This Month at
Responsive Management

    collage of natural resource and outdoor recreation photos
Celebrating 20 years of survey research for natural resource and outdoor recreation agencies and organizations.
Responsive Management has recently completed over 30 projects on public opinion on and attitudes toward natural resource and outdoor recreation issues. The recently completed projects include studies on attitudes of hunters, anglers, and the general population as well as assessments of hunting and fishing access, fisheries and wildlife management programs, and several planning and evaluation projects, such as the following:
  • a study of New Hampshire residents' opinions on and participation in outdoor recreation

  • an assessment of Anchorage, Alaska, residents' attitudes toward bear and moose population levels and management strategies

  • a study to assist in the future direction of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control's Division of Fish and Wildlife by determining state residents' opinions on and experiences with outdoor recreation and wildlife management

  • a study of Arkansas residents' opinions on agency activities, efforts, and agency priorities and attitudes toward various management and funding issues to develop the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's first-ever strategic plan

  • a comprehensive assessment of hunting access in the U.S. to identify specific factors that negatively impact access and those that would improve access, as well as assess the effectiveness of existing access programs

  • an assessment of fishing access in the U.S., including the opinions of landowners whose land has water access, anglers, and fish and wildlife professionals

  • a study to identify reasons lapsed hunters in Virginia did not purchase a license and factors and messages that may encourage them to purchase a license in the future

  • an assessment of Virginia residents' knowledge of and attitudes toward black bears

  • qualitative research to determine how senior hunters can help increase hunting participation in Arizona

  • Arkansas waterfowl hunters' opinions on and attitudes toward waterfowl hunting and regulations

  • several studies for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to obtain harvest information for big game, small game, and turkey

  • a survey to determine New Jersey anglers' participation in fishing and their opinions on fishing regulations

  • a study to determine mountain trout anglers' contribution to North Carolina's economy

  • an assessment of the use of special inland fishing devices in North Carolina

  • studies in Washington to determine Dungeness crab harvest and opinions on Dungeness crab harvest regulations

  • a survey to determine the national participation rates for target shooting and sport shooting

  • a study in Delaware on residents' awareness of and opinions on sea level rise

  • a study to determine parks and recreation professionals' and Missouri residents' opinions on, attitudes toward, perceptions of, and values that they place on parks and recreation services in Missouri

  • an assessment and evaluation of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) and its effect on overall academic performance of students
The recently completed projects discussed above were conducted for many different agencies and organizations, including the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, American Sportfishing Association (ASA), Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Missouri Park and Recreation Association, NASP Foundation, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. In addition to these agencies and organizations, some of these studies have been conducted under grants or through funding from Multi-State Conservation Grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and administered by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA); the Delaware Coastal Programs; the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management; and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Please click here for a comprehensive list of recent and current survey research projects conducted by Responsive Management.

As 2010 progresses, Responsive Management continues to conduct an array of research on public opinion on and attitudes toward natural resource and outdoor recreation issues and is currently involved in over 25 studies. Responsive Management is conducting surveys, needs assessments, evaluations, focus groups, and data analyses in many different areas, including developing the 2011-2020 Virginia bear management plan; evaluating the effectiveness of hunting recruitment and retention programs; measuring deer hunters' opinions on implementing harvest limits and a tagging system; identifying sportfishing's competition; measuring saltwater anglers' participation in and opinions on shore fishing; measuring public knowledge and opinions on topics such as parks and recreation facilities, chimpanzees, and dolphins; agency training needs; and opinions on hunting license structure and fees.

Some interesting topics that are being explored in our current research include:
  • satisfaction with and needs related to parks, recreation opportunities, facilities, and other recreation services in the Evergreen district in Colorado

  • how changes in the structure of licenses and permits will influence license sales in North Carolina

  • identification of effective program elements of national and selected statewide recruitment and retention programs for hunters, anglers, and sport shooters

  • South Carolina shore anglers' participation in and satisfaction with marine fishing

  • deer hunters' opinions on implementing deer harvest limits and a tagging system in South Carolina

  • public awareness and knowledge of dolphin conservation in Florida

  • sportfishing competition and identification of what activities lapsed anglers are doing instead of fishing

  • education and training needs among employees of the Arizona Game and Fish Department

  • U.S. residents' knowledge of and attitudes toward chimpanzees, including their knowledge of chimpanzees in comparison to other animals and opinions on the use and portrayal of chimpanzees in the media

Responsive Management is an internationally recognized public opinion and attitude survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues. Our mission is to help natural resource and outdoor recreation agencies and organizations better understand and work with their constituents, customers, and the public. This is accomplished through a variety of methodologies, including telephone, mail, and web surveys; focus groups; and numerous other techniques listed on the far right side of this page. Click here to learn more about Responsive Management.

Download a brief 4-page overview of the services Responsive Management offers as well as comments from our clients.

RM Conducts:
Telephone Surveys
Mail Surveys
Focus Groups
Personal Interviews
Park/Outdoor Recreation Intercepts
Web-Based Surveys
Needs Assessments
Programmatic Evaluations
Literature Reviews
Data Collection for Universities and Researchers
RM Develops:
Marketing Plans
Communications Plans
Business Plans
Policy Analysis
Public Relations Plans

 130 Franklin Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801    Phone (540) 432-1888    Fax (540) 432-1892    mark@responsivemanagement.com
Content © Responsive Management, unless otherwise noted.