Deer Hunter Survey
Preliminary Statewide Results April 2012
Conducted by Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Deer and Elk Section and Bureau of Wildlife Management, www.pgc.state.pa.us
INTRODUCTION AND METHODS
We completed this survey to quantify hunter behaviors and attitudes regarding deer hunting and
management in Pennsylvania. This survey was modeled after the 1995 deer hunter survey, which was the last Game Commission deer hunter survey that covered a wide variety of topics. A number of surveys of deer hunters were completed from 2002 to 2010, but these surveys focused on hunter behaviors and attitudes towards antler restrictions and reporting rates. We randomly selected hunters who purchased 2010-11 hunting licenses, and conducted this survey using standard mail survey protocols (Dillman 1979).
RESPONSE RATES
We sent surveys to 6,000 individual hunters. Our 2 mailings, including a pre-announcement post card and reminder post card following the first mailing, resulted in 108 non-deliverable surveys (i.e., moved with no forwarding address, death, etc.) and 3,572 usable responses for a response rate of 61%. We present results as an estimate (e.g., 55%). These estimates have an associated 95% confidence interval of approximately 2%. For example, if 55% of the respondents agreed with a statement, statistically, the interval from 53% (55 - 2) to 57% (55 + 2) would include the actual percent of hunters who agreed with the statement 95% of the time.
REPRESENTATIVENESS OF THIS SURVEY
Participants in this survey represented a random sample of Pennsylvania hunters. Distribution of
respondents closely matched license sales with adults constituting 76% of survey respondents and 78% of agespecific license sales. Nonresidents represented 5% of survey respondents and 6% of age-specific license sales.
RESULTS
General statewide results are presented following the format of the survey. Additional analyses of
specific topics will be completed in the future. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Survey support was provided by the Bureaus of Administration, Automated Technology Services, and Information and Education.
PART 1. GENERAL DEER HUNTING QUESTIONS
1. About how many years have you hunted deer in Pennsylvania?
Average 29 years of deer hunting in PA
Average 47 years of age
2. During the last 5 years, how many years did you hunt deer in Pennsylvania?
1% None of the last 5 years
4% 1 year
6% 2 years
6% 3 years
7% 4 years
76% 5 years
3. Did you hunt deer in Pennsylvania during the 2010-11 hunting seasons?
94% Yes
6% No
4. Did you harvest an antlered deer in Pennsylvania during the 2010-11 hunting seasons?
18% Yes
82% No
5. Who processed your antlered deer from the 2010-11 hunting seasons?
3% I gave the antlered deer away
37% I took it to a processor
9% I skinned the antlered deer, then took the meat to a processor
51% I processed the entire deer myself or had a friend or family member process it for me.
6. How many antlerless deer did you harvest in Pennsylvania in the 2010-11 seasons?
77% 0 antlerless deer
17% 1 antlerless deer
3% 2 antlerless deer
1% 3 antlerless deer
1% 4 or more antlerless deer
7. How many deer in total did you pay someone to butcher during the 2010-11 seasons?
11% 1 deer
3% 2 deer
1% 3 or more deer
8. On what kind of land did you hunt deer in Pennsylvania during the 2010-11 seasons?
48% PRIVATELY-OWNED LAND (ex. Owned by private citizens and business corporations like large power companies and timber companies)
17% PUBLICLY-OWNED LAND (ex. Owned by a local, state, or federal government like state game lands and state forest lands)
34% BOTH PRIVATELY-OWNED AND PUBLICLY-OWNED LAND
9. During the 2010-11 seasons, did you pay a fee to access land for deer hunting?
5% Yes
95% No
10. During the 2010-11 seasons, how many trail cameras did you use for deer scouting?
81% 0 trail cameras
11% 1 trail camera
5% 2 trail cameras
3% 3 or more trail cameras
11. Did you hunt deer in another state during the 2010-11 hunting seasons?
11% Yes
89% No
Top States
1. New York
2. Ohio
3. Maryland
4. New Jersey & West Virginia
5. Virginia
12. Did you purchase a crossbow in the last 2 years for deer hunting?
13% Yes 87% No
PART 2. DEER HUNTING MOTIVATIONS AND INTEREST
13. On a scale from 1 to 5, how important is deer hunting to you?
50% Very important
23% Important
17% Moderately important
6% Slightly important
4% Not important
For each question, circle the number that most closely describes your agreement with the following statements.
