Survey of New York State Deer Hunters Following the 2009 Hunting Season Jody W. Enck Human...
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Transcript of Survey of New York State Deer Hunters Following the 2009 Hunting Season Jody W. Enck Human...
Survey of New York State Deer HuntersFollowing the 2009 Hunting Season
Jody W. EnckHuman Dimensions Research UnitDepartment of Natural ResourcesCornell University
Presentation Topics• Sampling considerations and survey design. • Statistical precision.• Survey topics:– Opinions about a possible youth hunt– Opinions about legalization and use of crossbows– Opinions about various management options
emerging from statewide meetings held prior to the 2009 hunting season.
Sampling Considerations• Statewide survey, representative of all deer
hunters. • Geographic breakouts for hunters who hunt
primarily in Northern Zone and for hunters who hunt primarily in Southern Zone.
• Total sample size of 4,791 deliverable questionnaires; 2,213 respondents (46.2%).
• Maximum margin of error = +/- 2.2%
Survey Design• 2 versions of the questionnaire. • Similarities:– Variables on hunting participation and
experiences, demographic characteristics. – Opinions about possible youth hunt, crossbows.
• Differences:– Version 1: Questions about 8 options regarding
season structure and harvest of antlerless deer.– Version 2: Questions about 6 options regarding
harvest of antlered bucks.
Opinions AboutPossible Youth Hunt
Overall opinion %Good Idea 56Neither Good nor Bad 20Bad Idea 24
Opinions AboutPossible Youth Hunt
Overall opinion With Kids No kidsGood Idea 58% 55%
Neither 24 18Bad Idea 17 27
Having children who might take advantage of the new opportunity had little effect on hunters’ opinions.
Opinions AboutPossible Youth Hunt
When should a youth hunt be held?6 options were examined…
each was a good idea for 25-36%each was a bad idea for 36-45%
What kind of hunting opportunity should the youth have? Good Bad
buck tag and antlerless tag 48% 33%one deer of either sex 64% 24%
Opinions AboutPossible Youth Hunt
Willing to be non-hunting adult on youth hunt? Kids No kids
Not at all willing 5% 18%Slightly willing 7 17Moderately willing 15 21Very willing 72 44
Opinions AboutUse of Crossbows
Crossbows were not legal at time of survey.What extent agree or disagree that crossbows
should never be legalized?
Agree, never legalize 31%Neither agree nor disagree 16%Disagree, should legalize53%
Opinions AboutUse of Crossbows
Crossbows were not legal at time of survey.What extent agree or disagree that crossbows
should never be legalized?
Bowhunters Others Agree 32% 30%Neither 15 16Disagree 53 54
Opinions AboutUse of Crossbows
If crossbows were legal, they should be legal for…Agree Neither Disagree
All hunters, whenever bows are legal (bow, reg. gun) 53% 14% 33%
Places needing more deer harvested 43 20 37
All hunters, only reg. gun 16 16 67
Disabled hunters 76 8 16Senior hunters 68 11 21
Opinions AboutUse of Crossbows
If crossbows were legal, would you use one?
Bowhunters OthersDefinitely no 21% 21%Probably no 20 14Not sure 16 21Probably yes 20 24Definitely yes 23 20
Management Options• Topics identified from statewide meetings • 4 options pertaining to season structure• 4 options pertaining to antlerless harvest• 6 options pertaining to antlered buck harvest– Opinion measured as Good Idea vs. Bad Idea– Most important trade-offs as basis for opinion
Opinions About Changes to Season Structure
Lengthen late archery and muzzleloader seasons in Southern Zone?
Good Badidea Neither idea
All hunters 38% 29% 33%
Hunt SZ late seas. 54 13 33Other hunters 29 38 33
(statistically different)
Opinions About Changes to Season Structure
Shorten regular firearms season? Good Bad
idea Neither idea
All hunters 17% 7% 76%
Hunt reg. gun 16 6 78Other hunters 20 15 66
(different)
Opinions About Changes to Season Structure
Create new season for flintlock, sidelock, and matchlock muzzleloaders (no scopes allowed)?
Good Bad idea Neither idea
All hunters 18% 19% 63%
Muzz. hunters 24 19 57Other hunters 16 19 65
(different)
Create new season for flintlock, sidelock, and matchlock muzzleloaders (no scopes allowed)?
Would participate? All muzzlehunters
not likely 69% 50%slightly likely 15 20 moderately likely 7 11very likely 9 19
Opinions About Changes to Season Structure
Start archery season earlier? Good Bad
idea Neither idea
All hunters 47% 24% 29%
Bowhunters68 12 20Other hunters 37 29 34
(different)
Opinions About Changes to Antlerless Regulations
In WMUs where deer population too high,make part of bow and muzzle seasons antlerless-only?
Good Badidea Neither idea
All hunters 50% 16% 34%
Bow/muzzle 51 16 33Reg. gun 49 13 38
(not different statistically)
Opinions About Changes to Antlerless Regulations
Allow antlerless harvest only through DMPs?Good Badidea Neither idea
All hunters 50% 14% 36%
Bow/muzzle 34 13 53Others 64 14 22
(different)
Opinions About Changes to Antlerless Regulations
In years when WMUs are temporarily closed to DMPs, allow bow and muzzle hunters to only take bucks in those WMUs during that year?
Good Badidea Neither idea
All hunters 57% 17% 26%
Bow/muzzle 52 17 31Others 61 16 23
(different)
Opinions About Changes to Antlerless Regulations
Create a new, early muzzleloader season in SZ that is antlerless-only?
Good Bad idea Neither idea
All hunters 41% 12% 47%
SZ Muzz. Hunters 57 6 37Other hunters 36 14 50
(different)
Trade-offs for Buck OptionsWhich ONE of these experiences is most
important to you personally?Having the greatest opportunity to harvest more than one buck per year = 8%
Having the greatest prospects of taking an older buck with large antlers = 34%
Having the greatest freedom to choose which antlered buck I take = 58%
Opinions About Changes to Buck Regulations
Allow each hunter to take only oneantlered buck per year?
Good Badidea Neither idea
All hunters 42% 17% 41%
Bow/muzzle 34 8 58Other hunters 61 11 28
(different)
Opinions About Changes to Buck Regulations
Keep current 2-buck bag limit, but make 2nd tag valid only for bucks with larger antlers?
Good Badidea Neither idea
All hunters 42% 11% 47%
Opinions About Changes to Buck Regulations
Set mandatory antler restrictions to reduce harvest of yearling bucks during all deer seasons (youth exempt)?
Good Badidea Neither idea
All hunters 57.4% 8.1% 34.4%
Opinions About Changes to Buck Regulations
Set mandatory antler restrictions to reduce harvest of yearling bucks, but only for part of the deer season (youth exempt)?
Good Badidea Neither idea
All hunters 42% 12% 46%
Opinions About Changes to Buck Regulations
Promote voluntary restraint on the part of hunters to pass-up shots at yearling bucks?
Good Badidea Neither idea
All hunters 53% 14% 33%
Opinions About Changes to Buck Regulations
Give hunters choice to buy 1 tag valid for any antlered buck OR 2 tags valid only for bucks with larger antlers?
Good Badidea Neither idea
All hunters 33% 15% 52%
Thank You