Transcript VT Species Presentation

Public Opinion on Funding for the
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
and Wildlife Species Management in
Vermont
Presented to the
Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Mark Damian Duda
Responsive Management
Focus of Fish and Wildlife
Management
Fish and Wildlife Populations
Fish and Wildlife Professionals
Fish and Wildlife Habitats
Human Populations
Methodology
 Telephone survey
 Vermont residents 18 years old and older
 n = 1, 029
 Sampling error is at most ± 3.05 percentage points
 Results reported at the 95% confidence interval
 Trends analysis conducted on questions previously
asked in 1995, 1996, and 2000
 Extensive crosstabulations, including by region,
hunter/non-hunter, and gender
Survey Results
Support for or Opposition to
Various Funding Mechanisms for
the Vermont Fish and Wildlife
Department
Q14. Would you support or oppose the Department receiving general
fund dollars for programs and activities in which it participates but
does not currently receive funding?
Strongly support
42
Moderately support
39
Neither support nor oppose
5
Moderately oppose
4
Strongly oppose
3
Don't know
4
No opinion / Refused
2
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Q14. Would you support or oppose the Department receiving general
fund dollars for programs and activities in which it participates but does
not currently receive funding?
44
41
Strongly support
38
40
Moderately support
Neither support nor oppose
4
5
Moderately oppose
6
4
Strongly oppose
5
3
Don't know
2
5
No opinion / Refused
0
3
0
20
40
Has hunted in the past 5 years
(n=238)
Has not hunted in the past 5
years (n=791)
60
Percent
80
100
Q14. Would you support or oppose the Department receiving general
fund dollars for programs and activities in which it participates but does
not currently receive funding?
38
45
47
40
Strongly support
41
33
37
42
Moderately support
Greater Chittenden Region (n=336)
Northeast Kingdom (n=107)
6
5
6
3
Neither support nor oppose
Moderately oppose
5
6
3
4
Strongly oppose
3
6
3
4
Don't know
4
5
3
5
No opinion / Refused
4
2
0
3
0
Central Vermont Region (n=289)
Southern Vermont Region (n=297)
20
40
60
Percent
80
100
Q14. Would you support or oppose the Department receiving general
fund dollars for programs and activities in which it participates but does
not currently receive funding?
42
43
Strongly support
39
39
Moderately support
Neither support nor oppose
5
5
Moderately oppose
4
4
Strongly oppose
4
3
Don't know
3
5
Male (n=494)
Female (n=531)
2
2
No opinion / Refused
0
20
40
60
Percent
80
100
Would you support or oppose the Department receiving
general fund dollars for programs and activities in which it
participates but does not (2007 wording: currently) receive
funding?
100
Percent
80
60
51
40
40
42
1995
2000
2007
38 36 39
20
3 2
5
10
3 4
6
2 3
3 4 4
0 0 2
Don't
know
No opinion
/ Refused
0
Strongly Moderately Neither Moderately Strongly
support
support
support
oppose
oppose
nor
oppose
Q15. Would you support or oppose a 1/8 of 1% increase in the state
general sales tax in support of programs for which the Department
does not currently receive funding? (1 cent on every $8 spent.)
Strongly support
26
Moderately support
32
Neither support nor oppose
3
Moderately oppose
13
Strongly oppose
21
Don't know
4
No opinion / Refused
1
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Q16. Would you support or oppose redistributing a portion of the
current state sales tax so that the Fish and Wildlife Department would
receive 1/8 of 1% of the existing sales tax? There would be no increase
in the state sales tax. (Tax now goes to the General Fund.)
Strongly support
49
Moderately support
31
Neither support nor oppose
4
Moderately oppose
5
Strongly oppose
6
Don't know
3
No opinion / Refused
2
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Q17. Vermont has a Rooms and Meals tax on all lodging and prepared
food. The tax currently goes to the general fund. Do you support or
oppose the Fish and Wildlife Department receiving a small percentage
of the Rooms and Meals tax? There would be no increase in the tax.
Strongly support
45
Moderately support
34
Neither support nor oppose
3
Moderately oppose
7
Strongly oppose
6
Don't know
3
No opinion / Refused
2
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Support for or Opposition to
Wildlife Habitat Management
Efforts of the Vermont Fish and
Wildlife Department
Q7, 9-12. Percent who strongly or moderately support the following.
Q11. The Department working with town or regional
planning commissions to design plans that work around
and conserve important wildlife habitat
92
Q12. Protecting important wildlife habitat by providing
financial incentives to property owners who conserve
habitat
87
Q9. The Department protecting important wildlife habitat
by purchasing land
83
Q7. The Department protecting important wildlife habitat
through Act 250
80
Q10. The Department regulating logging in areas with
important wildlife habitat
74
0
20
40
60
Percent
80
100
Do you support or oppose protecting important wildlife
habitat by providing financial incentives to property owners
who conserve habitat?