14. I hunt deer to harvest a deer.
76% Agree
17% Neither agree nor disagree
8% Disagree
15. I hunt deer because I can spend time with friends and family that also share my interest in hunting.
88% Agree
8% Neither agree nor disagree
4% Disagree
16. I hunt deer because I can relax, enjoy nature, and escape from other everyday concerns.
93% Agree
5% Neither agree nor disagree
2% Disagree
17. Although you may hunt for one or all of the reasons listed above, which SINGLE reason best describes why you hunt white-tailed deer?
34% Question 14, I hunt to harvest a deer
30% Question 15, I hunt to spend time with friends and family
36% Question 16, I hunt to relax and enjoy nature
For each question, circle the number that most closely describes your satisfaction with the following topics related to your Pennsylvania deer hunting experience in 2010-11.
Satisfied Neither Satisfied nor Dissatisfied Dissatisfied
18. Deer hunting seasons and regulations
50% Satisfied
21% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
29% Dissatisfied
19. Number of antlered deer seen
27% Satisfied
20% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
53% Dissatisfied
20. Number of antlerless deer seen
37% Satisfied
18% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
45% Dissatisfied
21. Quality of antlered deer seen
36% Satisfied
26% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
38% Dissatisfied
For each question, circle the number that most closely describes your agreement with the following statements.
22. I hunt with the goal of harvesting an antlered deer only.
38% Agree
28% Neither agree nor disagree
34% Disagree
23. I do not really care if I harvest an antlered or antlerless deer, as long as I get a deer.
42% Agree
27% Neither agree nor disagree
31% Disagree
24. How has your interest in deer hunting in Pennsylvania changed in the last 5 years?
36% I am less interested now than 5 years ago
45% My interest has not changed in the last 5 years (skip to QUESTION 26)
13% I am more interested now than 5 years ago
6% I did not hunt deer in Pennsylvania 5 years ago (skip to QUESTION 26)
25. What is the most important factor affecting change in your interest in deer hunting?
17% Time to hunt
14% Place to hunt
6% Personal health
3% Hunting expenses
5% Hunting partner(s)
31% Number and/or quality of antlered deer seen or harvested
12% Number of antlerless deer seen or harvested
3% Legalization of crossbows for statewide archery hunting
9% Other responses (number of mentions)
Age 4
Antler restrictions 4
Concurrent seasons 3
Interactions with WCOs 3
Sunday hunting 2
Other species hunting 2
Regulations 2
No interest 2
Too many seasons 1
Too many hunters 1
Gas development 1
Timber cutting 1
QDM 1
Allocations 1
Learning 1
Development 1
Enjoy it 1
PART 3. WMU HUNTED DURING THE 2010-11 REGULAR FIREARMS SEASON
Note: The following results are for all WMUs. Specific WMU analyses will be completed at a future date.
In which Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) did you hunt deer the most during the 2010-11 regular firearms hunting season (i.e., the firearms season after Thanksgiving)?
WMU 1 A 4%
1B 4%
2A 3%
2B 3%
2C 6%
2D 6%
2E 2%
2F 5%
2G 8%
3A 3%
3B 5%
3C 4%
3D 4%
4A 4%
4B 4%
4C 5%
4D 6%
4E 4%
5A 2%
5B 4%
5C 5%
5D <1%
Unknown 9%
5% I did not hunt the regular firearms season
26. Did you harvest an antlered deer in the WMU marked above?
See Question 4 for statewide results
27. How many antlerless deer did you harvest in the WMU marked above?
See Question 6 for statewide results
28. In the area you hunt in the WMU marked above, I believe the deer population is:
8% Increasing
32% Staying the same
60% Decreasing
29. In my opinion, the deer population in the WMU marked above is:
66% Too low
31% About right
3% Too high
30. In the WMU marked above, antlerless allocations should:
13% Increase
38% Stay the same
39% Decrease
10% Be eliminated
31. In the WMU marked above, how many days did you actually spend in the woods scouting for deer?
Average 10 Days
32. On what kind of land did you hunt deer in the WMU marked above?
See Question 8 for statewide results
33. In the WMU marked above, the number of antlered deer you saw last year was:
74% Too low for me to be satisfied
24% Enough for me to be satisfied
2% More than enough for me to be satisfied
34. In the WMU marked above, the number of antlerless deer you saw last year was:
61% Too low for me to be satisfied
33% Enough for me to be satisfied
6% More than enough for me to be satisfied
For questions 35 to 37, about how many days did you hunt during the 2010-11 deer seasons in the WMU marked above?
