Hunting
According to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 11.5 million Americans ages 16 and older went hunting in 2016, spending more than $36 billion on trips, equipment, and other hunting-related items.
Responsive Management research indicates that support for hunting has remained strong over the past two decades, with approximately every 3 out of 4 Americans approving of legal hunting. Some groups of Americans are much more likely to support hunting than others. Survey results and statistical analyses show that some variables are positively associated with support for hunting while other variables are negatively associated with support for hunting. Hunters, naturally, show the strongest support for hunting, followed by people who have a family member who hunts. The closer a person’s association with hunting, either through personal experience or from the experiences of family or friends, the stronger support a person has for hunting. Gender is the next strongest variable. Men are much more likely to support hunting than are women, even though a majority of both genders support hunting. Outdoor recreationists in general are more likely than the general population as a whole to support hunting: boaters, anglers, and people who view wildlife around their home are more likely to support legal hunting. Factors negatively associated with support for hunting include not having a family member who hunts, being 25-34 years old, and residence in a suburban area or a large city. Higher levels of education are also negatively correlated with approval of hunting.
Hunters in the United States are predominantly rural, white males, and hunting is strongly connected to their relationships with their fathers or father figures. As such it is to the majority of hunters an activity with which they identify on a more emotional level than a cognitive level. Failure to grasp the importance of the emotional connection to hunting can almost certainly lead to a less-than-accurate understanding of hunting only as a recreational activity. Hunting, however much a recreational activity, can be fully comprehended only if it is understood as a complex cultural phenomenon closely linked to naturalistic values, hunters’ identities, and the American family. Hunting is not only a recreational pursuit.
Changing demographic factors in the U.S. have been driving the dominant trend of decreasing hunting participation. One of the most important trends is the increasing urbanization of the U.S. Most of the population now lives in non-rural housing. This demographic trend is important because hunting participation is positively correlated with living in a rural area. In addition, urban environments have decreased opportunities for hunting and a lack of information on where to go to hunt. Urban environments also lack the social support system that is crucial to hunting because an individual is not surrounded by others who hunt, making initiation into hunting and retention difficult.
It takes a hunter to make a hunter. Responsive Management research indicates that almost all long-term hunters are initiated into hunting before the age of 20, usually by a father or a father figure. Hunters who are initiated by a father or another male family member before the age of 20 hunt more frequently and are more likely to hunt avidly throughout their lifetime than are hunters who were not initiated in this way. The presence of other family members who hunt, amount of exposure to hunting, and the presence of a “hunting culture” are of utmost importance in hunting initiation as well. Rarely does hunting initiation occur outside of these parameters. For instance, a national study of youth ages 8 to 18 conducted by Responsive Management found that 92% of youth who had hunted in the previous year came from a hunting family, while only 8% came from a non-hunting family. There are few other paths of initiation. In short, hunters come from hunting families, and hunting families produce hunters.
Reasons that take away from hunting satisfaction generally relate to access and crowding issues as well as a lack of time due to work or family obligations. In one Responsive Management study, three of the four most common reasons that inactive hunters stopped hunting related to time constraints. However, lack of time as a reason to quit hunting may mask a much more complex set of circumstances. Responsive Management research indicates that many ex-hunters are inelastic in the sources of their hunting satisfaction. Ex-hunters’ motivations are similar to active hunters’ motivations in many respects. They share utilitarian, naturalistic, aesthetic, and ecological values. However, it appears that active hunters are more elastic in their expectations about hunting. Active hunters can easily substitute one value for another and/or derive satisfactions from a wider range of values than can ex-hunters. Those hunters whose satisfaction stems primarily from one value tend to drop out of hunting more easily than hunters who derive satisfaction from multiple values.
