Hunter use of public-access lands in the Rainwater Basin and beyond Lindsey N. Messinger and Joseph J. Fontaine Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska Lincoln
Hunting is economically, traditionally important Right graphic: Southwick Associates. Hunting in America: An Economic Force for Conservation. Produced for the National Shooting Sports Foundation in partnership with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. 2012.
Lack of access is a major impediment to hunting participation
Public access programs are wide-spread
However, little is known about the use of publicly accessible lands Possible factors influencing use: Proximity to population centers (travel cost) Size of individual sites Density of public sites Density of users Distribution of target species Habitat quality
How are hunters using publicly accessible lands in Nebraska?
3-year, state-wide assessment
Focal regions are distinct
Focal regions are distinct Percent ownership of study sites 100 80 60 40 20 Public Open Fields and Waters Rainwater Basin is composed almost entirely of publicly-owned open access lands! NPan SPan SW Harlan RWB SE Study region
What we are doing In-person car counts Bus route 1 count/site/day Rainwater Basin, south route Fall 2014 451 sites 39,144 counts
What we are doing In-person car counts Bus route 1 count/site/day Fall 2014 451 sites 39,144 counts In-person interviews Exit interview 1 interview/party Fall 2014 609 parties 959 hunters
What we are doing In-person car counts Bus route 1 count/site/day In-person interviews Exit interview 1 interview/party Camera counts Time-lapse photos 1 photo/5 minutes Fall 2014 451 sites 39,144 counts Fall 2014 609 parties 959 hunters Fall 2014 138 sites ~ 4 million photos
What do we know so far?
Eastern regions have higher use Fall 2014 West East
Statewide: Relative use is uneven throughout the season Relative use (Cars per survey stop) 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 Fall 2014 Pheasant Opener Youth Pheasant Opener Rifle Deer Opener 0.0 Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan.
Statewide: Weekends drive use Fall 2014
The residency of users differs by region Fall 2014 Rainwater Basin is hunted mostly by Nebraskans from outside the RWB
Statewide: Hunters fall into four major typologies 30 Fall 2014 Percentage of hunting parties interviewed 25 20 15 10 5 Waterfowl Pheasant Quail Grouse Dove Whitetail Deer Mule Deer Turkey 0 Waterfowl Game Birds Deer Turkey
There are regional differences in species targeted 50 N. Panhandle n = 58 25 0 50 RWB n = 69 Waterfowl Pheasant Quail Grouse Dove Whitetail Deer Mule Deer Turkey 25 0
Rainwater Basin hunter zip codes Omaha Lincoln Grand Island Clay Center Fall 2014 Nebraska
Southwest hunter zip codes Fall 2014 McCook Nebraska Colorado
Statewide: Most parties view habitat as excellent Percentage of parties that rate habitat quality as above average 100 80 60 40 20 Waterfowl Pheasant Grouse Quail Mule Deer Whitetail Deer Fall 2014 Waterfowl Upland Birds Deer
However game abundance is perceived as low. Percentage of parties that rate game abundance as above average 100 80 60 40 20 Waterfowl Pheasant Grouse Quail Mule Deer Whitetail Deer Fall 2014 Waterfowl Upland Birds Deer
but expectations are being met Percentage of parties that rate hunt met expectations as above average 100 80 60 40 20 Waterfowl Pheasant Grouse Quail Mule Deer Whitetail Deer Fall 2014 Waterfowl Upland Birds Deer
And sites are likely to get return users Percentage of parties that rate likelihood of returning as above average 100 80 60 40 20 Waterfowl Pheasant Grouse Quail Mule Deer Whitetail Deer Fall 2014 Waterfowl Upland Birds Deer
Cameras add detail about hunter use patterns Relative use (mean vehicles per site per hour) Fall 2014 1 photo/5 minutes during daylight hours all season long Relative use (Cars per survey stop) 0.10 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.02 0.00 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Hour of the day
What s next? MORE DATA! 1 fall field season, 2 spring seasons
Acknowledgements Fontaine Lab Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Hunter Survey Technicians (past and present) Nebraska hunters and landowners
Questions?