opinions and attitudes of georgia …...opinions of residents, hunters, and landowners toward deer...

OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES OF GEORGIA RESIDENTS,

HUNTERS, AND LANDOWNERS TOWARD DEER MANAGEMENT IN GEORGIA

Conducted for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources

by Responsive Management

2004

OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES OF GEORGIA RESIDENTS,

HUNTERS, AND LANDOWNERS TOWARD DEER MANAGEMENT IN GEORGIA

2004

Responsive Management National Office Mark Damian Duda, Executive Director

Peter E. De Michele, Ph.D., Director of Research Martin Jones, Research Associate

Carol Zurawski, Research Associate Chad Craun, Research Associate

William Testerman, Survey Center Manager Jennifer Marshall, Survey Center Manager

Alison Lanier, Business Manager Steven J. Bissell, Ph.D., Qualitative Research Associate

Ping Wang, Ph.D., Quantitative Research Associate James B. Herrick, Ph.D., Research Associate

130 Franklin Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Phone: 540/432-1888 Fax: 540/432-1892 E-mail: [email protected]

www.responsivemanagement.com

Acknowledgements

Responsive Management would like to thank the following people for their input, support, and guidance on this project: Bill Fletcher, Todd Holbrook, Kent Kammermeyer, Scott McDonald,

Nick Nicholson, Julie Robbins, Carmen Martin, Greg Waters, John Bowers, and Carroll Allen of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources; Alec Poitevint, representing landowners; Wesley

Langdale, representing the forestry industry; Jerry McCollum of the Georgia Wildlife Federation; Brian Murphy of the Quality Deer Management Association; Gary Johnson,

representing hunting interests; Brian Tolar of the Georgia Agribusiness Council; Mike Stewart of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia; Scott Tanner of Joe Tanner and

Associates; Sen. Jeff Mullis of the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus; Dr. Randy Davidson, Director, SCWDS; Dr. Bob Warren of the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forest

Resources; Jake Rocker of the Georgia Farm Bureau; Bryant Poole of the Georgia Department of Transportation; Steve Burch of Georgia Outdoor News; and Rep. Pete Warren of the House of

Game and Fish Committee.

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY

This study was conducted for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) to

determine the opinions and attitudes of the general population, hunters, and large landowners

regarding deer management in Georgia. The study entailed a telephone survey of Georgia

residents, hunters, and landowners who own at least 100 acres. Hereinafter, any reference to the

landowners sample refers to landowners who own 100 acres or more. Additionally, note that a

further criterion for landowners to be asked any of the questions specific to landowners

(Questions 87 through 125) was that they own a tract that was at least 20 contiguous acres.

For the survey, telephones were selected as the preferred sampling medium because of the

universality of telephone ownership. The telephone survey questionnaire was developed

cooperatively by Responsive Management and the GDNR. Responsive Management conducted

a pre-test of the questionnaire, and revisions were made to the questionnaire based on the pre-

test. Interviews were conducted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday

noon to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., all local time. The survey was

conducted in June through July 2004. Responsive Management obtained a total of 1,033

completed interviews.

The software used for data collection was Questionnaire Programming Language 4.1. The

analysis of data was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software as well

as proprietary software developed by Responsive Management.

The results were weighted. A randomly stratified sample of hunters and the general population

and an unstratified sample of large landowners were used for this study. All three groups were

assigned to northern and southern Georgia counties using their telephone area codes and

prefixes. The proportions of the general population and hunters in each region (north and south)

were then used to weight the data so that the data represented the actual proportion of

respondents in the general population and hunter samples. In the general population sample, the

actual populations of individuals 18 and older were known, and that information was used to

create weights to apply to those respondents. The proportions of hunters from the north and the

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia ii

south were not known; however, a large random sample (20,000 license holders) was available to

create an estimate of the proportions of the population of hunters in the north and the south. That

information was used to generate weights. Finally, the actual numbers and proportions of

landowners were not known; therefore, those data were not weighted.

OPINIONS ON AND VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH DEER

� Most commonly, respondents describe their feelings about deer positively, saying that they

enjoy seeing and having deer around. Substantial percentages, however, said they enjoy

seeing deer but worry about the problems they cause. Finally, small percentages regard deer

as a nuisance, with landowners being much more likely to regard deer as a nuisance.

� Respondents were asked five questions regarding deer management and the values associated

with deer. Majorities of the general population and landowners said four of the five were

very important, the exception being that “you have deer around your home,” which just under

half (49%) of both the general population and landowners said was very important.

Majorities of hunters said each of the five were very important.

• Hunters had a greater percentage saying each value was very important than did the

general population and landowners.

• The top statement for hunters and landowners was that people have the opportunity to

hunt deer in Georgia (this was the second ranked value among the general population).

• The top statement for the general population was that deer populations are being properly

managed in Georgia.

OPINIONS ON DEER MANAGEMENT IN GEORGIA

� Agreement was much higher than disagreement that deer are properly managed in Georgia;

nonetheless, there were substantial percentages in disagreement.

� Agreement exceeded disagreement that landowners properly manage deer on their land in

Georgia.

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia iii

� Respondents place a high value on deer management: overwhelming majorities of the

general population (89%), hunters (96%), and landowners (88%) said knowing that deer

populations are being properly managed in Georgia is very or somewhat important to them.

Furthermore, a large majority of deer hunters (71%) indicated that they would support an

increase in deer hunting license fees if they knew that the money would be used for deer

management. The support for an increase in license fees evaporates when the money would

not be used for deer management: 85% oppose an increase in fees if the money would not be

used for deer management.

� When asked if they support or oppose controlling deer in urban and suburban areas, large

majorities of all three groups support doing so (79% of the general population, 89% of

hunters, and 86% of landowners). There is not wide agreement on the method for controlling

deer in these areas, however: substantial percentages advocate some form of hunting, but

sizable percentages favor trapping and relocation.

� In general, the GDNR received positive ratings, with large majorities of all three groups

rating the performance of the GDNR as excellent or good. When asked specifically to rate

the GDNR’s Deer Management Program, the ratings are again positive, with excellent and

good ratings far exceeding fair and poor ratings. Also, an overwhelming majority of deer

hunters are satisfied with how well the GDNR incorporates hunters’ wants and needs into the

management of the state’s deer population. Finally, a majority of landowners said that the

GDNR does excellent or good at incorporating landowners’ wants and needs into the state’s

deer management.

� Despite the positive ratings of the GDNR, respondents more often think the GDNR should

provide more, rather than less, deer management assistance to private landowners.

� Respondents’ perceived knowledge levels of the GDNR’s Deer Management Program are

fairly widely distributed, with hunters claiming the most knowledge, followed by

landowners, then the general population.

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia iv

� Regarding deer management strategies, overwhelming majorities of all three groups (82% of

the general population, 99% of hunters, and 96% of landowners) support legal deer hunting

in Georgia. Most of that support is strong support. The support is also high when

respondents are asked if they support hunting as a way to manage deer populations (82% of

the general population, 98% of hunters, and 93% of landowners strongly or moderately

support hunting as a way to manage deer).

� As discussed above, there was no general consensus on the best way to manage deer in urban

and suburban environments when respondents were asked in a follow-up question to whether

deer should be controlled in urban and suburban areas. Respondents were asked about

control strategies individually, as well.

• Of the two questions about controlling deer populations in urban and suburban areas,

there was more support for use of regulated archery hunting than there was for use of

sharpshooters and professionals to control deer in urban and suburban areas.

� Regarding strategies to control deer in parks and other recreation areas that traditionally been

closed to hunting, there was more support for regulated hunting than for use of sharpshooters

and professionals.

� Finally, regarding deer hunting regulations that may have an effect on deer populations and

deer management, there was much support for management to favor large-antlered deer and

for allowing muzzleloaders to use magnifying scopes on their guns. There was less support

for allowing hunting of deer over bait, and there was low support, relative to the other deer

management regulations, for fenced hunting, either of white-tailed deer or exotic deer.

� Regarding the making of deer management decisions, respondents value scientific

information and the professional judgment of GDNR biologists; social concerns and political

concerns are not considered important in deer management decisions.

• Among the general population and landowners, majorities said scientific information and

professional judgment of GDNR biologists should be very important in making deer

management decisions. Among hunters, majorities said scientific information,

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia v

professional judgment of GDNR biologists, and the economic impact of hunting in

Georgia should be very important.

� Overall, respondents think the deer herd in Georgia is very or somewhat healthy (74% of the

general population, 85% of hunters, and 79% of landowners).

� Respondents, in general, think the deer population in their county has grown over the past 5

years.

� Majorities of the general population (51%) and hunters (59%) think the deer population in

their county is about right, but a little less than a majority of landowners (44%) think the deer

population is about right. Substantial percentages, however, think the deer population in

their county is overabundant (31% of the general population, 28% of hunters, and 44% of

landowners). Indeed, for each group, the percentage saying deer are overabundant greatly

exceeds the percentage saying deer are under-abundant. Mirroring these results, when asked

if the deer population in their county should be increased or decreased, majorities of all

groups said it should remain the same (51% of the general population and landowners, and

61% of hunters), although substantial percentages said it should be decreased; the

percentages answering “decreased” exceeded the percentages answering “increased.”

• Those who answered that the deer population in their county should remain the same

most commonly gave as their reasoning that they have not had problems with deer,

followed by those saying that the hunting is good and that they do not see too many deer.

� Those respondents who said that they thought the deer population in their county should be

increased most commonly gave as their reasoning that doing so would offer better hunting

opportunities or that they believe the deer population is too low.

� In follow up, those respondents who said that they thought the deer population in their county

should be increased were asked about their support for increasing the deer population when

five specific consequences were discussed. Three of the five consequences did not greatly

erode support, with majorities in support of increasing the deer population, even if it means

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia vi

more damage to gardens and landscaping, even if it means more crop damage, and even if it

means there would be more automobile-deer collisions. Support nearly completely

disappears if respondents are informed that an increased deer population could result in less

food and poorer quality habitat for other wildlife or in poorer health for the deer herd.

� Those respondents who said that they thought the deer population in their county should be

decreased most commonly gave as their reasoning a reduction in automobile-deer collisions.

Among landowners, a large percentage cited damage to crops.


should be decreased were asked about their support for decreasing the deer population when

four specific consequences were discussed. Majorities were still in support despite any of the

consequences named: that fewer people would be able to see a deer, that fewer hunters

would be spending money, that fewer wildlife watchers would be spending money, and that

fewer hunters would be able to harvest a deer.

� The general population (75%) and hunters (81%) overwhelmingly said that they have not

experienced any damage caused by deer over the past 12 months; however, landowners are

more divided, with 56% saying they did not experience any damage, but 43% saying that

they did.

• The most common types of damage were to gardens and crops and through automobile

collisions.

� Regarding automobile-deer collisions, substantial percentages (29% of the general

population, 27% of hunters, and 35% of landowners) reported that they or someone from

their household had a collision with a deer in the past 2 years. Relative to other driving

hazards, majorities of respondents say that deer are a minor hazard rather than a major

hazard. Very low percentages said deer are not a road hazard. Careless drivers and drunk

drivers are considered much greater hazards.

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia vii

� Majorities of all groups did not know how well the GDNR responds to property owner

requests for assistance to reduce damage caused by nuisance wildlife; however, of those who

gave an answer, ratings of excellent or good exceeded ratings of fair or poor, particularly

among hunters and landowners.

� Respondents are split whether responsibility for managing deer-human conflicts should

change (from the GDNR and its use of hunting as a control means) in areas where

urbanization has closed hunting access, although slightly more respondents said that the

responsibility should change than said it should not change.

