Responsive Management Colorado Wildlife Law Enforcement Study Conducted for the Colorado Division of...

Responsive Management

Colorado Wildlife Law Enforcement Study

Conducted for the Colorado Division of Wildlife


April 2000


Methodology

• Telephone Survey

• Randomly selected:– Colorado Residents (N=405)

– Resident Licensed Hunters (N=210)

– Resident Licensed Anglers (N=205)

• Sampling Error at 95% Confidence Intervals– Colorado Residents (+/- 5%)

– Resident Licensed Hunters (+/- 7%)

– Resident Licensed Anglers (+/- 7%)

• Those interviewed closely matched the geographic and demographic distribution of Colorado’s population


Q6. Would you say you know a great deal, a moderate amount, a little or nothing about the Colorado Division of Wildlife's law enforcement efforts?

18

37

38

7

1

14

36

41

9

1

8

27

44

20

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

A great deal

A moderateamount

A little

Nothing

Don't know

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q8. In general, would you rate the Division of Wildlife's overall law enforcement efforts as excellent, good, fair

or poor?

16

60

15

5

5

14

54

18

3

11

9

51

13

3

24

0 20 40 60 80 100

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Don't know

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q12. In your opinion, in Colorado, should law enforcement efforts by the Colorado Division of

Wildlife be increased, stay the same or be decreased?

40

54

2

4

50

42

4

3

52

34

2

12

0 20 40 60 80 100

Increased

Stay the same

Decreased

Don't know

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q13. What is your opinion on the penalties for violating hunting laws in Colorado? Would you say they are…?

6

57

31

7

4

53

32

11

4

42

28

26

0 20 40 60 80 100

Too high

Appropriate

Too low

Don't know / Noopinion

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q14. What is your opinion on the penalties for violating fishing laws in Colorado? Would you say they are...?

4

51

17

27

6

62

20

12

6

50

16

28

0 20 40 60 80 100

Too high

Appropriate

Too low


Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q15. What is your opinion on the penalties for violating laws that protect threatened and endangered wildlife

and animals that are not hunted or fished in Colorado? Would you say they are...?

6

46

32

15

6

47

31

16

4

35

39

22

0 20 40 60 80 100

Too high

Appropriate

Too low


Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q20. Now I'd like to know your general impression of these Wildlife Officers. Do you agree or disagree that Colorado Division of Wildlife Officers perform their

duties in a professional manner?

61

30

6

3

1

62

24

8

2

3

51

26

22

1

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neutral / Don'tknow

Somewhatdisagree

Strongly disagree

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q21. Overall, do you feel the job of a Colorado Wildlife Officer is very safe, moderately safe, moderately

dangerous or very dangerous?

9

38

1

45

7

7

36

3

41

13

6

37

7

44

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Very safe

Moderately safe

Neutral / Don'tknow

Moderatelydangerous

Very dangerous

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q31. Within the past five years, in Colorado, have you ever…?

(Percent of Colorado Residents)

49

28

19

18

18

11

0 20 40 60 80 100

None of these

Had your hunting/fishing license checked by aW.O.

Contacted a W.O. to get info about ahunting/fishing law or regulation

Contacted a W.O. about where to fish/huntor access to public/private land

Contacted a W.O. to get any other type ofinformation from them

Been contacted by a W.O. because theywanted info from you

Percent (n=405)


Q31 (continued). Within the past five years, in Colorado, have you ever…?

(Percent of Colorado Residents)

7

3

3

3

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Contacted a W.O. to help you with a problemwhile in the field

Don't know

Wanted to or actually filed a complaint abouta W.O.

Had any other contact with a Colorado W.O.not mentioned

Been issued a warning/citation for violating afishing/hunting law

Percent (n=405)


Q36. In general, do you think there are too many, about the right amount or too few Wildlife Officers patrolling

and providing services to hunters in Colorado?(Percent of Colorado hunters that have hunted in the

past five years)

3

36

58

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Too many

About the rightamount

Too few

Don't know

Percent (n=207)



(Percent of Colorado hunters that have hunted in the past five years)

63

30

30

29

28

0 20 40 60 80 100

Had your hunting license checked by aW.O.

Contacted a W.O. to get info about ahunting law or regulation

Contacted a W.O. to get any other type ofinformation from them

Contacted a W.O. about where to hunt oraccess to public/private land


Percent (n=207)



(Percent of Colorado hunters that have hunted in the past five years)

18

15

6

6

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

None of these

Contacted a W.O. to help you with aproblem while in the field

Been issued a warning/citation forviolating a hunting law

Had any other contact with a ColoradoW.O. not mentioned

Wanted to or actually filed a complaintabout a W.O.