35. Fall Archery
Average 7 Days
36. October Muzzleloader
Average 1 Day
37. Archery and Flintlock after Christmas
Average 3 Days
38. In the WMU marked above, which days of the firearms season did you hunt?
1st week, day and percentage of hunters hunting:
Monday 80%
Tuesday 59%
Wednesday 40%
Thursday 29%
Friday 36%
Saturday 70%
2nd week, day and percentage of hunters hunting
Monday 25%
Tuesday 21%
Wednesday 21%
Thursday 21%
Friday 34%
Saturday 65%
61% Agree
17% Neither agree nor disagree
22% Disagree
40. In the WMU marked above, how satisfied were you with your deer hunting experience in 2010-11?
37% Satisfied
24% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
40% Dissatisfied
41. Is your primary residence in the WMU marked above?
62% Yes
38% No
42. How many miles do you travel one-way to hunt in the WMU marked above?
Median 15 miles driven to hunt
For the 2010-11 regular firearms season in the WMU marked above:
43. Did you hunt as part of a hunting camp?
25% Yes
75% No
44. Did you hunt with a portable treestand?
35% Yes
65% No
45. Did you hunt from a permanent treestand?
33% Yes
67% No
46. Did you hunt using deer urine-based lures?
24% Yes
76% No
47. Did you hunt as part of a drive?
28% Yes
72% No
48. If the deer population remained the same in the WMU marked above, I would prefer the regular firearms season to be:
48% 12-day antlered and antlerless concurrent
52% 5-day antlered only followed by a 7-day antlerless and antlered concurrent
PART 4. DEER AND DEER HUNTING INFORMATION
49. What is the best way to provide information on deer and deer hunting to you?
15% Game News magazine
1% The Deer Chronicle
20% Hunting and Trapping Digest (Booklet provided with each hunting license purchase)
14% Game Commission Website
2% Social Networking Sites (For example, Facebook and Twitter)
9% Email
8% Pennsylvania Outdoor News/Pennsylvania Outdoor Times
16% Newspapers
7% Hunting magazines
7% TV/Radio
2% Other responses (number of mentions)
Other hunters 8
Mail 4
All methods 2
Meetings 1
Experience 1
50. Do you visit social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter?
29% Yes
71% No
PART 5. DEER HARVEST REPORTING AND ESTIMATES
51. The method you would most prefer to use when reporting each deer you harvest:
51% Postage-paid report card
33% Internet
11% Toll-free phone number
5% Check stations
For each question, circle the number that most closely describes your agreement with the following statements.
52. Deer harvest estimates based on field checked deer and hunter reporting rates are acceptable to me.
44% Agree
31% Neither agree nor disagree
22% Disagree
2% Don't know
53. Deer harvest estimates based on a mail survey of hunters would be acceptable to me.
40% Agree
33% Neither agree nor disagree
25% Disagree
2% Don't know
54. All deer should be checked through mandatory check stations.
16% Agree
20% Neither agree nor disagree
62% Disagree
2% Don't know
55. Low reporting rates reflect poorly on hunters.
57% Agree
26% Neither agree nor disagree
15% Disagree
2% Don't know
56. Low reporting rates reflect poorly on the Game Commission.
33% Agree
38% Neither agree nor disagree
26% Disagree
4% Don't know
57. I would believe deer harvest estimates if they were estimated using two different methods that provided similar results.
58% Agree
31% Neither agree nor disagree
7% Disagree
5% Don't know
PART 6. POSTING AND PUBLIC HUNTING LANDS
For each question, circle the number that most closely describes your agreement with the following statements.