• Those who said the responsibility should change most commonly indicated that the state

government should assume responsibility for managing deer-human conflicts in

developing areas. Other important answers were community groups, the new landowners

in the developing areas, and county animal control officers.

� Finally, there is more agreement than disagreement, particularly among hunters, that

municipalities that pass firearm ordinances, thereby preventing deer hunting, should be

required to mitigate deer damage.

� Regarding managing for a quality deer herd, it is instructive to first determine what deer

hunters think “quality deer” means. Most commonly, deer hunters think management for

quality deer means larger deer (64%), although a substantial percentage think it means more

healthy deer (29%).

• Only 7% think it means an increased number of deer.

� When all respondents were asked if they support or oppose management for large-antlered

deer, hunters were the most likely to support, although support was still in the majority

among the other groups. Indeed, majorities of all groups support such management: 63% of

the general population, 87% of hunters, and 67% of landowners support management for

large-antlered deer.

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia viii

� When asked about specific management strategies for quality deer, hunters are

overwhelmingly willing to give up the chance to shoot small-antlered bucks while at the

same time shooting more does for an increased chance in later years of shooting large-

antlered bucks (83%). However, deer hunters do not support a regulation requiring that a

deer hunter must harvest a doe before he or she can harvest a buck (52% oppose, while 38%

support).

OPINIONS ON DEER HUNTING IN GEORGIA

� Regarding deer management strategies, overwhelming majorities of all three groups (82% of






� Regarding two strategies to control deer in places where hunting is restricted (urban/suburban

areas and in parks/recreation lands), there is more support than opposition to use of regulated

archery hunting to control deer in urban and suburban areas and the use of regulated hunting

in parks and recreation lands that have traditionally been closed to hunting. The support is

much greater than opposition among hunters and landowners, but the difference is less

pronounced among the general population.

� A large majority of hunters are satisfied (81%) with the current deer season structure. Nearly

the same percentage of deer hunters (82%) are satisfied with how well the GDNR

incorporates hunters’ wants and needs into the management of the state’s deer population.

� Regarding specific regulations, more hunters support (61%) than oppose (28%) a longer deer

hunting season in Georgia. Many more hunters support (77%) than oppose (7%) extending

the deer hunting season in the northern zone to match the southern zone. There is also much

more support (75%) than opposition (20%) to allowing the hunting of does at any time

during the deer season. Finally, respondents were asked their opinions about two regulations.

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia ix

Among hunters, there is much more support (58%) than opposition (21%) to having one

statewide season for deer with no zones, and there is much more support (76%) than

opposition (18%) for allowing hunters who use muzzleloaders to use magnifying scopes.

Among the general population and landowners, support exceeded opposition to both, but not

as greatly as among hunters.

� A large majority of deer hunters (71%) indicated that they would support an increase in deer

hunting license fees if they knew that the money would be used for deer management. The

support for an increase in license fees evaporates when the money would not be used for deer

management: only 8% would support, and 85% would oppose, an increase in fees if the

money would not be used for deer management.



same time shooting more does for an increased chance in later years of shooting a large-



support).

� Opposition exceeds support for hunters using dogs to hunt deer, even among hunters.

• Among hunters, 39% support and 51% oppose hunters using dogs to hunt deer.

• Those who support commonly cite tradition and an increased chance of harvest as

reasons they support hunters hunting with dogs.

• Those who oppose commonly say they do so because hunting with dogs does not give the

deer a fair chance or that hunting deer with dogs is inhumane to the deer. Landowners

also indicate that hunting with dogs increases the chance of hunters trespassing.

� There is much more opposition (i.e., those saying it should be illegal) than support (those

saying it should be legal) to fenced hunting of white-tailed deer and other large animals, even

among hunters (indeed, the most support was among landowners): majorities of all groups

said hunting white-tailed deer and other large animals inside fenced enclosures should be

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia x

illegal. When a condition is placed on the question about fenced hunting of white-tailed

deer—would the respondent support it if it would generate economic activity for rural

Georgia—there is still much more opposition than support, and mostly strong opposition.

� The results regarding fenced hunting of non-native, exotic deer are similar. The large

majority of respondents think it should be illegal to hunt non-native deer in a fenced

enclosure, and they oppose it, even if it would generate economic activity for rural Georgia.

� There are greater percentages in each group who think that hunting white-tailed deer by

attracting them using bait should be illegal than think it should be legal, when there are no

conditions attached to the question, although the difference is not great among hunters and

landowners.

• Majorities of the general population (59%) and landowners (54%), and just less than a

majority of hunters (49%), think it should be illegal to hunt deer using bait

unconditionally.

• Those who support do so most commonly because it will increase the hunters’ chance of

harvest, that it allows for better deer population control, and that it helps with quality deer

management. Tradition was also cited by many.

• Those who oppose do so most commonly because it is not perceived as fair to the deer

and that it is unethical to trick the deer.

• When the condition is place on the question about support or opposition for hunting deer

directly over bait if it were part of a year-round feeding program, opposition (52%) still

exceeds support (31%) among the general population, but not among hunters, who had

more support (56%) than opposition (37%), and among landowners, who were evenly

split between support (45%) and opposition (45%).

PARTICIPATION IN DEER HUNTING IN GEORGIA

� Participation in any type of hunting in the past 2 years obviously varied widely among

groups: 22% of the general population, 89% of hunters, and 44% of landowners had hunted

in the past 2 years in Georgia. Most of those who had hunted had hunted deer. The next

question asked specifically about deer hunting: 20% of the general population, 84% of

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia xi

hunters, and 38% of landowners had hunted deer. Additionally, substantial percentages of

each group said that other members of their household had hunted deer in Georgia in the past

2 years: 36% of the general population, 59% of hunters, and 49% of landowners said another

member of their household had hunted deer.

• Hunters were also asked whether they hunted deer primarily on private or public land,

with the overwhelming majority (79%) of deer hunters saying they hunted primarily on

private land.

• Deer hunters were asked on which public lands they had hunted; the most common types

of public land on which they had hunted were Wildlife Management Areas and National

Forest lands.

� Hunting deer with dogs is not common: 18% of deer hunters have hunted with dogs in the

past, and 6% have hunted deer with dogs in the past year.

� Roughly two-thirds of hunters who had hunted deer in the past season in Georgia had

harvested a deer.

� Hunters were asked about the number of days they had hunted deer in the past season in

Georgia: the responses followed a bell curve, with the most common answer falling from 20

to 29 days.

� The most common motivation of deer hunters for hunting deer is for the sport or recreation,

followed closely by those who hunt deer for the meat.

� Work obligations and lack of access are the most common factors that have reduced the

quality of deer hunting experiences.

LAND OWNERSHIP AND USES OF LAND

� All respondents were asked if they own land in Georgia: 71% of the general population own

land, and a slightly higher percentage of hunters (81%) own land.

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia xii

� A majority of landowners who own a tract of least 20 acres use the tract for farming (53%);

substantial percentages of landowners of tracts of at least 20 acres use the tract for forestry

(34%) or ranching (17%).


Georgia, although substantial percentages disagreed.

� Respondents more often think the GDNR should provide more deer management assistance

to private landowners than think the GDNR should provide less assistance.

• The types of assistance desired of those who think the GDNR should provide more

assistance to private landowners managing deer include technical assistance, education,

and the development of deer habitat. A substantial percentage of landowners also said

they desired law enforcement assistance.

� An overwhelming percentage (80%) of landowners who own a tract of at least 20 acres

personally deer hunt and/or allow others to deer hunt on their tract.

• Of those owners of tracts of at least 20 acres who answered that they do not allow deer

hunting, nearly a quarter (24%) previously had allowed deer hunting. These people who

had allowed deer hunting but now do not cited poor behavior of hunters, trespassing,

crowding, and legal liability as reasons that they stopped allowing deer hunting on the

tract.

• Those owners of tracts of at least 20 acres who allow deer hunting on their tract most

commonly allow immediate family to hunt deer, followed closely by friends and

acquaintances.

• A large majority (74%) of owners of tracts of at least 20 acres do not charge a fee for

others to hunt deer on their tract; 14% charge a fee.

• A majority (53%) of owners of tracts of at least 20 acres said legal liability is a major

concern when considering whether to allow hunting access, and an additional 25% said it

is a minor concern (78% in total said legal liability is a concern).

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia xiii

� Owners of tracts of at least 20 acres of land were asked about whether they agreed with three

statements about allowing access to their land. Similar majorities disagreed with each

statement (from 55% to 61%).

• 61% disagreed that they would allow more hunting but are worried about excessive

government intrusion.

• 57% disagreed that they would be very likely to allow more deer hunting if they did not

have to worry about legal liability issues.

• 55% disagreed that they would be very likely to allow more deer hunting if they received

a financial benefit for doing so.

� Landowners were asked if they experienced problems with legal and illegal hunters, with and

without dogs, on their land. A substantial percentages (22%) had experienced problems with

illegal hunters hunting without dogs. Otherwise, problems with hunters were low—7% or

less.

• The most common problems with hunters were trespassing, violating game laws, and

damaging fences and/or leaving gates open. Lesser problems were unsafe behavior,

littering, damaging structures, and discourteous behavior.

• The problems caused by illegal hunters, with or without dogs, were considered major

problems by a majority of landowners who had experienced problems. The problems

caused by legal hunters, with or without dogs, were considered minor problems by a

majority of landowners who had experienced problems.

PROVISION OF INFORMATION ABOUT DEER IN GEORGIA

� Direct mail (between 30% and 31% for all groups) was the most commonly given answer

regarding the best way to provide the respondent with information about deer in Georgia.

This was followed by magazines, newspapers, and TV.

PARTICIPATION IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

� Participation in outdoor activities varied greatly from group to group. Hunters were the most

active group—a larger percentage of hunters relative to the general population and

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia xiv

landowners had participated in each of the five activities discussed in the survey.

Landowners were more active than were the general population.

• The top activity among the general population was watching wildlife within 1 mile of

home (64%), and 39% had taken a trip of at least a mile to view wildlife. Just under half

of the general population had fished (47%).

• The top activity among hunters was fishing (84%), followed closely by big game hunting

(83%). A majority of hunters had viewed wildlife within 1 mile of home (78%) or taken

a trip of at least 1 mile to view wildlife (64%).

• The top activity among landowners was wildlife viewing within 1 mile of home (75%),

and a majority had fished (58%). Landowners’ rates of big game and small game hunting

was approximately double that of the general population.

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia xv

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction and Methodology........................................................................................................ 1 Opinions on and Values Associated with Deer............................................................................... 6 Opinions on Deer Management in Georgia................................................................................... 25

General Opinions on Deer Management in Georgia......................................................... 25 Deer Management Strategies ............................................................................................ 40 Opinions on the Size and Health of the Deer Population in Georgia................................ 66 Opinions on Increasing the Size of the Deer Population in Georgia ................................ 77 Opinions on Decreasing the Size of the Deer Population in Georgia ............................... 91 Managing Deer-Human Conflicts ................................................................................... 105 Managing for a Quality Deer Herd ................................................................................. 118

Opinions on Deer Hunting in Georgia ........................................................................................ 123 Support or Opposition to Deer Hunting in Georgia ........................................................ 123 Opinions on Deer Hunting Season Structure .................................................................. 128 Opinions on License Fees and Use of Revenues............................................................. 136 Opinions on Hunting Regulations for Quality Deer Management.................................. 137 Opinions on Hunting Deer with Dogs............................................................................. 140 Opinions on Fenced Hunting .......................................................................................... 144 Opinions on Baiting Deer................................................................................................ 150

Participation in Deer Hunting in Georgia ................................................................................... 155 Land Ownership and Uses of Land ............................................................................................. 167

Land Ownership and Tract Sizes .................................................................................... 167 Uses of Land.................................................................................................................... 168 Managing Deer on the Land............................................................................................ 169 Hunting on the Land and Permission to Hunt on the Land............................................. 171 Problems with Hunters on the Land................................................................................ 182

Provision of Information About Deer in Georgia ....................................................................... 202 Participation in Outdoor Activities ............................................................................................. 203 Demographic Data....................................................................................................................... 208 Additional Comments ................................................................................................................. 213 Appendix A: Survey Instrument ................................................................................................ 214

Opinions of Residents, Hunters, and Landowners Toward Deer Management in Georgia 1

INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY This study was conducted for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) to

determine the opinions and attitudes of the general population, hunters, and landowners

regarding deer management in Georgia. The study entailed a telephone survey of Georgia

residents, hunters, and landowners who own at least 100 acres. Hereinafter, any reference to the

landowners sample refers to landowners who own 100 acres or more. Additionally, note that a

further criterion for landowners to be asked any of the questions specific to landowners

(Questions 87 through 125) was that they own a tract that was at least 20 contiguous acres.

