survey of new york state deer hunters following the 2009 hunting season

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


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.


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%


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%


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


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


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)


Shorten regular firearms season? Good Bad

idea Neither idea


Hunt reg. gun 16 6 78Other hunters 20 15 66

(different)


Create new season for flintlock, sidelock, and matchlock muzzleloaders (no scopes allowed)?

Good Bad idea Neither idea


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


Start archery season earlier? Good Bad

idea Neither idea


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?



Bow/muzzle 51 16 33Reg. gun 49 13 38

(not different statistically)


Allow antlerless harvest only through DMPs?Good Badidea Neither idea


Bow/muzzle 34 13 53Others 64 14 22

(different)


In years when WMUs are temporarily closed to DMPs, allow bow and muzzle hunters to only take bucks in those WMUs during that year?



Bow/muzzle 52 17 31Others 61 16 23

(different)


Create a new, early muzzleloader season in SZ that is antlerless-only?

Good Bad idea Neither idea


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?



Bow/muzzle 34 8 58Other hunters 61 11 28

(different)


Keep current 2-buck bag limit, but make 2nd tag valid only for bucks with larger antlers?




Set mandatory antler restrictions to reduce harvest of yearling bucks during all deer seasons (youth exempt)?




Set mandatory antler restrictions to reduce harvest of yearling bucks, but only for part of the deer season (youth exempt)?




Promote voluntary restraint on the part of hunters to pass-up shots at yearling bucks?




Give hunters choice to buy 1 tag valid for any antlered buck OR 2 tags valid only for bucks with larger antlers?



Thank You

survey of new york state deer hunters following the 2009 hunting season

Documents

hunters opinions

time of survey

possible youth huntopinions

survey topics

disagreeall hunters

legal foragree

legal bow

various management options