help to hunters hoping to bag a bison, partly in the hopes of thinning the animal's numbers a little.

The Aishihik bison herd's population has exploded since it was brought into the Yukon in the late-1980s, government biologists say.

They estimated the herd to number upwards of 1,200 bison before this year's hunting season started in December, but they want to keep the herd at around 500 animals.

Biologists say this month, they will be running regular reconnaissance flights to locate bison, and posting those whereabouts on the Environment Department's website.

"Hopefully we can point the hunters in the directions of where the bison may be," senior wildlife biologist Tom Jung said.

"There's too many animals on the land, so hunting is one tool that's used to try to keep the numbers in check."

Environment officials gave out more bison hunting permits and extended the hunt to encourage Yukoners to hunt more bison. But as the hunting season enters its final month, only 40 animals have been taken to date.