Specific aspects of the research methodology are discussed below.

For the survey, telephones were selected as the preferred sampling medium because of the

universality of telephone ownership. In addition, a central polling site at the Responsive

Management office allowed for rigorous quality control over the interviews and data collection.

Responsive Management maintains its own in-house telephone interviewing facilities. These

facilities are staffed by interviewers with experience conducting computer-assisted telephone

interviews on the subjects of natural resources and outdoor recreation. The telephone survey

questionnaire was developed cooperatively by Responsive Management and the GDNR.

Responsive Management conducted a pre-test of the questionnaire, and revisions were made to

the questionnaire based on the pre-test.

To ensure that the telephone survey data collected were of the highest quality, Responsive

Management has interviewers who have been trained according to the standards established by

the Council of American Survey Research Organizations. Methods of instruction included

lecture and role-playing. The Survey Center Managers conducted project briefings with the

interviewers prior to the administration of the survey. Interviewers were instructed on the type

of study, study goals and objectives, handling of survey questions, interview length, termination

points and qualifiers for participation, interviewer instructions within the survey instrument,

reading of the survey instrument, skip patterns, and probing and clarifying techniques necessary

for specific questions on the survey instrument. The Survey Center Managers randomly

monitored telephone workstations without the interviewers’ knowledge to evaluate the


performance of each interviewer. After the surveys were obtained by the interviewers, the

Survey Center Managers and/or statisticians edited each completed survey to ensure clarity and

completeness.

Interviews were conducted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday noon

to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., all local time. A five-callback design was

used to maintain the representativeness of the sample, to avoid bias toward people easy to reach

by telephone, and to provide an equal opportunity for all to participate. When a respondent

could not be reached on the first call, subsequent calls were placed on different days of the week

and at different times of the day. The survey was conducted in June through July 2004.

Responsive Management obtained a total of 1,033 completed interviews.

The software used for data collection was Questionnaire Programming Language 4.1 (QPL).

The survey data were entered into the computer as each interview was being conducted,

eliminating manual data entry after the completion of the survey and the concomitant data entry

errors that may occur with manual data entry. The survey instrument was programmed so that

QPL branched, coded, and substituted phrases in the survey based on previous responses to

ensure the integrity and consistency of the data collection. The analysis of data was performed

using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software as well as proprietary software

developed by Responsive Management.

The results were weighted, as explained below. A randomly stratified sample of hunters and the

general population and an unstratified sample of landowners who own at least 100 acres were

used for this study. All three groups were assigned to northern and southern Georgia counties

using their telephone area codes and prefixes. The division of northern and southern counties

were made using the counties listed in the table that follows.


Breakdown of Georgia into Northern and Southern Counties North North South South Baldwin Henry Appling Lanier Banks Jackson Atkinson Laurens Barrow Jasper Bacon Lee Bartow Jones Baker Liberty Bibb Lamar Ben Hill Long Butts Lincoln Berrien Lowndes Carroll Lumpkin Bleckley McIntosh Catoosa McDuffie Brantley Macon Chattooga Madison Brooks Marion Cherokee Meriwether Bryan Miller Clarke Monroe Bulloch Mitchell Clayton Morgan Burke Montgomery Cobb Murray Calhoun Muscogee Columbia Newton Camden Peach Coweta Oconee Candler Pierce Crawford Oglethorpe Charlton Pulaski Dade Paulding Chatham Quitman Dawson Pickens Chattahoochee Randolph DeKalb Pike Clay Schley Douglas Polk Clinch Screven Elbert Putnam Coffee Seminole Fannin Rabun Colquitt Stewart Fayette Richmond Cook Sumter Floyd Rockdale Crisp Talbot Forsyth Spalding Decatur Tattnall Franklin Stephens Dodge Taylor Fulton Taliaferro Dooly Telfair Gilmer Towns Dougherty Terrell Glascock Troup Early Thomas Gordon Union Echols Tift Greene Upson Effingham Toombs Gwinnett Walker Emanuel Treutlen Habersham Walton Evans Turner Hall Warren Glynn Twiggs Hancock White Grady Ware Haralson Whitfield Harris Washington Hart Wilkes Houston Wayne Heard Irwin Webster Jeff Davis Wheeler Jefferson Wilcox Jenkins Wilkinson Johnson Worth

The study was designed to obtain completed interviews from the following respondents:

200 of the northern general population 200 of the southern general population 200 northern hunters 200 southern hunters 100 northern landowners 100 southern landowners


The proportions of the general population and hunters in each region (north and south) were then

used to weight the data so that the data represented the actual proportion of respondents in the

general population and hunter samples. In the general population sample, the actual populations

of individuals 18 and older were known, and that information was used to create weights to

apply to those respondents. The proportions of hunters from the north and the south were not

known; however, a large random sample (20,000 license holders) was available to create an

estimate of the proportions of the population of hunters in the north and the south. That

information was used to generate weights. Finally, the actual numbers and proportions of

landowners were not known; therefore, those data were not weighted.

The weighting table is shown below.

Weighting Table REGION SAMPLE FROM

STUDY WEIGHT NEW SAMPLE

COUNT Northern Gen. Pop. 202 1.48 299.11 Southern Gen. Pop. 201 0.52 103.89 Total Gen Pop 403 NA 403.00 Northern Hunters 209 1.35 283.17 Southern Hunters 209 0.65 134.83 Total Hunters 418 NA 418.00 Northern Landowners 104 1.00 104.00 Southern Landowners 108 1.00 108.00 Total Landowners 212 NA 212.00

Note that n-values may sometimes appear to have discrepancies. This is caused by the

weighting, which in some cases led to fractional values or “partial people.” Small differences in

the fractional values for those “partial people” often lead to different rounded “whole people”

values when reporting n-values in graphs.

Throughout this report, findings of the telephone survey are reported at a 95% confidence

interval. For the entire general population sample, the sampling error is at most plus or minus

4.88 percentages points. For the sample of those hunters who could be categorized as being a

northern or southern hunter, the sampling error is at most plus or minus 4.79 percentage points.


Because the entire population of hunters could not be categorized into northern and southern

hunters, the sampling error cannot be determined on the entire sample; however, the error rate on

those hunters whose residence is known was determined. Nonetheless, the sampling error on the

entire sample of hunters would be better than the rate on the known hunters given above.

Sampling errors were calculated using the formula described below, with sample sizes of 402 of

the general population and 418 hunters, and population sizes of 6,017,219 of the general

population and 152,617 hunters. There is no way to determine the sampling error for large

landowners because the total population of large landowners could not be obtained.

Sampling error equation:

( )( )96.1

1

25.25.

−

−=

p

s

p

NN

N

B

Where: B = maximum sampling error (as decimal) NP = population size (e.g., total number of residents, total number of license holders) NS = sample size Derived from formula: p. 206 in Dillman, D. A. 2000. Mail and Internet Surveys. John Wiley & Sons, NY. Note: This is a simplified version of the formula that calculates the maximum sampling error using a 50:50 split (the most conservative calculation because a 50:50 split would give maximum variation).

Note that some results may not sum to exactly 100% because of rounding.


OPINIONS ON AND VALUES ASSOCIATED WITH DEER � Most commonly, respondents describe their feelings about deer positively, saying that they

enjoy seeing and having deer around. Substantial percentages, however, said they enjoy

seeing deer but worry about the problems they cause. Finally, small percentages regard deer

as a nuisance, with landowners being much more likely to regard deer as a nuisance.

� Respondents were asked five questions regarding deer management and the values associated

with deer. Majorities of the general population and landowners said four of the five were

very important, the exception being that “you have deer around your home,” which just under

half (49%) of both the general population and landowners said was very important.

Majorities of hunters said each of the five were very important.

• Hunters had a greater percentage saying each value was very important than did the

general population and landowners. For instance, 58% of the general population and

59% of landowners said it was very important that deer exist in Georgia, while 89% of

hunters said that it was very important that deer exist in Georgia.

• The top statement for hunters and landowners was that people have the opportunity to

hunt deer in Georgia (this was the second ranked value among the general population).

• The top statement for the general population was that deer populations are being properly

managed in Georgia.

• For all three groups, the lowest ranked statement was that “you have deer around your

home.”


Q10. Generally, which of the following statements best describes your feelings about deer in your

county?

1

9

7

38

45

1

3

3

25

68

0

16

36

43

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

I enjoy seeingand having deer

around

I enjoy seeing afew deer, butworry about

problems theycause

I generally regarddeer as anuisance

I have noparticular feeling

about deer

Don't know

Percent

General Population (n=402)Hunter (n=418)Landowner (n=212)


Q11-12, 15-17. Percent who think the following are very important.

49

58

59

60

69

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q15. Deerpopulations arebeing properlymanaged in

Georgia

Q16. Peoplehave the

opportunity tohunt deer in

Georgia

Q17. Peoplehave the

opportunity towatch or

photographdeer in Georgia

Q11. Deer existin Georgia

Q12. You havedeer aroundyour home

Percent

General Population(n=402)


Q11-12, 15-17. Percent who think the following are very or somewhat important.

77

77

84

87

89

0 20 40 60 80 100


Georgia


Q17. Peoplehave the



Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia


Percent



Q11-12, 15-17. Percent who think the following are very unimportant.

1

1

6

7

9

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia


Q17. Peoplehave the





Georgia

Percent



Q11-12, 15-17. Percent who think the following are somewhat or very unimportant.

5

7

11

17

17

0 20 40 60 80 100


Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia

Q17. Peoplehave the





Georgia

Percent




68

74

85

89

94

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia



Georgia

Q17. Peoplehave the




Percent

Hunter (n=418)



84

92

96

96

98

60 80 100

Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia



Georgia

Q17. Peoplehave the




Percent

Hunter (n=418)



1

1

1

2

4

0 20 40 60 80 100


Q17. Peoplehave the




Georgia

Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia


Percent

Hunter (n=418)



1

1

2

5

9

0 20 40 60 80 100


Q17. Peoplehave the




Georgia


Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia

Percent

Hunter (n=418)



49

55

59

69

78

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia


Georgia


Q17. Peoplehave the




Percent

Landowner (n=212)



71

80

81

88

89

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia


Georgia


Q17. Peoplehave the




Percent

Landowner (n=212)



2

5

7

7

11

0 20 40 60 80 100


Q17. Peoplehave the




Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia


Georgia

Percent

Landowner (n=212)



6

6

11

13

20

0 20 40 60 80 100



Q17. Peoplehave the



Q16. Peoplehave the


Georgia


Georgia

Percent

Landowner (n=212)


Q11. Is it important or unimportant to you to know that deer exist in Georgia?

