Participation and Attitudes About Hunting Public Opinion Surveys (Duda, 2001)

1. Participation and Attitudes About HuntingPublic Opinion Surveys (Duda, 2001) Sally Williams Consumer Research Planner Marketing Services Branch December 2002

2. Research Sources • General Population Survey • Telephone survey of Texas residents age 18 and above: • 2,002 respondents • Data were weighted by the seven travel and tourism regions to represent the relative populations of these regions. • Outdoor Recreation Participation Survey • Telephone survey of Texas residents age 18 and above: • 801 respondents • 113 outdoor recreationists who hunt • Survey targeted general population of those who participated in outdoor recreation as well as those who did not participate, but expressed an interest in participating in outdoor recreation activities.

3. Research Sources • Hunter Survey • Telephone survey of licensed resident hunters who had purchased a hunting license for the 1999/2000 hunting season: • 809 respondents • Super Combo, Combo, Resident Hunting, and Special Resident Hunting license holders were interviewed. • Data were weighted by type of hunting license to represent the relative populations of these license types.

4. Research Sources • Landowner Survey • Telephone survey of Texas landowners who owned 640 or more acres: • 563 respondents • Landowners were identified using county property tax records. • Surveys were conducted in all seven travel regions in the counties that agreed to participate in supplying sample.

5. Overview • Demographics of Hunters • Participation in Hunting • Satisfaction with Hunting • Knowledge and Satisfaction with TPWD • TPWD Regulations • TPWD Game Wardens • Interest in Information • TPWD Funding • Landowners and Hunting • Attitudes and Interest in Hunting Among Non-Hunters • General Population’s Attitudes Toward Hunting • Conclusions and Implications

6. Demographics of Hunters

7. Hunters have lived in Texas for many years. • One-half of hunters have lived for at least 40 years in Texas. Median Number of Years * * The median is the midpoint of the distribution. Half the number are below the median; half are above it. Source: Duda, 2001

8. About a third of hunters live in large city or suburban areas. • One third of hunters live in small cities and one third in rural or farm areas. Location of residence Comparable US Census data not available for Texas for this question. Source: Duda, 2001

9. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) % of Hunters % of Texas population Houston 16% 20% Dallas 12% 17% Fort Worth-Arlington 6% 8% San Antonio 7% 8% Austin-San Marcos 6% 6% Other MSA’s 23% 26% Urban areas within MSA’s 70% 85% Rural areas outside MSA’s 30% 15% • Location of Residence of 2001 Hunting License Holders • About 70% of hunters live in Metropolitan Statistical Areas, whereas 85% of the general population of Texas lives in these urban areas. Sources: TPWD License Point of Sale data, 2001 License Year for license types: Super Combo, Combination Hunting/Fishing, and Resident Hunting licenses; 2000 US Census Count, TAMU, State Data Center.

10. Hunters’ level of education is slightly higher than that of the general population. • Hunters are more likely than the general population of Texas to have a college degree. • Boaters and anglers are the most likely of all groups to have undergraduate or graduate degrees. Source: Duda, 2001, and US Census, 2000.

11. Hunters have substantially higher incomes than the general population. • 11% of the general population of Texas have incomes of $100,000 or more whereas 18% of hunters report that level of income. Source: Duda, 2001, and US Census, 2000.

12. License Type Median age * Combo 42 Super Combo 41 Resident Hunting 37 Total Adult Resident Hunting Licenses (age 17 and above) ** 41 Texas Population, US Census (adults) 40 Resident Hunting License holders are younger than Combo and Super Combo holders. * The median is the midpoint of the distribution. Half the ages are below the median; half are above it. ** Includes adult-only hunting license types: Combo, Super Combo, Resident Hunting, Senior Combo, and Senior Super Combo. Source: TPWD License Point of Sale data, 2001, and US Census, 2000.

13. Hunters Texas Population, US Census White/Non-Hispanic 85% 53% Hispanic 7% 32% African-American 1% 11% Other 7% 3% The majority of hunters are non-Hispanic and white. Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001, and US Census, 2000.

14. Hunters Texas Population, US Census Male 93% 49% Female 7% 51% Hunters are overwhelmingly male. Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001, and US Census, 2000.

15. Participation in Hunting

16. Hunting is one of the least participated in outdoor recreation activities among the general population of Texas. Participated at least once in the last 12 months Sources: Duda, Outdoor Recreation Participation Survey, 2001

17. The number of Texas hunters has increased over the past 10 years, but not enough to keep pace with the population growth. Participated at least once during the year Sources: USFWS, National Survey on Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 1991, 1996, 2001 (hunters age 16 and above) and US Census, 1990 and 2000.

18. The majority of outdoor recreationists who hunt view it as a primary outdoor recreation activity. • The survey asked outdoor recreation participantsfor the top two activities they participate in. Source: Duda, Outdoor Recreation Participation Survey, 2001

19. White-tailed deer and dove are the most popular species with Texas hunters. Top 2 species hunted in the last 2 years Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

20. Hunters are some of the most avidparticipants. • Hunters participate with similar frequency to anglers, less often than boaters, and more often than state park visitors. Median Number of Days Participated in Last 12 Months Details in Appendix. Source: Duda, 2001

21. Rio Grande turkey and squirrel hunters participated the most frequently. Median Number of Days Participated in Last 12 Months Species in the top two species hunted in the last 2 years. Note: Some species not reported due to small sample sizes. Source: Duda, 2001

22. Over three-quarters of hunters participate in hunting every year. • Anglers and boaters are the most consistent participants Participated every year in last five years Details in Appendix. Source: Duda, 2001