100
Percent
80
60
57 58
1996
2007
40
28 29
20
1 2
5 5
4 3
4 3
Strongly
oppose
Don't know
0
Strongly
support
Moderately
support
Neither Moderately
support
oppose
nor oppose
Opinions on Management of
Various Wildlife Populations
Q40. In your opinion, should the deer population in your county be
increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
Increased
32
Remain the same
48
Decreased
5
No opinion
7
Don't know
8
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Q40. In your opinion, should the deer population in your county be
increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
66
Increased
22
Remain the
same
27
54
Has hunted in the past 5 years
(n=238)
Has not hunted in the past 5
years (n=791)
3
5
Decreased
1
No opinion
9
2
Don't know
10
0
20
40
60
Percent
80
100
Q49. In 2005, Vermont established a law making it illegal for the public to
feed wild deer. Do you agree or disagree that this regulation is important
for helping to prevent the spread of deer diseases?
Strongly agree
44
Moderately agree
22
Neither agree nor
disagree
5
Moderately
disagree
7
Strongly disagree
10
Don't know
12
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Q50. In your opinion, should the moose population in your county be
increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
Increased
19
Remain the same
54
Decreased
10
No opinion
7
Don't know
10
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Q68. In your opinion, should the black bear population in your county
be increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
Increased
16
Remain the same
57
Decreased
7
No opinion
10
Don't know
10
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Q59. In your opinion, should the wild turkey population in your county
be increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
Increased
15
Remain the same
60
Decreased
10
No opinion
7
Don't know
8
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Q125. Do you support or oppose the current turkey management strategy
to limit fall turkey hunting for the purpose of maximizing spring turkey
hunting harvests? (Asked of those who hunted wild turkey in Vermont.)
Strongly support
38
Moderately
support
30
Neither support
nor oppose
4
Moderately
oppose
12
Strongly oppose
12
Don't know
3
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=97)
80
100
Q39. In your opinion, should the beaver population in your county be
increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
Increased
9
Remain the same
50
Decreased
12
No opinion
13
Don't know
17
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Q18. Have you had any damage to your vehicle from wildlife in
Vermont in the past 5 years?
Yes
14
No
86
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Q21. I am going to list a few species of animals and I need to know if
you had any damage to your vehicle from each species in the past 5
years in Vermont. (Asked of those who had damage to their vehicle
from wildlife in the past 5 years.)
Multiple Responses Allowed
White-tailed deer
79
Moose
8
Black bear
5
Wild turkey
5
Coyote
1
None of these species
9
0
20
40
60
Percent
80
100
Q22. Have you had any damage to your personal property from
wildlife in Vermont in the past 5 years? This does not include damage
to your vehicle.
Yes
21
No
79
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Have you had any damage to your personal property from
wildlife in Vermont in the past 5 years?
100
Percent
79
76
80
60
1996
2007
40
24
21
20
0
Yes
No
Q28. What kind of damage did the wildlife cause? (Asked of those
who had damage to their personal property from wildlife in the past 5
years.)
61
Ornamental plants / landscaping / gardens
12
Structural damage
11
Multiple Responses Allowed
Agricultural damage (commercial)
Livestock predation
7
Pets
6
Other
4
Fencing
3
Garbage
3
Bird feeders
3
Threat to humans
2
Don't know
1
Flooding
1
Patio or outside furniture damaged
1
0
20
40
60
Percent
80
100
What kind of damage did the wildlife cause?
100
80
Percent
63 61
60
1996
2007
40
20
10 12
17
5
11
6 3
3
2 2
0
Ornamental Structural Agricultural
plants /
damage
damage
landscaping /
(commercial)
gardens
Fencing
Garbage
Threat to
humans
Q38. A healthy bear population may mean there could be black bears
on or near your property. How tolerant are you of black bears on or
near your property?
Very tolerant
41
Moderately
tolerant
29
Neither tolerant
nor intolerant
7
Moderately
intolerant
9
Very intolerant
9
Don't know
5
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=1029)
80
100
Chronic Wasting Disease
Q114. How would you rate the Vermont deer population's risk for
Chronic Wasting Disease? Would you say the Vermont deer population
is at a high risk, a medium risk, a low risk, or no risk at all for Chronic
Wasting Disease? (Asked of those who have hunted white-tailed deer
in Vermont.)