3

1

5

3

29

58

1

1

1

1

8

89

3

7

3

22

59

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Veryimportant

Somewhatimportant

Neitherimportant norunimportant

Somewhatunimportant

Veryunimportant

Don't know

Percent



Q12. Is it important or unimportant to you to know that you have deer around your home?

3

7

10

3

28

49

1

4

6

6

16

68

3

11

6

22

49

9

0 20 40 60 80 100

Veryimportant

Somewhatimportant


Somewhatunimportant

Veryunimportant

Don't know

Percent



Q15. Is it important or unimportant to you to know that deer populations are being properly managed

in Georgia?

4

1

4

1

20

69

1

1

1

1

11

85

4

2

3

18

69

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Veryimportant

Somewhatimportant


Somewhatunimportant

Veryunimportant

Don't know

Percent



Q16. Is it important or unimportant to you to know that people have the opportunity to hunt deer in

Georgia?

2

9

8

3

17

60

0

1

0

1

4

94

2

5

2

11

78

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Veryimportant

Somewhatimportant


Somewhatunimportant

Veryunimportant

Don't know

Percent



Q17. Is it important or unimportant to you to know that people have the opportunity to watch or

photograph deer in Georgia?

1

6

5

4

25

59

0

2

3

3

18

74

1

7

7

25

55

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Veryimportant

Somewhatimportant


Somewhatunimportant

Veryunimportant

Don't know

Percent



OPINIONS ON DEER MANAGEMENT IN GEORGIA GENERAL OPINIONS ON DEER MANAGEMENT IN GEORGIA � Agreement was much higher than disagreement that deer are properly managed in Georgia;

nonetheless, there were substantial percentages in disagreement.

• 46% of the general population agreed; 26% disagreed.

• 72% of hunters agreed; 19% disagreed.

• 51% of landowners agreed; 27% disagreed.


Georgia; however, the agreement for this was not as high as for the above question that deer

are properly managed in Georgia.




� Respondents place a high value on deer management: overwhelming majorities of the

general population (89%), hunters (96%), and landowners (88%) said knowing that deer

populations are being properly managed in Georgia is very or somewhat important to them.

(This graph is shown in the section of the report titled, “Opinions on and Values Associated

with Deer.”) Furthermore, a large majority of deer hunters (71%) indicated that they would

support an increase in deer hunting license fees if they knew that the money would be used

for deer management. The support for an increase in license fees evaporates when the money

would not be used for deer management: 85% oppose an increase in fees if the money would

not be used for deer management.

� When asked if they support or oppose controlling deer in urban and suburban areas, large

majorities of all three groups support doing so (79% of the general population, 89% of

hunters, and 86% of landowners). There is not wide agreement on the method for controlling

deer in these areas, however: substantial percentages advocate some form of hunting, but

sizable percentages favor trapping and relocation.


� In general, the GDNR received positive ratings, with large majorities of all three groups

rating the performance of the GDNR as excellent or good. When asked specifically to rate

the GDNR’s Deer Management Program, the ratings are again positive, with excellent and

good ratings far exceeding fair and poor ratings; however, the ratings of the Deer

Management Program were not quite as high as the performance of the GDNR overall. Also,

an overwhelming majority of deer hunters are satisfied with how well the GDNR

incorporates hunters’ wants and needs into the management of the state’s deer population

(this graph is shown in the section of the report titled, “Opinions on Deer Hunting in

Georgia”). Finally, a majority of owners of tracts of at least 20 acres said the GDNR does

excellent or good at incorporating landowners’ wants and needs into the state’s deer

management.

• 69% of the general population, 81% of hunters, and 73% of landowners gave an excellent

or good rating regarding the overall performance of the GDNR.

• The poor rating of the overall performance of the GDNR was consistently low: no more

than 3% of any group gave a poor rating.

• Regarding specifically the Deer Management Program, the percentages rating excellent

or good exceeded the percentages rating it fair or poor:

o Among the general population, 46% rated it excellent or good, and 19% rated it

fair or poor.

o Among hunters, 75% rated it excellent or good, and 17% rated it fair or poor.

o Among landowners, 61% rated it excellent or good, and 19% rated it fair or poor.

• 82% of hunters are satisfied with how well the GDNR incorporates hunters’ wants and

needs into the management of the state’s deer population.

• 51% of landowners gave an excellent or good rating for how well the GDNR incorporates

landowners’ wants and needs into deer management, which far exceeds the 18% who

gave a fair or poor rating.

� Despite the positive ratings of the GDNR, respondents more often think the GDNR should

provide more, rather than less, deer management assistance to private landowners.


� Respondents’ perceived knowledge levels of the GDNR’s Deer Management Program are

fairly widely distributed, with hunters claiming the most knowledge, followed by

landowners, then the general population.

• Among the general population, 29% know a great deal or moderate amount, 42% know a

little, and 26% know nothing.

• Among hunters, 66% know a great deal or moderate amount, 29% know a little, and 4%

know nothing.

• Among landowners, 46% know a great deal or moderate amount, 34% know a little, and

17% know nothing.


Q13. Do you agree or disagree that deer are properly managed in Georgia?

22

13

13

6

25

21

5

7

12

5

35

37

17

17

5

31

20

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglyagree

Moderatelyagree

Neither agreenor disagree

Moderatelydisagree

Stronglydisagree

Don't know

Percent



Q14. Do you agree or disagree that landowners properly manage deer on their land in Georgia?

31

12

12

7

23

15

14

14

17

9

28

18

17

11

12

31

15

14

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglyagree

Moderatelyagree


Moderatelydisagree

Stronglydisagree

Don't know

Percent



2

12

9

5

34

37

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly support

Moderatelysupport

Neither supportor oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Strongly oppose

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=351)

Q74. Do you support or oppose an increase in deer hunting license fees if you knew that the money would

be used for deer management activities? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in the past 2 years.)


4

74

11

3

4

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly support

Moderatelysupport


Moderatelyoppose

Strongly oppose

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=351)

Q75. Do you support or oppose an increase in deer hunting license fees if you knew that the money would not be used for deer management activities? (Asked of

hunters who hunted deer in the past 2 years.)


Q140. Do you support or oppose controlling deer in urban and suburban areas?

7

5

6

3

29

50

4

3

3

2

20

69

8

3

3

30

56

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent



Q142. How do you think deer should be controlled in urban and suburban areas?

6

6

9

13

6

15

3

00

2

2

5

6

15

28

28

0

4

2

3

13

7

29

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunting

Archery huntingonly

Trapping andrelocation

Other

Professionals orsharpshooters

Should not becontrolled atall/Natural

factors

Biological birthcontrol

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent

General Population(n=403)Hunter (n=418)

Landowner (n=212)


16

2

14

50

19

3

2

15

46

35

11

13

47

26

3

0 20 40 60 80 100

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Don't know

Percent


Q18. In general, how would you rate the performance of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources,

Wildlife Resources Division? Would you say they do an excellent, good, fair, or poor job?


Q20. Would you rate the Georgia DNR's Deer Management Program as excellent, good, fair, or

poor?

34

3

16

33

13

8

3

14

49

26

20

13

48

13

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Don't know

Percent



7

4

5

2

40

42

0 20 40 60 80 100

Very satisfied

Somewhatsatisfied

Neither satisfiednor dissatisfied

Somewhatdissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=352)

Q85. In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with how well the Georgia DNR incorporate hunters' wants

and needs into the management of the state's deer population? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in the

past 2 years.)


32

4

14

35

16

0 20 40 60 80 100

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Don't know

Percent

Landowner (n=200)

Q125. In general, how well does the Georgia DNR incorporate landowners' wants and needs into the

management of the state's deer population? Would you say they do an excellent, good, fair, or poor job? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or

more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres.)


Q162. Do you think the Georgia DNR should provide more, the same, or less assistance to

private landowners to manage deer?

28

4

5

25

19

20

16

2

5

24

29

25

17

3

35

20

21

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Much more

Somewhatmore

The same

Somewhatless

Much less

Don't know

Percent



Q19. Would you say you know a great deal, a moderate amount, a little, or nothing about the

Georgia DNR's Deer Management Program?

3

26

42

21

8

1

4

29

44

22

3

34

34

12

17

0 20 40 60 80 100

A great deal

A moderateamount

A little

Nothing

Don't know

Percent



DEER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES � Regarding deer management strategies, overwhelming majorities of all three groups (82% of





support hunting as a way to manage deer). (These graphs are shown and discussed in the

section of the report titled, “Opinions on Deer Hunting in Georgia.”)

� As discussed above, there was no general consensus on the best way to manage deer in urban

and suburban environments when respondents were asked in a follow-up question to whether

deer should be controlled in urban and suburban areas. Respondents were asked about

control strategies individually, as well.

• Of the two questions about controlling deer populations in urban and suburban areas,

there was more support for use of regulated archery hunting than there was for use of

sharpshooters and professionals to control deer in urban and suburban areas.

� Regarding strategies to control deer in parks and other recreation areas that traditionally been

closed to hunting, there was more support for regulated hunting than for use of sharpshooters

and professionals.

� Finally, regarding deer hunting regulations that may have an effect on deer populations and

deer management, there was much support for management to favor large-antlered deer and

for allowing muzzleloaders to use magnifying scopes on their guns. There was less support

for allowing hunting of deer over bait, and there was low support, relative to the other deer

management regulations, for fenced hunting, either of white-tailed deer or exotic deer.

� Regarding the making of deer management decisions, respondents value scientific

information and the professional judgment of GDNR biologists; social concerns and political

concerns are not considered important in deer management decisions. There was little

variation among the general population, hunters, and landowners.


• Among the general population and landowners, majorities said scientific information and

professional judgment of GDNR biologists should be very important in making deer

management decisions. Among hunters, majorities said scientific information,

professional judgment of GDNR biologists, and the economic impact of hunting in

Georgia should be very important.


Q144-147, 149, 151, 160-161, 167. Percent who strongly support the following.

9

9

14

17

18

25

25

28

37

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q161. Management for large-antlered deer

Q145. Use of regulated archery hunting to control deer inurban/suburban environments

Q167. Allowing hunters who use muzzleloading firearms touse magnifying scopes

Q146. Use of regulated hunting to control deer inparks/other recreation lands that traditionally have been

closed to deer hunting

Q144. Use of professionals/sharpshooters to control deerin urban/suburban environments

Q147. Use of professionals/sharpshooters to control deeron parks/other recreation lands that traditionally have been


Q160. Allowing hunting deer directly over bait if it was partof a year-round feeding program

Q149. Hunting of white-tailed deer inside enclosed fencedareas if allowing it generated economic activity for rural

Georgia

Q151. Hunting of non-native, exotic deer inside enclosedfenced areas if allowing it generated economic activity for

rural Georgia

Percent



Q144-147, 149, 151, 160-161, 167. Percent who strongly or moderately support the following.

21

27

31

37

40

51

52

55

63

0 20 40 60 80 100






Q144. Use of professionals/sharpshooters to control deer inurban/suburban environments

Q147. Use of professionals/sharpshooters to control deer onparks/other recreation lands that traditionally have been




Georgia


rural Georgia

Percent

GeneralPopulation(n=402)


Q144-147, 149, 151, 160-161, 167. Percent who strongly oppose the following.

10

19

24

26

38

38

42

45

53

0 20 40 60 80 100


rural Georgia


Georgia










Percent



Q144-147, 149, 151, 160-161, 167. Percent who moderately or strongly oppose the following.

