katy
Ballagh
Below is a press release issued yesterday by the Iowa DNR. This release is announcing a deer hunter participation survey that is currently underway. Some IBA members will likely receive an orange postcard. If a hunter was randomly selected to participate in this survey, they would have received an orange postcard directing them to the website. Also on the postcard is a DNR ID number and password that they would need to enter the survey. This survey is not open to the deer hunting public at large. The reason for using a random sample is because standard statistical procedures must be followed in order to draw valid inferences about the deer hunting population. In my experience this is something that most hunters do not understand. Many hunters want to complete the survey, but because they were not randomly chosen to participate, they will not be allowed to do so. The press release explains more about the survey...please contact me if you have any questions.
I would appreciate anything you can do to help spread the word. Please feel free to forward this information to any of your colleagues who may also be able to help.
Thanks,
Steve
Steven D. Roberts
Iowa DNR
Boone Research Station
1436 255th Street
Boone, IA 50036
(515) 432-2823 x112
Iowa DNR News
Conservation and Recreation
For immediate release Thursday, April 7
For more information, contact Steve Roberts or Peter Fritzell at
515-432-2823.
DEER HUNTERS SURVEYED ON FACTORS INFLUENCING HUNTING PARTICIPATION
BOONE * The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun a survey to learn more about what factors are affecting deer hunter participation. The DNR is surveying 14,000 randomly selected individuals who obtained a deer hunting license at some point during the last 4 years.
"Having people who hunt deer every year is important when you are trying to reduce deer numbers to acceptable levels," said Steve Roberts, wildlife research biologist with the DNR. "If the hunters are not there or do not obtain antlerless licenses then it will be more difficult to reduce deer numbers where and when we need to."
Last year, about 175,000 Iowa residents obtained a deer license. Of that group, nearly 20 percent had not obtained a deer license the previous year.
"More surprising to us is only about half of the hunters had obtained a deer license each of the last 4 years. This data may also seem surprising to avid deer hunters who sometimes measure the year by the time until the next deer season opens. It is also an important piece of information for us when we are managing deer populations," said Peter Fritzell, wildlife research biologist with the DNR.
The DNR issues antlerless deer licenses to direct deer harvest toward specific counties where a decrease in deer numbers is desired. Generally, hunters buy the extra licenses and shoot more deer. However, there are areas within Iowa where the number of deer is greater than people are willing to tolerate and where it is difficult to sell the additional licenses and increase harvest.
"We need to learn more about how issues such as antlerless deer hunting, private land access, deer herd size and competing activities or obligations affect the amount of time people spend deer hunting," Roberts said.
The DNR hopes the survey will shed some light on what motivates some hunters to hunt deer every year and others to hunt only sporadically. Results from this survey will be helpful in determining future deer management direction.
Selected hunters will first be asked to respond using the Internet. If a hunter does not have access to the Internet, or if they choose not to respond online, they will automatically receive a printed version of the survey in 3 to 4 weeks.
Contact Roberts or Fritzell with questions regarding this survey at (515)
432-2823.
I would appreciate anything you can do to help spread the word. Please feel free to forward this information to any of your colleagues who may also be able to help.
Thanks,
Steve
Steven D. Roberts
Iowa DNR
Boone Research Station
1436 255th Street
Boone, IA 50036
(515) 432-2823 x112
Iowa DNR News
Conservation and Recreation
For immediate release Thursday, April 7
For more information, contact Steve Roberts or Peter Fritzell at
515-432-2823.
DEER HUNTERS SURVEYED ON FACTORS INFLUENCING HUNTING PARTICIPATION
BOONE * The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has begun a survey to learn more about what factors are affecting deer hunter participation. The DNR is surveying 14,000 randomly selected individuals who obtained a deer hunting license at some point during the last 4 years.
"Having people who hunt deer every year is important when you are trying to reduce deer numbers to acceptable levels," said Steve Roberts, wildlife research biologist with the DNR. "If the hunters are not there or do not obtain antlerless licenses then it will be more difficult to reduce deer numbers where and when we need to."
Last year, about 175,000 Iowa residents obtained a deer license. Of that group, nearly 20 percent had not obtained a deer license the previous year.
"More surprising to us is only about half of the hunters had obtained a deer license each of the last 4 years. This data may also seem surprising to avid deer hunters who sometimes measure the year by the time until the next deer season opens. It is also an important piece of information for us when we are managing deer populations," said Peter Fritzell, wildlife research biologist with the DNR.
The DNR issues antlerless deer licenses to direct deer harvest toward specific counties where a decrease in deer numbers is desired. Generally, hunters buy the extra licenses and shoot more deer. However, there are areas within Iowa where the number of deer is greater than people are willing to tolerate and where it is difficult to sell the additional licenses and increase harvest.
"We need to learn more about how issues such as antlerless deer hunting, private land access, deer herd size and competing activities or obligations affect the amount of time people spend deer hunting," Roberts said.
The DNR hopes the survey will shed some light on what motivates some hunters to hunt deer every year and others to hunt only sporadically. Results from this survey will be helpful in determining future deer management direction.
Selected hunters will first be asked to respond using the Internet. If a hunter does not have access to the Internet, or if they choose not to respond online, they will automatically receive a printed version of the survey in 3 to 4 weeks.
Contact Roberts or Fritzell with questions regarding this survey at (515)
432-2823.
