Presented at the NASC 5th Annual Sportsman-Legislator Summit Friday, December 5, 2008 Mark Damian Duda Responsive Management The Sportsman’s Voice: Hunting and Fishing in America

Sponsored by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation The Sportsman’s Voice: Hunting and Fishing in America

PURPOSE OF BOOK  To help promote legislation and programs that further the mission of fish and wildlife agencies  To help promote legislation and programs that enhance hunting and fishing opportunities  To promote effective exchange of ideas among legislators, hunting and fishing organizations, and fish and wildlife agencies

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40,0001 million Responsive Management

650,0007 million Responsive Management

rarely seen 5.5 million Responsive Management

WHY SPORTSMEN’S ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT  There is a large number of sportsmen in the United States (5-year timeframe) 18.6 million Americans 16 years old and older hunt 44.4 million Americans 16 years old and older fish  The opportunity to hunt and fish is important to the American public, even though many do not hunt or fish.  Sportsmen are essential to species protection and species management.  Sportsmen are integral to habitat conservation.  Hunting and fishing have major economic impacts on the U.S. economy.  Sportsmen vote and wield considerable political clout. Responsive Management

METHODOLOGY  Literature review  Review of internal Responsive Management research (700 studies)  Survey of state fish and wildlife agencies  Interviews with key fish and wildlife personnel  50 state level reports  Development of a 417-page manuscript  Review of manuscript by 20 fish and wildlife professionals Responsive Management

TABLE OF CONTENTS  Introduction  Chapter 1: A History of Hunting, Fishing, and Fish and Wildlife Management in the United States  Chapter 2: Public Attitudes Toward the Environment, Natural Resources, and Wildlife  Chapter 3: Attitudes Toward Hunting and Fishing  Chapter 4: Participation in Hunting and Fishing  Chapter 5: Law Enforcement, Firearms, and Safety Issues  Chapter 6: Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Commissions, Government Acts, and Sportsmen’s and Conservation Organizations  Chapter 7: Funding for the Management of Fish and Wildlife  Chapter 8: The Economic Significance of Hunting and Fishing  Chapter 9: Ballot Initiatives, Referenda, and Sportsmen’s Issues  Chapter 10: The Future of Hunting and Fishing in the United States / Recruitment and Retention Programs Responsive Management

Chapter 1: A History of Hunting, Fishing, and Fish and Wildlife Management in the United States Responsive Management

“…and which shall include a prohibition against the diversion of license fees paid by hunters for any other purpose than the administration of said State fish and game department…” -Virginia Representative (later Senator) A. Willis Robertson Responsive Management

Chapter 2: Public Attitudes Toward the Environment, Natural Resources, and Wildlife Responsive Management

Source: Gallup. Responsive Management

Overall Public Knowledge Grades Public knowledge of fish and wildlife management was graded based on responses to 18 questions. Responsive Management

Kellert’s Typology of Basic Wildlife Attitudes ATTITUDE ESTIMATED % OF AMERICAN POPULATION STRONGLY ORIENTED TOWARD THE ATTITUDE COMMON BEHAVIORAL EXPRESSIONS MOST RELATED VALUES / BENEFITS Naturalistic10% Outdoor wildlife related recreation— backcountry use, nature birding, and nature hunting Recreational Ecologistic 7% Conservation support, activism and membership, ecological study Ecological Humanistic35% Pets, wildlife tourism, casual zoo visitation Companionship, affective Moralistic20% Animal welfare support / membership, kindness to animals Ethical, existence Scientistic 1%Scientific study / hobbies, collectingScientific Aesthetic15% Nature appreciation, art, wildlife tourism Aesthetic Utilitarian20% Consumption of furs, raising meat, bounties, meat hunting Consumptive, utilitarian Dominionistic 3% Animal spectator sports, trophy hunting, animal training Sporting Negativistic 2%Cruelty, overt fear behaviorLittle or negative Neutralistic35%Avoidance of animal behaviorLittle or negative

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Chapter 3: Attitudes Toward Hunting and Fishing Responsive Management

Chapter 4: Participation in Hunting and Fishing Responsive Management

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / U.S. Census Bureau, 2007.