23. Mule deer and Rio Grande turkey hunters are the most consistent hunters. Participated every year in last five years Species in the top two species hunted in the last 2 years. Note: Some species not reported due to small sample sizes. Source: Duda, 2001

24. Most hunters take both day and overnight hunting trips. Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

25. Overnight Trips: • Hunters travel farther for overnight trips. • Over 60% of hunters traveled more than 2 hours one-way for their overnight trips. • Freshwater anglers were more likely to stay close to home, with almost half traveling less than two hours. Distance traveled one-way for overnight trips Details in Appendix. Source: Duda, 2001

26. Mule deer and quail hunters travel the farthest distance for their overnight hunting trips. Distance traveled one-way for overnight trips Species in the top two species hunted in the last 2 years. Note: Some species not reported due to small sample sizes. Source: Duda, 2001

27. Day trips: • Over three-quarters of hunters travel less than 2 hours one-way for day trips. • This is similar to saltwater and freshwater anglers. Distance traveled one-way for day trips Details in Appendix. Source: Duda, 2001

28. Mule deer hunters travel the farthest for their day trips. Distance traveled one-way for day trips Species in the top two species hunted in the last 2 years. Note: Some species not reported due to small sample sizes. Source: Duda, 2001

29. “For the sport of it” and “to be with friends and family” are the primary reasons for hunting. Primary Reasons For Hunting Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

30. Most Texas hunters do not hunt outside of the state of Texas. • Onlyone-quarter had hunted in another state. • Few had hunted on WMAs or TPWD dove leases. Participated in activity in the past 2 years Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

31. Hunting primarily takes place on private land. Question text: When hunting in Texas during the past 2 years, would you say you mostly hunted on public land, private land, or both about the same? Location of hunting in last 2 years Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

32. Regardless of the type of species hunted, most hunters hunted primarily on private land. • Duck hunters were the most likely to hunt on public land. Location of hunting in last 2 years Species in the top two species hunted in the last 2 years. Note: Some species not reported due to small sample sizes. Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

33. Modern weapons are most popular among hunters. • A third of hunters hunted with dogs during the last 2 years. • Bow and arrow, muzzleloader, and black powder firearm were used by a minority of hunters. Participated in activity in the past 2 years Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

34. Satisfaction With Hunting

35. Hunters are satisfied with their hunting experiences. • 60% of hunters are very satisfied, but significantly less than park visitors . Satisfaction with outdoor recreation experiences Source: Duda, 2001

36. Duck and quail hunters are less satisfied with their hunting than other hunters. Very satisfied with hunting for the species Note: Some species not reported due to small sample sizes. Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

37. Half of hunters reported improvement in the quality of hunting in the last 5 years. • Less than 20% of hunters have experienced a decline in quality. • More hunters reported improvement than did overnight park visitors, freshwater anglers, or boaters. Quality of hunting in the last 5 years Source: Duda, 2001

38. Hunters report the lowest levels of user conflicts of all groups. • Whereas over one-half of boaters reported interference from others that diminished their enjoyment of boating, hunters experienced little conflict while hunting. Percent reporting user conflicts Source: Duda, 2001

39. Hunters who hunt primarily on private land report less user conflict than those who hunt on public land. Percent reporting user conflicts Source: Duda, 2001

40. Hunting faces significant competition for the discretionary time of participants. • Of hunters who do not hunt as often as they would like, time is the most significant factor. • Access, costs, and weather are secondary factors for hunters. Limits to Participation Percentages based on hunters who experienced limitations. * Note: percentages do not add to 100% due to multiple responses per respondent Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

41. Of hunters who are limited by time, almost all cite work as the specific reason. Time limitations Percentages based on hunters who specified time limitations to participation. * Note: percentages do not add to 100% due to multiple responses per respondent Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

42. Of those who are limited by cost, lease cost is the most commonly cited reason. Cost limitations Percentages based hunters who specified cost limitations to participation. * Note: percentages do not add to 100% due to multiple responses per respondent Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

43. Knowledge & Satisfaction with TPWD

44. Two-thirds of hunters know a great deal or moderate amount about TPWD’s activities. • 25% know a great deal about the agency’s activities compared to only 9% of the general population. • All TPWD constituent groups report good levels of knowledge of TPWD. Knowledge about TPWD’s activities This question asked for respondents’ perception of their knowledge. It did not ask for specific information to test their knowledge. Source: Duda, 2001

45. Hunters are satisfied with TPWD as a government agency. • Over half of hunters are very satisfied. Very few are dissatisfied. Satisfaction with TPWD Source: Duda, 2001

46. Three-quarters of hunters rate TPWD high on providing opportunities to hunt. • This is similar to the ratings of anglers and boaters of their recreation opportunities. Rating of TPWD’s efforts to provide recreation opportunities Source: Duda, 2001

47. Hunters give TPWD high marks for incorporating the wants and needs of hunters into outdoor activities. • About 80% of hunters rate TPWD’s efforts as excellent or good. Rating of efforts to incorporate recreationists’ wants and needs into management of outdoor activities Source: Duda, 2001

48. Hunters feel that educating non-hunters about hunting is the top activity TPWD should do. • Other important activities involve habitat, access, and information about hunting as well as education and law enforcement. Hunting-related activities TPWD should provide much more effort to do Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

49. Few hunters felt that activities focused on specific species or weapons required more effort from TPWD. Hunting-related activities TPWD should provide much more effort to do Source: Duda, Hunter Survey, 2001

50. Hunters want more TPWD effort placed on law enforcement and encouraging landowners to open access for recreation than anglers do. • Saltwater anglers want more effort on research than hunters or freshwater anglers. Activities TPWD should provide much more effort to do Source: Duda, 2001