Responsive Management research also indicates that a major reason hunters quit hunting is because of a breakdown in the social support system among hunters. Most current, active hunters continue to surround themselves socially with other active hunters. This is in sharp contrast to ex-hunters who “fall out” of a social circle of hunters and subsequently “fall out” of hunting. Hunters hunt with other hunters. As hunting partners move away, pass away, or become involved with other activities, participation by other hunters in the group declines. Similarly, when an avid hunter moves to a new area, his or her hunting activity often does not resume because the hunter does not have the social support system he/she previously had.
In addition to measuring overall approval of hunting among Americans, Responsive Management’s research on hunting has explored participation in big game hunting, small game hunting, bowhunting, and other types of hunting; satisfaction with hunting in various parts of the country; preferred types of habitat and species for hunting; motivations for hunting; constraints to hunting participation; support for and opposition to bag limits, season structures, and other management options; and more.
Recent examples of Responsive Management’s research on hunting include the following:
Public Opinion on and Attitudes Toward the Management of Big Game Species in Maine Among State Residents, Hunters, and Landowners: This study was conducted for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to determine the opinions of the general population, landowners of large tracts of land, and hunters regarding the management and hunting of deer, moose, bear, and wild turkey. The study entailed scientific probability-based random sample surveys of the three groups. Buy Now
California Deer Hunters’ Opinions on and Attitudes Toward Deer Management in the State: This study was conducted for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine deer hunters’ opinions on deer hunting and deer management in California. The study entailed a scientific multi-modal survey of California deer hunters. Buy Now
A Comparison of Split and Concurrent Firearms Deer Hunting Seasons in Pennsylvania: This study was conducted for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to assess the differences in hunters’ expenditures during, satisfaction with, and attitudes toward deer hunting depending on whether they hunted a region with a split season or a concurrent season. The study entailed a telephone survey of Pennsylvania hunters who had purchased an antlerless license. Buy Now
Virginia Residents’ and Hunters’ Opinions on Hunting Over Bait: Responsive Management conducted this study for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to determine Virginia residents’ and hunters’ opinions on hunting in general, hunting for various species, hunting using various equipment, and hunting over bait. The study entailed two telephone surveys: one of Virginia residents 18 years old and older and another of hunting license holders 16 years old and older. Buy Now
Idaho Residents’ and Sportsmen’s Opinions on Wildlife Management and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game: This study was conducted for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to determine residents’ and sportsmen’s (i.e., hunters’ and anglers’) opinions on wildlife management and wildlife-related recreation opportunities in the state, and to assess attitudes toward the Department. The study entailed a scientific telephone survey of Idaho residents ages 18 years old and older to reflect the Idaho adult general population. Buy Now
Texas Residents’ and Hunters’ Attitudes Toward Captive Deer Breeding and Hunting Pen-Raised Deer: This study was conducted for the Quality Deer Management Association to determine the public’s and hunters’ opinions on and attitudes toward captive breeding and hunting deer in high-fenced enclosures. The study entailed a scientific telephone survey of Texas residents and hunters aged 18 years and older. Buy Now
Residents’, Hunters’, and Farmers’ Opinions on Deer Populations and Deer Management in Florida: This study was conducted for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to determine residents’, hunters’, and farmers’ opinions on deer in general, the size of the deer population in Florida, and the state’s management of the deer population. The study entailed three separate scientific telephone surveys of residents, hunters, and farmers. Buy Now
Deer Management in Georgia—Survey of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners: This study was conducted for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to determine residents’, hunters’, and landowners’ opinions on deer management and deer hunting regulations in the state. The study entailed a telephone survey of three groups: residents, hunters, and landowners. Buy Now
Wyoming Mule Deer Hunters’ Opinions on Mule Deer Hunting and Mule Deer Management: This study was conducted for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to determine mule deer hunters’ opinions on the quality of mule deer hunting in Wyoming and their opinions on season structure and hunting regulations. The study entailed a telephone survey of resident and nonresident mule deer hunters. Buy Now