58. There is enough public land in Pennsylvania to provide access to anyone who wants to hunt.
53% Agree
18% Neither agree nor disagree
26% Disagree
3% Don't know
59. Land development has forced me to hunt deer on public land.
30% Agree
30% Neither agree nor disagree
38% Disagree
2% Don't know
60. Posting of land has forced me to hunt deer on public land.
40% Agree
26% Neither agree nor disagree
33% Disagree
1% Don't know
61. Number of deer hunters on State Game Lands should be limited.
19% Agree
27% Neither agree nor disagree
51% Disagree
3% Don't know
62. Deer seasons should be shorter on State Game Lands.
11% Agree
24% Neither agree nor disagree
62% Disagree
4% Don't know
63.State Game Lands should be closed once a deer harvest quota has been reached.
26% Agree
24% Neither agree nor disagree
46% Disagree
4% Don't know
64. State Game Lands should remain open to all deer hunters.
75% Agree
15% Neither agree nor disagree
7% Disagree
2% Don't know
PART 7. DEER MANAGEMENT
For each question, circle the number that most closely describes your agreement with the following statements.
65. Deer populations should be managed for healthy and sustainable forest habitat.
75% Agree
15% Neither agree nor disagree
8% Disagree
1% Don't know
66. Deer populations should be managed for healthy and sustainable deer population.
88% Agree
8% Neither agree nor disagree
3% Disagree
1% Don't know
67. Deer populations should be managed for safe and acceptable levels of deer-human conflicts.
57% Agree
24% Neither agree nor disagree
18% Disagree
1% Don't know
68. Crossbows should remain legal statewide for archery deer hunting.
55% Agree
18% Neither agree nor disagree
25% Disagree
2% Don't know
69. Keeping deer in balance with natural food supplies is necessary.
81% Agree
14% Neither agree nor disagree
5% Disagree
1% Don't know
70. There are not enough deer unless some are starving to death each year.
18% Agree
25% Neither agree nor disagree
52% Disagree
5% Don't know
71. Predators are causing deer populations to decline.
48% Agree
24% Neither agree nor disagree
23% Disagree
6% Don't know
72. If needed to improve deer population health, I would accept lower deer populations and seeing fewer deer when hunting.
29% Agree
32% Neither agree nor disagree
36% Disagree
3% Don't know
73. If needed to improve habitat conditions, I would accept lower deer populations and seeing fewer deer when hunting.
27% Agree
32% Neither agree nor disagree
37% Disagree
3% Don't know
74. If needed to reduce deer-human conflicts, I would accept lower deer populations and seeing fewer deer when hunting.
17% Agree
9% Neither agree nor disagree
51% Disagree
3% Don't know
For each question, circle the number that describes your satisfaction with the Game Commission's performance in the following areas.
75. Archery seasons and regulations
55% Satisfied
20% Neither satisifed nor dissatisfied
14% Dissatisfied
10% Don't know
76. October muzzleloader season and regulations
40% Satisfied
29% Neither satisifed nor dissatisfied
17% Dissatisfied
14% Don't know
77. Regular firearms season and regulations
60% Satisfied
15% Neither satisifed nor dissatisfied
24% Dissatisfied
1% Don't know
78. Late-season flintlock season and regulation
50% Satisfied
29% Neither satisifed nor dissatisfied
7% Dissatisfied
14% Don't know
79. Antler restrictions
60% Satisfied
14% Neither satisifed nor dissatisfied
25% Dissatisfied
1% Don't know
80. Research and science of deer management
39% Satisfied
31% Neither satisifed nor dissatisfied
20% Dissatisfied
10% Don't know
81. Overall deer management program
36% Satisfied
27% Neither satisifed nor dissatisfied
33% Dissatisfied
4% Don't know
PART 8. SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU
82. At what age did you begin hunting?
Aveage 14 years old.
83. What is the highest level of education you have attained?
45% High school or less
31% Some college/vocational training
24% College graduate
84. The surrounding area around your current home is:
55% Country/rural
19% Rural town/village
19% Suburban
6% City
85. When you began hunting, the area surrounding your home would have been best described as:
63% Country/rural
17% Rural town/village
13% Suburban
7% City
86. Who was the primary person that helped you get started hunting?
69% Parent or grandparent
13% Relative
5% Other adult
10% Friend
3% No one
87. How would you describe your current health status
51% Excellent (no health problems or injuries)
36% Good (minor health problems or injuries)
11% Fair (some health problems or injuries that affect my daily life and mobility)
3% Poor (significant health problems or injuries that affect my daily life and mobility