17

24

34

38

50

51

52

59

66

0 20 40 60 80 100


rural Georgia


Georgia










Percent




14

16

20

22

35

55

63

66

70

0 20 40 60 80 100



Q146. Use of regulated hunting to control deer in parks/otherrecreation lands that traditionally have been closed to deer

hunting


Q160. Allowing hunting deer directly over bait if it was part ofa year-round feeding program





rural Georgia


Georgia

Percent

Hunter (n=418)



33

33

41

42

56

75

86

87

88

0 20 40 60 80 100











rural Georgia


Georgia

Percent

Hunter (n=418)



5

5

8

13

28

39

42

43

45

0 20 40 60 80 100


Georgia


rural Georgia




Q160. Allowing hunting deer directly over bait if it was part ofa year-round feeding program


Q146. Use of regulated hunting to control deer in parks/otherrecreation lands that traditionally have been closed to deer

hunting



Percent

Hunter (n=418)



8

8

10

17

37

49

52

53

56

0 20 40 60 80 100


Georgia


rural Georgia










Percent

Hunter (n=418)



17

19

22

29

31

33

46

47

51

0 20 40 60 80 100











Georgia


rural Georgia

Percent

Landowner(n=212)



33

37

45

50

55

58

67

69

73

0 20 40 60 80 100











Georgia


rural Georgia

Percent

Landowner(n=212)



7

8

14

14

25

25

29

35

37

0 20 40 60 80 100


rural Georgia


Georgia










Percent

Landowner(n=212)



12

12

18

18

34

34

44

44

46

0 20 40 60 80 100


rural Georgia


Georgia










Percent

Landowner(n=212)


Q126-130. Percent who think the following should be very important in making decisions about deer

management in Georgia.

19

34

46

62

66

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q126. Scientificinformation suchas hunter kills,

population surveydata, andpopulationmodeling

Q127. Professionaljudgement ofGeorgia DNR

biologists

Q128. Economicimpact of hunting

in Georgia

Q129. Socialconcerns (public

values)

Q130. Politicalconcerns

Percent



Q126-130. Percent who think the following should be very or somewhat important in making

decisions about deer management in Georgia.

39

69

76

82

86

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q126. Scientificinformation such as

hunter kills,population survey

data, andpopulationmodeling


biologists

Q128. Economicimpact of hunting in

Georgia


values)


Percent



Q126-130. Percent who think the following should be very unimportant in making decisions about

deer management in Georgia.

1

2

6

6

35

0 20 40 60 80 100



values)


Georgia


biologists




Percent



Q126-130. Percent who think the following should be somewhat or very unimportant in making


3

7

13

19

49

0 20 40 60 80 100



values)


in Georgia

Q127.Professionaljudgement ofGeorgia DNR

biologists



Percent





12

29

52

75

77

0 20 40 60 80 100





biologists


Georgia


values)


Percent

Hunter (n=418)




29

63

79

91

92

0 20 40 60 80 100


biologists





Georgia


values)


Percent

Hunter (n=418)




1

1

5

13

48

0 20 40 60 80 100



values)


Georgia


biologists




Percent

Hunter (n=418)




2

2

12

24

61

0 20 40 60 80 100



values)


Georgia


biologists




Percent

Hunter (n=418)




11

28

44

63

66

0 20 40 60 80 100




biologists


in Georgia


values)


Percent

Landowner (n=212)




23

53

67

79

81

0 20 40 60 80 100




biologists


in Georgia


values)


Percent

Landowner (n=212)




3

4

8

15

48

0 20 40 60 80 100



values)


in Georgia


biologists



Percent

Landowner (n=212)




5

6

12

24

60

0 20 40 60 80 100



values)


in Georgia




biologists

Percent

Landowner (n=212)


OPINIONS ON THE SIZE AND HEALTH OF THE DEER POPULATION IN GEORGIA � Overall, respondents think the deer herd in Georgia is very or somewhat healthy (74% of the

general population, 85% of hunters, and 79% of landowners). Following the graph is a map

showing those counties in which the measures of the perceptions of the health of the deer

herd are higher than the median perception among the general population. This map was

created by assigning numbers to each response as follows: very healthy = 5, somewhat

healthy = 4, neither healthy nor unhealthy = 3, somewhat unhealthy = 2, and very

unhealthy = 1. The mean of responses for each county was then determined, giving a

countywide mean among the general population. Additionally, the overall median score of

all respondents was determined. The map was then created showing those counties with a

county mean that is at or above the overall median score. In this map, the shaded counties

show where respondents’ perception of the health of the deer herd is higher than among

respondents in unshaded counties.

� Respondents, in general, think the deer population in their county has grown over the past 5

years. The most common answer for all three groups was that there are more deer in their

county compared to 5 years previous. Following the graph is a map showing those counties

in which respondents’ (the general population) mean scores regarding the trend in herd size

(increasing, remaining the same, or decreasing) is at or higher than the median of all general

population respondents. The values assigned to each response in determining the means and

median were as follows: more deer = 3, same number of deer = 2, and fewer deer = 1.

� Majorities of the general population (51%) and hunters (59%) think the deer population in

their county is about right, but a little less than a majority of landowners (44%) think the deer

population is about right. Substantial percentages, however, think the deer population in

their county is overabundant (31% of the general population, 28% of hunters, and 44% of

landowners). Indeed, for each group, the percentage saying deer are overabundant greatly

exceeds the percentage saying deer are under-abundant. Mirroring these results, when asked

if the deer population in their county should be increased or decreased, majorities of all

groups said it should remain the same (51% of the general population and landowners, and


61% of hunters), although substantial percentages said it should be decreased; the

percentages answering “decreased” exceeded the percentages answering “increased.”

• Those who answered that the deer population in their county should remain the same

most commonly gave as their reasoning that they have not had problems with deer,

followed by those saying that the hunting is good and that they do not see too many deer.

• Maps are shown depicting those counties in which the measure of perceived level of

abundance of deer is higher (shaded counties) than in other counties (unshaded), as well

as counties in which the measure of the desire for increasing the deer herd (shaded

counties) is higher than in other counties (unshaded), in both cases among the general

population. The values assigned to the responses for determining the means and medians

were as follows: for Question 27 regarding level of abundance, overabundant = 3, about

right = 2, and under-abundant = 1; for Question 28 regarding desires to increase or

decrease the deer herd, increased = 3, remain the same = 2, and decreased = 1.


Q25. What is your opinion of the health of the deer herd in Georgia? Would you say it is healthy or

unhealthy?

15

2

7

2

26

48

6

1

4

3

29

56

11

2

3

26

53

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Very healthy

Somewhathealthy

Neitherhealthy norunhealthy

Somewhatunhealthy

Veryunhealthy

Don't know

Percent



Counties with High Perceptions of Deer Herd Health Relative to the Median Perception

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA

SCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSC

Shading indicates counties for which the mean score of all general population respondents in that

county is at or higher than the median score of all general population respondents regarding deer

herd health. In short, general population respondents in shaded counties have a higher mean

perception of deer herd health than do general population respondents in unshaded counties.


13

25

19

43

3

20

25

53

11

15

70

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

More deer

The samenumber of

deer

Fewer deer

Don't know

Percent


Q26. In the county where you live, do you think there are more deer now compared to 5 years ago, the same number of deer, or do you think there are fewer deer

than 5 years ago?


Counties with High Perceptions of Deer Herd Size Relative to the Median Perception

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA

SCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSC

NNN


county is at or higher than the median score of all general population respondents regarding deer

herd size. In short, general population respondents in shaded counties have a higher mean

perception of deer herd size than do general population respondents in unshaded counties.


Q27. Do you think the deer population in the county where you live is overabundant, about right, or

under-abundant?

9

10

51

31

3

10

59

28

6

44

44

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Overabundant

About right

Underabundant

Don't know

Percent



Counties with High Perceptions of Deer Abundance Relative to the Median Perception

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA

SCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSC

NNN


county is at or higher than the median score of all general population respondents regarding the

abundance of deer. In short, general population respondents in shaded counties have a higher

mean perception of the abundance of deer than do general population respondents in unshaded

counties.


Q28. In your opinion should the deer population in the county where you live be increased, remain the

same, or be decreased?

11

30

51

9

3

24

61

12

41

51

6

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Increased

Remain thesame

Decreased

Don't know

Percent



Counties with High Desires Regarding Whether the Deer Herd Should Be Increased or Decreased Relative to the Median Desires

GAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA

SCSCSCSCSCSCSCSCSC


county is at or higher than the median score of all general population respondents regarding

whether the deer herd should be increased or decreased. In short, general population respondents

in shaded counties have a higher mean desire regarding whether the deer herd should be

increased than do general population respondents in unshaded counties.


Q38. Why do you think the deer population in the county where you live should stay the same?

(Asked of those who think the deer population in their county should remain the same.)

8

11

26

10

39

6

10

22

34

38

12

23

30

32

19

0 20 40 60 80 100

Haven't hadany problems

with deer

Hunting isgood

Don't see toomany deer

Don't know

Things arefine as they

are

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=108)


OPINIONS ON INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE DEER POPULATION IN GEORGIA � Those respondents who said that they thought the deer population in their county should be

increased most commonly gave as their reasoning that doing so would offer better hunting

opportunities or that they believe the deer population is too low.


should be increased were asked about their support for increasing the deer population when

five specific consequences were discussed. Three of the five consequences did not greatly

erode support, with majorities in support of increasing the deer population, even if it means

more damage to gardens and landscaping, even if it means more crop damage, and even if it

means there would be more automobile-deer collisions. Support nearly completely

disappears if respondents are informed that an increased deer population could result in less

food and poorer quality habitat for other wildlife or in poorer health for the deer herd.


Q30. Why do you think the deer population in the county where you live should be increased? (Asked

of those who think the deer population in their county should be increased.)

9

3

26

31

26

31

2

10

10

20

37

48

8

0

15

46

23

15

0 20 40 60 80 100

Betterhunting

opportunities

The deerpopulation is

too low

I never seeany deer

I like to watchdeer

Other

Don't know

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=13)


Q32-36. Percent who strongly support an increase in the deer herd if (asked of those who said that they thought the deer population in their county

should be increased):

8

9

40

43

47

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q33. If it meant moredamage to gardens

and landscaping

Q34. If it meant morecrop damage for

farmers

Q32. If it meant moreautomobile accidents

with deer

Q35. If it meantpoorer health overall

for the deer herd

Q36. If it meant lessfood or poorer quality

habitat for otherwildlife

Percent



Q32-36. Percent who strongly or moderately support an increase in the deer herd if (asked of

those who said that they thought the deer population in their county should be increased):

11

19

60

63

72

0 20 40 60 80 100


and landscaping


farmers


with deer




for the deer herd

Percent



Q32-36. Percent who strongly oppose an increase in the deer herd if (asked of those who said that they thought the deer population in their county


0

6

6

25

43

0 20 40 60 80 100


for the deer herd




with deer


farmers


and landscaping

Percent

GeneralPopulation (n=35)


Q32-36. Percent who moderately or strongly oppose an increase in the deer herd if (asked of


22

31

37

61

80

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q35. If it meant poorerhealth overall for the

deer herd




farmers


with deer


and landscaping

Percent

GeneralPopulation (n=35)




12

14

38

45

51

0 20 40 60 80 100


and landscaping


farmers


with deer




for the deer herd

Percent

Hunter (n=69)




11

25

69

71

83

0 20 40 60 80 100


and landscaping


farmers


with deer




for the deer herd

Percent

Hunter (n=69)




2

2

8

49

60

0 20 40 60 80 100


for the deer herd




farmers


with deer


and landscaping

Percent

Hunter (n=69)




8

17

18

59

81

0 20 40 60 80 100


for the deer herd




with deer


farmers


and landscaping

Percent

Hunter (n=69)




8

15

31

31

38

0 20 40 60 80 100


farmers


with deer


and landscaping




for the deer herd

Percent

Landowner(n=13)




15

15

54

69

69

0 20 40 60 80 100


with deer


and landscaping


farmers


for the deer herd



Percent

Landowner(n=13)




8

8

8

38

54

0 20 40 60 80 100


for the deer herd




with deer


and landscaping


farmers

Percent

Landowner(n=13)




15

15

31

62

69

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q35. If it meant poorerhealth overall for the

deer herd




farmers


with deer


and landscaping

Percent

Landowner(n=13)


OPINIONS ON DECREASING THE SIZE OF THE DEER POPULATION IN GEORGIA � Those respondents who said that they thought the deer population in their county should be

decreased most commonly gave as their reasoning a reduction in automobile-deer collisions.