Percent (n=207)


Q40. Within the past five years, while you were hunting in Colorado, do you think you've been contacted by a

Colorado Wildlife Officer…?(Percent of Colorado hunters that have hunted in the

past five years)

3

64

29

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Too much


Not enough

Don't know

Percent (n=207)


Q44. In general, do you think there are too many, about the right amount or too few Wildlife Officers patrolling

and providing services to anglers in Colorado?(Percent of Colorado anglers that have fished in the

past five years)

1

32

62

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Too many


Too few

Don't know

Percent (n=198)



(Percent of Colorado anglers that have fished in the past five years)

56

26

24

24

22

0 20 40 60 80 100

Had your fishing license checked by aW.O.

Contacted a W.O. about where to fish oraccess to public/private land

None of these

Contacted a W.O. to get any other typeof information from them

Contacted a W.O. to get info about afishing law or regulation

Percent (n=198)



(Percent of Colorado anglers that have fished in the past five years)

18

14

6

2

2

2

0 20 40 60 80 100


Contacted a W.O. to help you with aproblem while in the field

Wanted to or actually filed a complaintabout a W.O.

Been issued a warning/citation forviolating a fishing law

Had any other contact with a ColoradoW.O. not mentioned

Don't know

Percent (n=198)


Q48. Within the past five years, while you were fishing in Colorado, do you think you've been contacted by a

Colorado Wildlife Officer…?(Percent of Colorado anglers that have fished in the

past five years)

1

52

41

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Too much


Not enough

Don't know

Percent (n=198)


Q49. Would you agree or disagree that the Wildlife Officers you came in contact with were professional?(Percent of respondents that have had contact with a

Wildlife Officer in the past five years)

76

19

3

1

1

74

20

2

1

3

83

13

3

0

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neutral / Don'tknow

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

Percent

Hunters(n=177)

Anglers(n=167)

General Pop.(n=213)


Q50. Would you agree or disagree that the Wildlife Officers you came in contact with were courteous?

(Percent of respondents that have had contact with a Wildlife Officer in the past five years)

79

16

3

1

1

77

18

1

1

4

86

10

2

1

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neutral / Don'tknow

Somewhatdisagree

Strongly disagree

Percent

Hunters(n=177)

Anglers(n=167)

General Pop.(n=213)


Q51. Would you agree or disagree that the Wildlife Officers you came in contact with were knowledgeable?

(Percent of respondents that have had contact with a Wildlife Officer in the past five years)

74

21

2

0

3

74

20

4

2

1

83

12

4

1

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neutral / Don'tknow

Somewhatdisagree

Strongly disagree

Percent

Hunters(n=177)

Anglers(n=167)

General Pop.(n=213)


Q55-65a. Percent of Colorado hunters that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the Division's

Wildlife Officers to enforce laws...

93

91

84

81

80

78

0 20 40 60 80 100

That require people to have licenses whilehunting/fishing

That protect fish and wildlife from beingtaken illegally

That protect threatened and endangeredwildlife

Regarding the illegal use of equipment tohunt or fish

That prohibit the illegal sale of wildlife orwildlife parts

That prohibit people from having loadedfirearms in vehicles

Percent (n=207)


Q55-65a (continued). Percent of Colorado hunters that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the

Division's Wildlife Officers to enforce laws...

74

74

68

61

57

0 20 40 60 80 100

That prohibit private landowners fromblocking access to public lands

Regarding illegal guide and outfittingactivities

That prohibit trespassing on privateproperty

That protect non-game wildlife

That prohibit private ownership of wildanimals

Percent (n=207)


Q55-65b. Percent of Colorado anglers that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the Division's


92

88

84

83

81

79

0 20 40 60 80 100







Percent (n=205)


Q55-65b (continued). Percent of Colorado anglers that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the

Division's Wildlife Officers to enforce laws...

75

69

66

59

54

0 20 40 60 80 100






Percent (n=205)


Q55-65c. Percent of Colorado residents that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the Division's


91

90

90

90

82

76

0 20 40 60 80 100







Percent (n=405)


Q55-65c (continued). Percent of Colorado residents that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the Division's Wildlife Officers to enforce laws...

70

68

65

65

60

0 20 40 60 80 100






Percent (n=405)


Q67. Do you agree or disagree that a lot of people violate hunting laws?

35

31

3

18

13

36

28

8

17

11

41

26

14

12

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neutral/Don'tknow

Somewhatdisagree

Strongly disagree

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q69c. Which hunting laws do you think are violated most often?

(Percent of Colorado residents that agree that a lot of people violate hunting laws)

56

24

21

14

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Harvest-relatedissues

Hunter behavior-related issues

Licensing-relatedissues

Don't know

Methods/firearmsissues

Percent (n=272)


Q71. When a person violates a hunting law, do you think it is because the person does not know what the

law is or do you feel the person knows the law but violates it anyway?

21

73

3

3

3

15

77

2

6

6

12

78

3

7

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Does not know thelaw

Knows butviolates anyway

Other

Don't know

Don't know

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q73. Do you think that people who violate hunting laws are almost always caught, sometimes caught or hardly

ever caught?

5

44

50

1

2

32

61

5

2

35

58

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Almost always

Sometimes

Hardly ever

Don't know

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q74. Do you agree or disagree that a lot of people violate fishing laws?