High risk
6
Medium risk
24
Low risk
39
No risk at all
11
Don't know
19
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=233)
80
100
Q115. How would you rate the Vermont deer hunters' risk for Chronic
Wasting Disease? Would you say Vermont deer hunters are at a high
risk, a medium risk, a low risk, or no risk at all for Chronic Wasting
Disease? (Asked of those who have hunted white-tailed deer in
Vermont.)
High risk
3
Medium risk
11
Low risk
42
No risk at all
24
Don't know
21
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=233)
80
100
Participation in Hunting
Q81. In the past 5 years, have you hunted
with...? (Asked of those who hunted in the past 5 years.)
Multiple Responses Allowed
A rifle or
shotgun
97
A
muzzleloader
54
Archery
equipment
42
0
20
40
60
Percent
80
100
Multiple Responses Allowed
Q86. Which of the following species did you hunt in the past 5 years
in Vermont? (Asked of those who hunted.)
55
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Black bear
Ruffed grouse
Rabbit or hare
Coyote
Gray squirrel
Ducks
Woodchuck
Moose
Geese
Crow
Fox
Raccoon
Don't know
Muskrat
Bobcat
None / Did not hunt in past 5 years in
Vermont
23
17
16
12
10
7
5
5
5
5
3
2
2
2
1
1
40
0
20
40
60
Percent
80
100
In 2006 (1995), which Vermont deer seasons did you hunt in?
100
88 88
Percent
80
60
43
40
32
1996
2007
33
27
20
10
9
0
Rifle
Muzzleloader
Archery
None in 1995 /
2006
Q83. How important are public lands to your hunting experience?
(Asked of those who have hunted.)
Very important
56
Somewhat
important
17
Not important
22
Don't know
5
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=421)
80
100
Satisfaction with Hunting
Q88, 90, 92, 94, 96, and 98. Percent who were very or somewhat
satisfied with their hunting experiences for the following species.
Q92. Wild turkey (n=97)
92
Q90. Moose (n=20)
90
Q98. Rabbit or hare (n=49)
71
Q96. Ruffed grouse (n=66)
70
Q94. Black bear (n=70)
54
Q88. White-tailed deer (n=233)
52
0
20
40
60
Percent
80
100
How satisfied are you with your white-tailed deer hunting experience in
Vermont over the past 5 years? (Asked of those who have hunted
white-tailed deer in Vermont.)
100
Percent
80
60
51
1996
2007
36 35
40
24
20
21
16
1 3
5
7
0 1
0
Very
satisfied
Somewhat
satisfied
Neither
Somewhat
Very
Don't know
satisfied dissatisfied dissatisfied
nor
dissatisfied
Opinions on Hunting Regulations
Q106. Currently Vermont hunters are allowed to harvest up to 2
deer per year for all seasons combined. Do you think the annual
bag limit per hunter in Vermont for deer should be 1, 2, 3, or as high
as Department biologists recommend? (Asked of those who have
hunted white-tailed deer in Vermont.)
1 deer
24
2 deer
40
3 deer
9
As high as Department biologists
recommend
24
None of these / Don't know
3
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=233)
80
100
Q109. Should Vermont hunters be able to harvest antlerless deer
during the...? (Asked of those who hunted white-tailed deer in
Vermont.)
Multiple Responses Allowed
Archery season
57
Muzzleloader season
38
Rifle season
22
Antlerless deer hunting
shouldn't be allowed
20
None of these
11
Don't know
5
0
20
40
60
Percent
80
100
Q113. How aware are you of the regulation established in 2005 that makes
it illegal to hunt or take any wild animal, including deer, during the deer
hunting season using bait? (Asked of those who have hunted whitetailed deer in Vermont.)
Very aware
87
Somewhat aware
10
Not at all aware
3
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=233)
80
100
Q110. Do you prefer to have the muzzleloader season before the
November rifle season, after the November rifle season, or both
before and after the November rifle season?
(Asked of those who hunted white-tailed deer in Vermont.)
Have muzzleloader season before
November rifle season
30
Have muzzleloader season after
November rifle season
48
Have muzzleloader season before
and after November rifle season
10
Don't know
9
Other
3
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=233)
80
100
Q119. Currently, moose may be harvested during the season with
rifles, handguns, muzzleloaders, bows, or shotguns. Do you support
or oppose establishing an archery-only season for moose in Vermont
in addition to the regular moose hunting season? (Asked of those who
have hunted.)
Strongly support
23
Moderately support
16
Neither support nor oppose
4
Moderately oppose
11
Strongly oppose
39
Don't know
7
0
20
40
60
Percent (n=252)
80
100