Among landowners, a large percentage cited damage to crops.


should be decreased were asked about their support for decreasing the deer population when

four specific consequences were discussed. Majorities were still in support despite any of the

consequences named: that fewer people would be able to see a deer, that fewer hunters

would be spending money, that fewer wildlife watchers would be spending money, and that

fewer hunters would be able to harvest a deer.


Q41. Why do you think the deer population in the county where you live should be decreased?

(Asked of those who think the deer population in their county should be decreased.)

5

8

8

19

13

65

3

2

00

3

5

5

9

17

12

17

55

0

1

5

3

9

26

41

51

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Auto accidents

Damage to crops

Damage to flower beds or gardens

Too many does (sex ratio out ofbalance)

Deer are malnourished in thewinter

Other

Destruction of plant species fromover-browsing

Would allow for increased huntingbag limits

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=87)


Q43-46. Percent who strongly support a decrease in the deer population if (asked of those who said

that they thought the deer population in their county should be decreased):

38

40

42

45

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q44. If it meant fewerwildlife watchers and

photographersspending moneywhile watching or

photographing deer

Q45. If it meant fewerhunters would be

able to harvest a deer

Q46. If it meant fewerpeople would be able

to see a deer

Q43. If it meant fewerhunters spending

money while huntingdeer

Percent



Q43-46. Percent who strongly or moderately support a decrease in the deer population if (asked

of those who said that they thought the deer population in their county should be decreased):

66

67

69

69

0 20 40 60 80 100





photographing deer


to see a deer



Percent



Q43-46. Percent who strongly oppose a decrease in the deer population if (asked of those who said that

they thought the deer population in their county should be decreased):

5

5

7

13

0 20 40 60 80 100


to see a deer





photographing deer



Percent



Q43-46. Percent who moderately or strongly oppose a decrease in the deer population if (asked


11

13

17

25

0 20 40 60 80 100


to see a deer







photographing deer

Percent





33

36

44

48

0 20 40 60 80 100



photographing deer




to see a deer



Percent

Hunter (n=104)




53

66

67

70

0 20 40 60 80 100


to see a deer





photographing deer



Percent

Hunter (n=104)




3

3

9

17

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q45. If it meant fewerhunters would be able

to harvest a deer


to see a deer




photographersspending money while

watching orphotographing deer

Percent

Hunter (n=104)




13

15

16

32

0 20 40 60 80 100




to see a deer





photographing deer

Percent

Hunter (n=104)




55

56

57

60

0 20 40 60 80 100


to see a deer







photographing deer

Percent

Landowner(n=87)




75

76

77

78

0 20 40 60 80 100



photographing deer




to see a deer



Percent

Landowner(n=87)




1

3

3

5

0 20 40 60 80 100






to see a deer



photographing deer

Percent

Landowner(n=87)




5

6

7

9

0 20 40 60 80 100




to see a deer





photographing deer

Percent

Landowner(n=87)


MANAGING DEER-HUMAN CONFLICTS � The general population (75%) and hunters (81%) overwhelmingly said that they have not

experienced any damage caused by deer over the past 12 months; however, landowners are

more divided, with 56% saying they did not experience any damage, but 43% saying that

they did.

• The most common types of damage were to gardens and crops and through automobile

collisions.

� Regarding automobile-deer collisions, substantial percentages (29% of the general

population, 27% of hunters, and 35% of landowners) reported that they or someone from

their household had a collision with a deer in the past 2 years. A graph is included showing

the number of automobile-deer collisions per household among respondents. Relative to

other driving hazards, majorities of respondents say that deer are a minor hazard rather than a

major hazard. Very low percentages said deer are not a road hazard. Careless drivers and

drunk drivers are considered much greater hazards.

• Note that it is extremely likely that not all the collisions reported in the survey were

reported to the Georgia police (state or local) or to insurance companies. Experts on the

subject (insurance companies, for instance) indicate that many automobile-deer collisions

are not reported. A map is shown highlighting the counties of residence of those

respondents who reported that they or someone from their household had hit a deer.

� Majorities of all groups did not know how well the GDNR responds to property owner

requests for assistance to reduce damage caused by nuisance wildlife; however, of those who

gave an answer, ratings of excellent or good exceeded ratings of fair or poor, particularly

among hunters and landowners.

� Respondents are split whether responsibility for managing deer-human conflicts should

change (from the GDNR and its use of hunting as a control means) in areas where

urbanization has closed hunting access, although slightly more respondents said that the

responsibility should change than said it should not change.


• Those who said the responsibility should change most commonly indicated that the state

government should assume responsibility for managing deer-human conflicts in

developing areas. Other important answers were community groups, the new landowners

in the developing areas, and county animal control officers.

� Finally, there is more agreement than disagreement, particularly among hunters, that

municipalities that pass firearm ordinances, thereby preventing deer hunting, should be

required to mitigate deer damage.


Q47. Have you experienced any damage caused by deer over the past 12 months?

0

75

25

0

81

19

0

56

43

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent



Q49. What type of damage have you had that was caused by deer? (Asked of those who have

experienced damage caused by deer over the past 12 months.)

1

4

17

42

18

45

3

0

00

1

0

0

14

4

24

25

51

1

1

0

7

11

17

45

50

11

0 20 40 60 80 100

Garden(personal)

Agriculturaldamage (crops)

Car collisions

Yard

Agriculturaldamage(orchard)

Structuraldamage (such

as fencing)

Other

Annoyance tohumans

Livestock

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=92)


Q52. In the past 2 years, have you or any other member of your household had a vehicle collision

with a deer on Georgia's roads or highways?

0

71

29

0

73

27

0

65

35

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent



Counties of Residence of Households Experiencing Deer-Auto Collisions

ABBEVILLE

AIKEN

ALLENDALE

ANDERSON

APPLING

ATKINSON

BACON

BAKER

BAKER

BALDWIN

BAMBERG

BANKS

BARBOUR

BARNWELL

BARROW

BARTOW

BEAUFO

BEN HILL

BERRIEN

BIBB

BLECKLEY

BRADLEY

BRANTLEY

BROOKS

BRYAN

BULLOCH

BULLOCK

BURKEBUTTS

CALHOUN

CALHOUN

LHOUN

CAMDEN

CANDLER

CARROLL

CATOOSA

CHAMBERS

CHARLTON

CHATHAMCHATTAHOOCHEE

CHATTOOGA

CHEROKEE

CHEROKEE

CHESTERCHESTE

CLARKE

CLAY

CLAY

CLAY

CLAYTON

CLEBURNE

CLINCH

COBB

COFFEE

COFFEE

COLLETON

COLQUITT

COLUMBIA

COOK

COWETA

CRAWFORD

CRISP

DADE

DALE

DAWSON

DE KALB

ALB

DECATUR

DODGE

DOOLY

DORC

DOUGHERTY

DOUGLAS

DUVAL

EARLY

ECHOLS

EDGEFIELD

EFFINGHAM

ELBERT

E

EMANUEL

EVANS

FAIRFIELDFANNIN

FAYETTE

FLOYD FORSYTH

FRANKLIN

FULTON

GENEVA

GILMER

GLASCOCK

GLYNN

GORDON

GRADY

GREENE

GREENVILLE

GREENWOOD

GWINNETT

HABERSHAM

HALL

HAMILTON

HAMILTON

HAMPTON

HANCOCK

HARALSON

HARRIS

HART

HEARD

HENRY

HENRY

HOLMES

HOUSTON

HOUSTON

IRWIN

JACKSON

JACKSON

JASPER

JASPER

JEFF DAVIS

JEFFERSON

JENKINS

JOHNSON

JONES

KERSHAW

LAMAR

LANIER

LAURENS

LAURENS

LEE

L

LEE

LEXINGTON

LIBERTY

LINCOLN

LONG

LOWNDES

LUMPKIN

MACON

MACON

MADISON

MARION

ARION

MCCORMICK

MCDUFFIE

MCINTOSH

MERIWETHER

MILLER

MITCHELL

MONROE

MONTGOMERY

ERY

MORGAN

MURRAY

MUSCOGEE

NASSAU

NEWBERRY

NEWTON

OCONEE

OCONEE

OGLETHORPE

ORANGEBURGPAULDING

PEACH

PICKENS

PICKENS

PIERCE

PIKE

PIKE

POLK

POLK

PULASKI

PUTNAM

QUITMAN

RABUN

RANDOLPH

RANDOLPH

RICHLAND

RICHMONDROCKDALE

RUSSELL

SALUDA

SCHLEY

SCREVEN

SEMINOLE

SPALDING

STEPHENS

STEWARTSUMTER

SU

TALBOT

TALIAFERRO

TALLAPOOSA

TATTNALL

TAYLOR

TELFAIR

TERRELL

THOMAS

TIFT

TOOMBS

TOWNS

TREUTLEN

TROUP

TURNER

TWIGGS

UNION

UNION

UPSON

WALKER

WALTON

WARE

WARREN

WASHINGTON

WAYNE

WEBSTER

WHEELER

WHITEWHITFIELD

WILCOX

WILKES

WILKINSON

WORTH

Shading indicates counties of residence of respondents who reported that they or a household

member experienced an automobile-deer collision in the past 2 years. (Because the collision did

not necessarily take place in the county of residence, the map should not be interpreted as

showing counties where auto-deer collisions have taken place; rather, the map shows counties in

which residents’ perceptions of deer have been affected by auto-deer collisions.)


0

52

36

7

3

2

1

64

25

10

1

1

0

0

9

59

21

7

1

0

3

0 20 40 60 80 100

1 collision

2 collisions

3 collisions

4 collisions

5 collisions

6 collisions

7 collisions

Percent


Landowner (n=75)

Q53. How many vehicle collisions with deer have you or other members of your household had on Georgia's roads or highways in the past 2 years? (Asked of those who have personally had a vehicle collision or whose household member(s) has had a vehicle collision with a deer on Georgia's roads or highways in the past 2

years.)


Q54. In relation to other driving hazards, would you say deer are not a hazard, a minor hazard, or a

major road hazard?

4

28

61

7

3

19

71

7

38

58

3

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Not a roadhazard

Minor roadhazard

Major roadhazard

Don't know

Percent



Q55. What do you consider to be the top driving hazard in Georgia?

4

6

7

14

32

36

1

0

00

0

3

4

4

5

14

29

42

0

0

0

3

7

14

33

34

8

0 20 40 60 80 100

Careless drivers

Drunk drivers

Other

Don't know

Deer

Drivers talking oncell phones

Rain

Ice

Snow

Percent



62

4

11

17

6

56

3

7

23

11

52

6

26

10

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Don't know

Percent


Q51. In general, how well does the Georgia DNR respond to homeowner and landowner requests for

assistance to reduce damage caused by wildlife, such as damage to and loss of crops and animals? Would

you say excellent, good, fair, or poor?


28

29

43

16

40

44

27

25

48

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent


Q21. Traditionally, the State has managed deer populations through hunting. As urban sprawl closes

hunter access to deer habitat, do you think that the responsibility to manage deer-human conflicts should

change in these areas?


Q23. Who should have primary responsibility for management of deer-human conflicts in developing

areas? (Asked of those who think that the responsibility to manage deer-human conflicts

should change in these areas.)