30

28

21

15

7

41

29

7

18

6

38

34

13

11

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neutral/Don'tknow

Somewhatdisagree

Strongly disagree

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q76c. Which fishing laws do you think are violated most often?

(Percent of Colorado residents that agree that a lot of people violate fishing laws)

54

37

10

10

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Harvest-relatedissues

Licensing-relatedissues

Angler behavior-related issues

Don't know

Methods-relatedissues

Percent (n=290)


Q78. When a person violates a fishing law, do you think it is because the person does not know what the law is or do you feel the person knows the law but violates it

anyway?22

68

2

8

19

74

2

5

17

75

2

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Does not know thelaw

Knows butviolates anyway

Other

Don't know

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q82a. In the past two years, have you ever seen what you felt was a violation of a hunting, fishing, or other

type of wildlife law or regulation in Colorado?(Percent of Colorado hunters)

51

42

13

1

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

No, I haven't seen a violation

Yes, a violation of a hunting law/regulation

Yes, a violation of a fishing law/regulation

Yes, a violation of other type of wildlifelaw/regulation

Don't know

Percent (n=210)


Q82b. In the past two years, have you ever seen what you felt was a violation of a hunting, fishing, or other

type of wildlife law or regulation in Colorado?(Percent of Colorado anglers)

53

30

27

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

No, I haven't seen aviolation

Yes, a violation of ahunting

law/regulation

Yes, a violation of afishing

law/regulation

Yes, a violation ofother type of wildlife

law/regulation

Percent (n=205)


Q82c. In the past two years, have you ever seen what you felt was a violation of a hunting, fishing, or other

type of wildlife law or regulation in Colorado?(Percent of Colorado residents)

73

16

14

2

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

No, I haven't seen a violation

Yes, a violation of a fishing law/regulation

Yes, a violation of a hunting law/regulation

Yes, a violation of other type of wildlifelaw/regulation

Don't know

Percent (n=405)


Q93. Before this survey had you ever heard of Operation Game Thief?

73

26

1

52

48

0

29

70

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q97. Have you ever tried to report a violation to Operation Game Thief in Colorado by calling the

hotline?

3

1

97

0

5

1

93

2

1

0

98

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

Tried butcouldn't get

through

No

Don't know

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Q99. If you were to see someone violating a hunting, fishing or other type of wildlife law, do you think you would be likely or unlikely to report it to Operation

Game Thief?49

30

8

8

5

55

25

7

7

6

53

28

7

6

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Very likely

Somewhat likely

Neutral/Don'tknow

Somewhatunlikely

Very unlikely

Percent

Hunters(n=210)

Anglers(n=205)

General Pop.(n=405)


Major Findings1. Colorado hunters, anglers and residents felt that the

Division was doing a good to excellent job enforcing the wildlife laws of the state.

2. Colorado Wildlife Officers performed their duties in a professional manner.

3. Penalties for breaking wildlife laws in Colorado were about right to too low.

4. Colorado residents wanted more law enforcement efforts overall.

5. Colorado hunters, anglers and residents who had contact with an Officer, stated that the Officer they came in contact with was professional, courteous, knowledgeable and fair.


On the other hand…1. Colorado hunters, anglers and residents stated that there

were a lot of wildlife laws being broken and that these laws were being broken consciously.

2. Most of the people who felt there were a lot of laws being violated believed that the law being broken most often was harvest-related.

3. Overall, Colorado hunters, anglers and residents believed that violators of wildlife laws were seldom or never caught.

4. Although many hunters and anglers had heard of Operation Game Thief (OGT), and many hunters and anglers had observed a wildlife violation, few of them had ever called OGT to report a violation.


Percent of state residents that agree that wildlife law enforcement officers in their states are professional.

83

18

63

67

37

13

76

31

26

48

0 20 40 60 80 100

Colorado(n=213)

Mid-Atlanticstate (n=472)


Rocky Mountainstate (n=263)

Southwesternstate (n=604)

Percent

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

96

94

94

93

85


Percent of state hunters that agree that wildlife law enforcement officers in their states are professional.

76

70

75

19

25

17

0 20 40 60 80 100

Colorado(n=177)



Percent

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

95

95

92


Percent of state anglers that agree that wildlife law enforcement officers in their states are professional.

73

82

74

27

14

20

0 20 40 60 80 100



Colorado(n=167)

Percent

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

100

96

94


Percent of hunters that agree that a lot of hunters violate hunting laws.

35

23

31

26

0 20 40 60 80 100

Colorado(n=210)

Nationwide(n=376)

Percent

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

66

49


Percent of residents that agree that a lot of anglers violate fishing laws.

38

17

34

23

0 20 40 60 80 100

Colorado(n=405)

Nationwide(n=2085)

Percent

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

72

40


Percent of anglers that agree that a lot of anglers violate fishing laws.

41

18

29

24

0 20 40 60 80 100

Colorado(n=205)

Nationwide(n=942)

Percent

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

70

42

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