Number of Hunters in the United States Source of Data Number of Hunters Survey Date National Survey14.1 million2006 Federal assistance data14.8 million2006 NSGA17.8 million2006 SGMA15.2 million2004 NSRE26.6 million Responsive Management

 Loss of land  Loss of rural people  Dilution of the hunting and shooting culture  Less free time and more time to travel  More structured time Urbanization Responsive Management

Chapter 5: Law Enforcement, Firearms, and Safety Issues Responsive Management

Source: National Shooting Sports Foundation, Responsive Management

Source: National Safety Council, Responsive Management

Chapter 6: Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Commissions, Government Acts, and Sportsmen’s and Conservation Organizations Responsive Management

As a Division Within a Parent Agency Example: As Its Own Agency Example: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division Fish and Wildlife Agencies Within the Structure of State Governments Responsive Management

Agency Structure in Each State for Fish and Wildlife Management (Examples) STATEAGENCY STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATORS Alabama Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Commissioner, M. Barnett Lawley), Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (Director, M.N. “Corky” Pugh) Fisheries Section (Chief, Stan Cook) Wildlife Section (Chief, Gary Moody) Alaska Alaska Department of Fish and Game (Commissioner, Denby S. Lloyd) Sport Fish Division (Director, Charles O. Swanton) Division of Wildlife Conservation (Director, Doug Larsen) Responsive Management

State Fisheries and Wildlife Commissions (Examples) STATEBOARD NUMBER OF MEMBERS HOW BOARD POSITIONS FILLED CRITERIA TO BE ON BOARD TERM OF MEMBERSHIP / MEETINGS PER YEAR AL Alabama Conservation Advisory Board 14 Appointed by governor Experience or training pertinent to one of the principal lines of activity of the department; one member from each congressional district 6 years / 3 meetings per year AK Alaska Board of Fisheries 7 and 1 ex-officio Appointed by governor Interest in public affairs, good judgment, knowledge, and ability in the field of action of the board with a view to providing diversity of interest and points of view in membership 3 years / 6 meetings per year Responsive Management

Chapter 7: Funding for the Management of Fish and Wildlife Responsive Management

Current Fish and Wildlife Management Funding  Federal Aid programs, primarily the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration Programs  Hunting and fishing licenses, stamps, and permits  State tax general funds  State Wildlife Grants  Interest income on invested funds  Miscellaneous revenues, such as tax check-off programs and special automobile license plates Responsive Management

Additional Topics in Chapter 7  Important Programs and Acts  Lists of Conservation and Sportsmen’s Organizations Responsive Management

Chapter 8: The Economic Significance of Hunting and Fishing Responsive Management

 Sportsmen’s Expenditures  Annual and Daily Contributions Per Sportsman Responsive Management

Total = $75.4 Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / U.S. Census Bureau, Responsive Management

Economic Contributions of Recreational Fishing to the U.S. Economy StateJobsRetail Sales Total Multiplier Effect Salaries, Wages, and Income State and Local Taxes Federal Taxes Alabama14,675$878,457,126$1,436,445,192$406,102,677$84,067,523$92,115,074 Alaska8,465$530,165,682$800,921,744$252,957,398$59,430,038$55,025,790 Arizona14,729$849,711,854$1,349,551,267$445,283,318$79,517,541$98,953,436 Arkansas10,313$545,298,547$895,174,271$243,694,232$52,020,280$53,559,040 California40,948$2,677,352,981$4,776,414,073$1,569,145,960$336,307,902$362,195,468 Colorado11,800$819,683,869$1,434,900,021$446,318,554$76,053,699$101,842,838 Connecticut4,465$268,881,719$445,971,378$156,468,052$28,480,265$42,070,001 Delaware1,420$97,463,539$131,459,897$44,040,745$10,190,756$9,970,464 Florida75,736$4,412,241,741$7,539,642,942$2,329,546,824$442,718,529$558,078,312 Georgia16,881$1,132,885,393$1,938,502,694$552,256,594$116,708,582$128,709,708 Hawaii1,999$124,853,656$178,478,157$58,526,567$12,304,778$12,600,157 Idaho6,006$314,588,507$491,513,602$173,926,706$36,763,621$34,854,078 Illinois14,040$816,666,299$1,499,897,096$485,869,760$90,898,882$116,189,714 Indiana14,254$800,337,945$1,382,834,777$406,941,848$77,789,225$93,156,219