9

9

24

15

18

44

8

9

10

21

24

53

6

8

23

22

48

11

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stategovernment

Communitygroups likelandowner

associations

New landowners

County animalcontrol

Other

Real estatedevelopers

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=159)


29

11

9

3

23

26

17

12

8

5

20

38

25

9

4

23

27

11

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglyagree

Moderatelyagree


Moderatelydisagree

Stronglydisagree

Don't know

Percent


Q166. Do you agree or disagree that local municipalities that pass firearms ordinances, thereby

preventing deer hunting, should be required to mitigate deer damage?


MANAGING FOR A QUALITY DEER HERD � Regarding managing for a quality deer herd, it is instructive to first determine what deer

hunters think “quality deer” means. Most commonly, deer hunters think management for

quality deer means larger deer (64%), although a substantial percentage think it means more

healthy deer (29%).

• Only 7% think it means an increased number of deer.

� When all respondents were asked if they support or oppose management for large-antlered

deer (which some hunters perceive to be synonymous with quality deer), hunters were the

most likely to support, although support was still in the majority among the other groups.

Indeed, majorities of all groups support such management: 63% of the general population,

87% of hunters, and 67% of landowners support management for large-antlered deer.



same time shooting more does for an increased chance in later years of shooting large-



support).


Q80. Some hunters have asked the Georgia DNR to manage the deer herd for quality deer, but not

everyone agrees on what this means. What does the term quality deer management mean to you? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in the past 2

years.)

3

5

5

7

29

64

0 20 40 60 80 100

Increased size ofdeer/bigger bucks

Increase in overallhealth of herd

Increased numberof deer

Don't know

Other

Balancedhabitat/population

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent

Hunter (n=352)


Q161. Do you support or oppose management for large-antlered deer?

16

10

7

4

26

37

3

5

3

2

21

66

11

7

9

20

47

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent



5

13

83

0 20 40 60 80 100

Willing to give upopportunity to shootsmall-antlered bucks

Not willing to give upopportunity to shoot

small-antlered b

Don't know/don't care

Percent

Hunter (n=352)

Q82. Are you willing to give up the chance to shoot small-antlered bucks and shoot more does in

exchange for an increased chance to shoot large-antlered bucks in later years? (Asked of hunters who

hunted deer in the past 2 years.)


5

32

20

5

13

25

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly support

Moderatelysupport


Moderatelyoppose

Strongly oppose

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=352)

Q83. Do you support or oppose the general idea of having hunters kill does before they can qualify to

shoot an antlered buck? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in the past 2 years.)


OPINIONS ON DEER HUNTING IN GEORGIA SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO DEER HUNTING IN GEORGIA � Regarding deer management strategies, overwhelming majorities of all three groups (82% of






� Regarding two strategies to control deer in places where hunting is restricted (urban/suburban

areas and in parks/recreation lands), there is more support than opposition to use of regulated

archery hunting to control deer in urban and suburban areas and the use of regulated hunting

in parks and recreation lands that have traditionally been closed to hunting. The support is

much greater than opposition among hunters and landowners, but the difference is less

pronounced among the general population.


Q57. In general, do you support or oppose legal deer hunting in Georgia?

2

6

5

4

20

62

0

0

0

1

2

97

0

1

2

13

83

0

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent



Q131. In general, do you support or oppose hunting as a way to manage deer populations?

3

9

4

2

21

61

1

1

0

0

3

95

3

1

1

13

80

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent



Q145. Do you support or oppose the use of regulated archery hunting to control deer in urban

and suburban environments?

8

24

10

3

28

28

2

5

3

2

18

70

8

14

5

23

46

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent



8

26

12

3

26

25

3

8

2

1

23

63

10

8

5

22

51

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent


Q146. Do you support or oppose the use of regulated hunting to control deer in parks or on other recreation

lands that traditionally have been closed to deer hunting?


OPINIONS ON DEER HUNTING SEASON STRUCTURE � A large majority of hunters are satisfied (81%) with the current deer season structure. Nearly

the same percentage of deer hunters (82%) are satisfied with how well the GDNR

incorporates hunters’ wants and needs into the management of the state’s deer population.

� Regarding specific regulations, more hunters support (61%) than oppose (28%) a longer deer

hunting season in Georgia. Many more hunters support (77%) than oppose (7%) extending

the deer hunting season in the northern zone to match the southern zone. There is also much

more support (75%) than opposition (20%) to allowing the hunting of does at any time

during the deer season. Finally, respondents were asked their opinions about two regulations.

Among hunters, there is much more support (58%) than opposition (21%) to having one

statewide season for deer with no zones, and there is much more support (76%) than

opposition (18%) for allowing hunters who use muzzleloaders to use magnifying scopes.

Among the general population and landowners, support exceeded opposition to both, but not

as greatly as among hunters.


Q84. In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the current deer season structure? (Asked of


1

6

11

1

41

40

0 20 40 60 80 100

Very satisfied

Somewhatsatisfied



Very dissatisfied

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=352)


7

4

5

2

40

42

0 20 40 60 80 100

Very satisfied

Somewhatsatisfied



Very dissatisfied

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=352)

Q85. In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with how well the Georgia DNR incorporate hunters' wants

and needs into the management of the state's deer population? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in the

past 2 years.)


Q76. Do you support or oppose a longer deer hunting season in Georgia? (Asked of hunters who


1

14

14

9

13

48

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly support

Moderatelysupport


Moderatelyoppose

Strongly oppose

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=352)


7

5

2

10

17

60

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly support

Moderatelysupport


Moderatelyoppose

Strongly oppose

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=352)

Q77. Do you support or oppose extending the deer season in the northern zone of Georgia to match the

southern zone? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in the past 2 years.)


Q78. Do you support or oppose allowing Georgia hunters to hunt does anytime during the deer

season? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in the past 2 years.)

3

13

7

3

18

57

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly support

Moderatelysupport


Moderatelyoppose

Strongly oppose

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=352)


Q139. Do you support or oppose having one statewide season for deer with no deer zones?

28

17

9

7

19

20

12

12

9

10

19

39

18

15

14

19

23

12

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent



Q167. Do you support or oppose allowing hunters who use muzzleloading firearms to use magnifying

scopes?

19

19

5

5

27

25

3

13

5

5

21

55

16

14

7

30

29

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent



OPINIONS ON LICENSE FEES AND USE OF REVENUES � As discussed previously in the section of the report titled, “Opinions on Deer Management in

Georgia,” large majority of deer hunters (71%) indicated that they would support an increase

in deer hunting license fees if they knew that the money would be used for deer management.

The support for an increase in license fees evaporates when the money would not be used for

deer management: only 8% would support, and 85% would oppose, an increase in fees if the

money would not be used for deer management.


OPINIONS ON HUNTING REGULATIONS FOR QUALITY DEER MANAGEMENT � When asked about specific management strategies for quality deer, hunters are


same time shooting more does for an increased chance in later years of shooting a large-



support). (These questions are discussed and graphed in the section of the report titled,

“Opinions on Deer Management in Georgia.”)


5

13

83

0 20 40 60 80 100

Willing to give upopportunity to shootsmall-antlered bucks

Not willing to give upopportunity to shoot

small-antlered b

Don't know/don't care

Percent

Hunter (n=352)

Q82. Are you willing to give up the chance to shoot small-antlered bucks and shoot more does in

exchange for an increased chance to shoot large-antlered bucks in later years? (Asked of hunters who



5

32

20

5

13

25

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly support

Moderatelysupport


Moderatelyoppose

Strongly oppose

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=352)

Q83. Do you support or oppose the general idea of having hunters kill does before they can qualify to

shoot an antlered buck? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in the past 2 years.)


OPINIONS ON HUNTING DEER WITH DOGS � Opposition exceeds support for hunters using dogs to hunt deer, even among hunters.

• Among the general population, 29% support and 58% oppose hunters using dogs to hunt

deer.

• Among hunters, 39% support and 51% oppose hunters using dogs to hunt deer.

• Among landowners, 28% support and 62% oppose hunters using dogs to hunt deer.

• Those who support commonly cite tradition and an increased chance of harvest as

reasons they support hunters hunting with dogs.

• Those who oppose commonly say they do so because hunting with dogs does not give the

deer a fair chance or that hunting deer with dogs is inhumane to the deer. Landowners

also indicate that hunting with dogs increases the chance of hunters trespassing.


Q132. (Respondents were explained regulations regarding hunting with dogs.) In general, do you support or oppose Georgia hunters using dogs to

hunt deer?

8

48

10

5

18

11

1

40

11

9

17

22

5

54

6

12

16

8

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent



Q134. What is your main reason for supporting hunting deer with dogs? (Asked of those who

support hunting deer with dogs.)

11

20

13

13

24

21

76

7

4

12

15

28

43

7

12

5

21

29

28

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Tradition/we havealways done it

Increase hunter'schance of harvest

Doesn't matterhow they are

hunted

Like to work withdogs

Don't know

We have toomany deer

Other

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=58)


Q137. What is your main reason for opposing hunting deer with dogs? (Asked of those who

oppose hunting deer with dogs.)

7

9

3

3

31

54

5

7

01

0

4

9

9

11

10

27

62

5

2

7

7

9

27

28

48

18

0 20 40 60 80 100

Not fair chance fordeer

Inhumane to deer

Dogs increasechance fortrespass

Dangerous tohave loose dogs

around

Inhumane to dogs

Other

Don't know

Opposed to allhunting

Dogs may getdeer that aren't

legal

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=131)


OPINIONS ON FENCED HUNTING � There is much more opposition (i.e., those saying it should be illegal) than support (those

saying it should be legal) to fenced hunting of white-tailed deer and other large animals, even

among hunters (indeed, the most support was among landowners): majorities of all groups

said hunting white-tailed deer and other large animals inside fenced enclosures should be

illegal. When a condition is placed on the question about fenced hunting of white-tailed

deer—would the respondent support it if it would generate economic activity for rural

Georgia—there is still much more opposition than support, and mostly strong opposition.

� The results regarding fenced hunting of non-native, exotic deer are similar. The large

majority of respondents think it should be illegal to hunt non-native deer in a fenced

enclosure, and they oppose it, even if it would generate economic activity for rural Georgia.

• Those who support fenced hunting of non-native deer gave varying answers regarding the

amount of acreage that such a fenced enclosure should have, with many indicating fairly

large acreages.


15

68

17

12

67

21

22

51

27

0 20 40 60 80 100

Legal

Not legal

Don't know

Percent


Q148. Do you think it should be legal or not legal to hunt white-tailed deer or other large animals inside an

area fenced so that it restricts animal movements?


Q149. Would you support or oppose hunting of white-tailed deer inside enclosed fenced areas if allowing it generated economic activity for rural

Georgia?

11

45

15

2

18

9

8

45

10

4

19

14

14

35

4

18

19

9

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent



Q150. Do you think it should be legal or not legal to hunt non-native, exotic deer (not white-tailed deer)

inside enclosed fenced areas?

16

71

13

15

58

27

24

52

24

0 20 40 60 80 100

Legal

Not legal

Don't know

Percent



11

53

13

2

11

9

11

43

10

3

17

16

17

37

4

15

17

9

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent


Q151. Would you support or oppose hunting of non-native, exotic deer (not white-tailed deer) inside enclosed fenced areas if allowing it generated

economic activity for rural Georgia?


Q152. If it was legal, what do you think should be the minimum acreage to hunt non-native, exotic

deer (not white-tailed deer) inside enclosed fence areas?