Hunters’ Participation in and Opinions on Elk Hunting in Wyoming: This study was conducted for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to determine elk hunters’ opinions on various aspects of elk hunting and elk hunting regulations. The study entailed a telephone survey of resident and nonresident license holders with elk hunting privileges. Buy Now
Deer Hunting and Harvest Management in Vermont: This study was conducted for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department to determine hunters’ opinions on and attitudes toward deer management strategies, specifically as they relate to hunting and harvest regulations. The ultimate purpose of this project was to help the Department develop a comprehensive evaluation of deer hunting and harvest regulations, thereby assisting the Department in developing the most effective deer management strategies and hunting regulations to best meet the needs of its diverse constituents. Buy Now
Mississippi Hunters’ Attitudes Toward Tagging: This study was conducted for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks to determine deer and turkey hunters’ opinions on various tagging options. The study entailed a scientific telephone survey of hunters whose license allowed deer/turkey hunting. Buy Now
Hunters’ and Anglers’ Opinions on Factors Related to License Purchasing Behavior—A Comparison of Avid, Inconsistent, and One-Time License Buyers: This study was conducted for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to determine hunters’ and anglers’ license purchasing behaviors, including their reasons for hunting and fishing, their ratings of their hunting and fishing experiences in Iowa, and their opinions on factors and messages encouraging participation in these sports. The study entailed a telephone survey of hunters and anglers. Within these groups of license buyers, the study examined three levels of avidity: avid license buyers, inconsistent license buyers, and one-time license buyers. Buy Now
Tennessee Residents’ and Hunters’ Knowledge of and Opinions on Sandhill Cranes: This study was conducted for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to determine residents’ and hunters’ knowledge of and experiences with sandhill cranes, their opinions on hunting sandhill cranes, and their experiences with the Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival. The study entailed a telephone survey of residents of Tennessee, residents of the proposed sandhill crane hunt area, and hunters. Buy Now
Alabama Licensed Hunters’ Opinions on and Participation in Hunting on WMAs: This study was conducted for the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries to determine participation in hunting on designated Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), opinions on and ratings of hunting on WMAs, opinions on WMA regulations, and several other issues about hunting on WMAs. The study entailed two telephone surveys: one survey of WMA License Holders and the other survey of Non-WMA License Holders. Buy Now
Opinions on Quality Deer Management in Western Maryland: This study was conducted for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to determine hunters’ and landowners’ opinions on quality deer management in western Maryland. The study entailed a telephone survey of three groups: deer hunters who live in western Maryland (either Allegany or Garrett Counties), deer hunters who live outside of western Maryland, and landowners in western Maryland (again, either Allegany or Garrett Counties). Buy Now
Pennsylvania Lapsed Hunters’ Attitudes Toward Hunting and Future Participation: This study was conducted for the Pennsylvania Game Commission to better understand why Pennsylvania hunters lapse in their hunting participation and do not purchase licenses in a given year; the study was also conducted to identify actions the Commission may take to prevent hunters from lapsing and solidify their involvement in the sport. The study entailed a series of six focus groups with adult and youth lapsed hunters in four areas of Pennsylvania. Buy Now
Virginia Kill Permit Holders’ Opinions on and Attitudes Toward Kill Permits: This study was conducted for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to determine opinions on kill permits issued by the Department as part of its deer and bear management programs. In particular, the research was conducted to examine kill permit holders’ satisfaction with kill permits as a management tool for resolving difficulties with wildlife causing crop or other property damage. The study entailed a telephone survey of Virginia landowners who received kill permits. Buy Now
Hunting on Wildlife Management Areas in Georgia—Hunters’ Attitudes Toward WMAs: This study was conducted for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to obtain participation and opinion data regarding hunting on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Georgia. Specifically, this survey determined the number of hunters hunting WMAs, species hunted, and weapons used; to explore hunters’ satisfaction with WMAs and identify future needs; and to assess hunters’ opinions on attitudes toward overall hunting opportunities in the State of Georgia. Buy Now