Chapter 9: Ballot Initiatives, Referenda, and Sportsmen’s Issues Responsive Management

Chronology of Initiatives and Referenda  By year  By state  By topic Responsive Management

Chronology of Initiatives and Referenda Regarding Right-to-Hunt-and-Fish Constitutional Amendments (Examples) YearStateTypeSummaryOutcome 2004LouisianaLegislative Referendum Adds language to state constitution concerning the right to hunt, fish, and trap Pass (Yes: 81%) 2004MontanaLegislative Referendum Adds language to state constitution recognizing and preserving the right of Montanans to hunt and fish Pass (Yes: 80.6%) 2006GeorgiaInitiativeInserts “right to hunt and fish” language into state constitution Pass (Yes: 81%) 2008OklahomaLegislative Referendum Adds “right to hunt, trap, fish, and take game and fish” language to state constitution Pass (Yes: 80%)

Overall Numbers of Initiatives and Referenda Passed in Favor of and in Opposition to Sportsmen’s Interests, 1910 – 2008 Total number of sportsmen-related ballot initiatives and referenda since Number of sportsmen-related initiatives and referenda for which the vote was in favor of a sportsmen’s agenda since 1910* 30 Number of sportsmen-related initiatives and referenda for which the vote was in opposition to a sportsmen’s agenda since 1910* 23 Total number of sportsmen-related ballot initiatives and referenda since Number of sportsmen-related initiatives and referenda for which the vote was in favor of sportsmen’s interests since 1990* 20 Number of sportsmen-related initiatives and referenda for which the vote was in opposition to sportsmen’s interests since 1990* 17 *Figures based only on initiatives and referenda identified as having been clearly in support of or opposition to sportsmen’s interests, as determined by available ballot measure summaries.

Strategies for Initiating, Controlling, and Countering Ballot Initiatives and Referenda  Commit to Long-term Education  Develop Coalitions, Cooperation, and Partnering Efforts  Build Communications on a Solid Foundation of Research  Campaign Preparation (Issue-Specific Research)  Communications Specialization  Identify Target Markets  Identify Messages Responsive Management

Emerging Issues  Hunting over bait  Climate change  Hunting with dogs  High-fenced hunting  High-tech gear  Roadless areas  Sunday hunting Responsive Management

Chapter 10: The Future of Hunting and Fishing in the United States / Recruitment and Retention Programs Responsive Management

State Agency Hunter and Angler Programs Pertaining to Recruitment and Retention (Example) STATEGENERAL PROGRAMSYOUTH PROGRAMS Alabama Conservation EXPO, an annual exposition at a state park that includes shooting events development of additional shooting ranges Community Fishing Events (agency provides expertise, mentors, and tackle) Free Fishing Day Outdoor Ladies (agency provides instructors to this Alabama Treasure Forest Association program) youth hunts for dove, deer, turkey, waterfowl, and squirrel free youth fishing license Trailblazers (partnered with U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and Cub Scouts) classes for scouts Responsive Management

Elements of Successful Hunter and Angler Recruitment and Retention Programs  Clearly Define Goals and Objectives  Set Achievable Goals and Have Realistic Expectations  Provide Adequate Funding and Staffing  Hire Coordinators  Publicize the Program  Foster a Hunting and Fishing Culture  Attempt to Replicate How Sportsmen Are Typically Initiated into the Activities  Provide Repeated Exposure  Tailor Programs to the Target Market  Use Partnerships  Train the Trainers  Hunting Safety  Evaluate Programs Responsive Management

Alabama Youth Dove Hunt  Follows the natural path of recruitment and retention  Experiential  Annual event  Community event (enforces the hunting culture)  Occurs in the open  Starts with small game  Can observe without participating Responsive Management