52

17

2

0

0

1

0

13

10

2

1

1

31

11

2

2

0

8

1

0

0

1

21

22

32

15

5

4

1

7

0

0

7

16

13

0

0 20 40 60 80 100

Over 1000 acres

901-1000 acres

801-900 acres

701-800 acres

601-700 acres

501-600 acres

401-500 acres

301-400 acres

201-300 acres

101-200 acres

1-100 acres

Don't know how many acres

Percent



OPINIONS ON BAITING DEER � There are greater percentages in each group who think that hunting white-tailed deer by

attracting them using bait should be illegal than think it should be legal, when there are no

conditions attached to the question, although the difference is not great among hunters and

landowners.

• Majorities of the general population (59%) and landowners (54%), and just less than a

majority of hunters (49%), think it should be illegal to hunt deer using bait

unconditionally.

• Those who support do so most commonly because it will increase the hunters’ chance of

harvest, that it allows for better deer population control, and that it helps with quality deer

management. Tradition was also cited by many.

• Those who oppose do so most commonly because it is not perceived as fair to the deer

and that it is unethical to trick the deer.

• When the condition is place on the question about support or opposition for hunting deer

directly over bait if it were part of a year-round feeding program, opposition (52%) still

exceeds support (31%) among the general population, but not among hunters, who had

more support (56%) than opposition (37%), and among landowners, who were evenly

split between support (45%) and opposition (45%).


12

59

29

6

49

45

8

54

38

0 20 40 60 80 100

Legal

Not legal

Don't know

Percent


Q153. Do you think it should be legal or not legal to hunt white-tailed deer by attracting them using bait like

corn as an attractant (not a planted food plot)?


Q155. What is your main reason for supporting hunting deer over bait? (Asked of those who think

it should be legal to hunt white-tailed deer by attracting them using bait like corn as an

attractant.)

22

9

14

11

21

22

7

25

11

4

15

8

18

29

35

0

5

10

6

11

16

46

16

0 20 40 60 80 100

Increase hunter'schance of harvest

Allows hunters tobetter control deer

populations

Helps with qualitydeer management

(can take olddoes)

Tradition/we havealways done it

Feeding isbeneficial to deer

herd's health

Don't know

Doesn't matterhow they are

hunted

No reason notto/not bad/similarto other methods

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=81)


Q158. What is the main reason for opposing hunting deer over bait? (Asked of those who think

it should be illegal to hunt white-tailed deer by attracting them using bait like corn as an

attractant.)

3

2

10

4

37

64

00

2

5

1

9

36

68

0

1

3

10

37

74

3

0 20 40 60 80 100

Not fair chancefor deer

Unethical to trickdeer

Other

Opposed to allhunting

Hunters will killtoo many deer

over bait

Not good to feeddeer

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=115)


Q160. Would you support or oppose allowing hunting deer directly over bait if it was part of a

year-round feeding program?

15

42

10

2

17

14

4

28

9

2

21

35

8

29

3

23

22

16

0 20 40 60 80 100

Stronglysupport

Moderatelysupport

Neithersupport or

oppose

Moderatelyoppose

Stronglyoppose

Don't know

Percent



PARTICIPATION IN DEER HUNTING IN GEORGIA � Participation in any type of hunting in the past 2 years obviously varied widely among

groups: 22% of the general population, 89% of hunters, and 44% of landowners had hunted

in the past 2 years in Georgia. Most of those who had hunted had hunted deer. The next

question asked specifically about deer hunting: 20% of the general population, 84% of

hunters, and 38% of landowners had hunted deer. Additionally, substantial percentages of

each group said that other members of their household had hunted deer in Georgia in the past

2 years: 36% of the general population, 59% of hunters, and 49% of landowners said another

member of their household had hunted deer.

• Hunters were also asked whether they hunted deer primarily on private or public land,

with the overwhelming majority (79%) of deer hunters saying they hunted primarily on

private land.

• Deer hunters were asked on which public lands they had hunted; the most common types

of public land on which they had hunted were Wildlife Management Areas and National

Forest lands.

� Hunting deer with dogs is not common: 18% of deer hunters have hunted with dogs in the

past, and 6% have hunted deer with dogs in the past year.

� Roughly two-thirds of hunters who had hunted deer in the past season in Georgia had

harvested a deer.

� Hunters were asked about the number of days they had hunted deer in the past season in

Georgia: the responses followed a bell curve, with the most common answer falling from 20

to 29 days.

� The most common motivation of deer hunters for hunting deer is for the sport or recreation

(28%), followed closely by those who hunt deer for the meat (26%).

� Work obligations and lack of access are the most common factors that have reduced the

quality of deer hunting experiences.


Q58. Did you hunt in Georgia in the past 2 years?

0

78

22

0

11

89

0

56

44

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent



Q59. Did you hunt deer in Georgia in the past 2 years? (Asked of those who hunted in Georgia in

the past 2 years.)

0

9

91

0

5

95

0

13

87

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent



Q59. Did you hunt deer in Georgia in the past 2 years?

0

80

20

0

16

84

0

62

38

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent



Q60. Have any other members of your household hunted deer in Georgia in the past 2 years?

0

63

36

0

41

59

0

51

49

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent



Q61. In the past 2 years, did you hunt deer primarily on private land or public land in Georgia? (Asked of


16

5

79

0 20 40 60 80 100

Private land

Public land

Both aboutequally

Percent

Hunter (n=352)


Q63. On which public lands did you hunt deer in Georgia over the past 2 years? (Asked of hunters

who hunted deer in the past 2 years.)

2

3

4

6

28

59

1

0

0

0 20 40 60 80 100

None; Didn't hunt on public land inthe past 2 years

Wildlife Management Area

National Forest Service Lands

Other

National Wildlife Refuge

State parks

Army Corps of Engineers lands

National Seashore

State public fishing areas

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent

Hunter (n=352)


Q73. Have you hunted deer with dogs in Georgia? If yes: Was it in the past 12 months? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in the past 2 years.)

82

12

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes: in the past12 months

Yes: but not inthe past 12

months

No

Percent

Hunter (n=352)


Q66. Did you harvest any deer this past season in Georgia? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in

Georgia in the past season.)

34

66

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Percent

Hunter (n=334)


Q65. How many days did you hunt deer this past season in Georgia? (Asked of hunters who hunted

deer in the past 2 years.)

3

3

15

19

3

4

0

1

2

1

11

18

21

0 20 40 60 80 100

100 days ormore

90-99 days

80-89 days

70-79 days

60-69 days

50-59 days

40-49 days

30-39 days

20-29 days

10-19 days

1-9 days

0 days

Don't know

Percent

Hunter (n=350)


Q68. What was your most important reason for hunting deer in Georgia in the past 2 years? (Asked

of hunters who hunted deer in the past 2 years.)

10

9

28

11

7

26

2

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

For the meat

Opportunity toharvest a buck

To be with familyand friends

For the sport andrecreation

To be close tonature

For relaxation

Don't know

Other

Percent

Hunter (n=351)


Q71. Is there anything that has reduced the quality of your deer hunting experiences in Georgia or

prevented you from going deer hunting in the past 2 years? (Asked of hunters who hunted deer in the

past 2 years.)

1

1

1

3

3

7

8

15

59

3

2

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Nothing takes away

Other

No time - workobligations

Not enough places

No time (in general)

Age/health

No time - familyobligations

Too crowded/too manyhunters in the field

Too expensive/cost ofequipment/cost oflicenses/permits

Complexregulations/frequent

changes in regulations

Not enough game

Season does not fitschedule/bag

limits/season length

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent

Hunter (n=352)


LAND OWNERSHIP AND USES OF LAND LAND OWNERSHIP AND TRACT SIZES � All respondents were asked if they own land in Georgia: 71% of the general population own

land, and a slightly higher percentage of hunters (81%) own land.

Q86. Do you own land in Georgia?

1

28

71

0

19

81

0

1

99

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent



USES OF LAND � A majority of landowners who own a tract at least 20 acres use the tract for farming (53%);

substantial percentages of landowners of tracts of at least 20 acres use the tract for forestry

(34%) or ranching (17%).

Q90. What is the primary use of this tract of land? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres.)

1

5

5

8

17

34

53

3

3

3

0 20 40 60 80 100

Farming

Forestry

Ranching

Hunting

Residential

Generalrecreation

Not beingused

Investment

Other

Fishing

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent

Landowner (n=200)


MANAGING DEER ON THE LAND � Agreement exceeded disagreement that landowners properly manage deer on their land in

Georgia, although substantial percentages disagreed. (This question is also discussed, and

the graph shown, in the section of the report titled, “Opinions on Deer Management in

Georgia.”)




� Respondents more often think the GDNR should provide more deer management assistance

to private landowners than think the GDNR should provide less assistance. (This question is

also discussed, and the graph shown, in the section of the report titled, “Opinions on Deer

Management in Georgia.”)

• The types of assistance desired of those who think the GDNR should provide more

assistance to private landowners managing deer include technical assistance, education,

and the development of deer habitat. A substantial percentage of landowners also said

they desired law enforcement assistance.


Q164. In what ways would you like the Georgia DNR to provide more assistance to private

landowners managing deer? (Asked of those who think the Georgia DNR should provide more

assistance to private landowners to manage deer.)

4

9

11

19

18

37

105

7

20

17

15

27

23

5

13

10

26

30

21

17

0 20 40 60 80 100

Don't know

Technicalassistance

Other

Education

Developinghabitat for deer

Lawenforcement

efforts

Deerdepredation

permits

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=87)


HUNTING ON THE LAND AND PERMISSION TO HUNT ON THE LAND � An overwhelming percentage (80%) of landowners who own a tract of at least 20 acres

personally deer hunt and/or allow others to deer hunt on their tract.

• Of those owners of tracts of at least 20 acres who answered that they do not allow deer

hunting, nearly a quarter (24%) previously had allowed deer hunting. These people who

had allowed deer hunting but now do not cited poor behavior of hunters, trespassing,

crowding, and legal liability as reasons that they stopped allowing deer hunting on the

tract.

• Those owners of tracts of at least 20 acres who allow deer hunting on their tract most

commonly allow immediate family to hunt deer, followed closely by friends and

acquaintances.

• A large majority (74%) of owners of tracts of at least 20 acres do not charge a fee for

others to hunt deer on their tract; 14% charge a fee.

• A majority (53%) of owners of tracts of at least 20 acres said legal liability is a major

concern when considering whether to allow hunting access, and an additional 25% said it

is a minor concern (78% in total said legal liability is a concern).

� Owners of tracts of at least 20 acres of land were asked about whether they agreed with three

statements about allowing access to their land. Similar majorities disagreed with each

statement (from 55% to 61%).

• 61% disagreed that they would allow more hunting but are worried about excessive

government intrusion.

• 57% disagreed that they would be very likely to allow more deer hunting if they did not

have to worry about legal liability issues.

• 55% disagreed that they would be very likely to allow more deer hunting if they received

a financial benefit for doing so.


Q92. Do you currently deer hunt or allow others to deer hunt on this tract of land? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who

own a tract of at least 20 acres.)

21

80

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Percent

Landowner (n=200)


76

24

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Percent

Landowner (n=41)

Q93. Did you ever allow deer hunting on this tract of land? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100

acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres but who do not deer hunt nor allow others to deer hunt

on this tract.)


10

10

20

20

20

30

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Poor behavior ofhunters

Trespassing

Too many peopleon land

Legal liability

Damage toproperty (other

than agricultural orlivestock)

Damage tolivestock

Other

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent

Landowner (n=10)

Q95. Why have you stopped allowing deer hunting on this tract of land? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100

acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres, who do not allow deer hunting on this tract, but who previously

had allowed deer hunting.)


Q98. Who, including yourself, do you currently allow to hunt deer on this tract of land? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres and who

allow deer hunting on the tract.)

4

14

33

43

51

56

0 20 40 60 80 100

Immediatefamily (spouse,

children)

Friends andacquaintances

Myself

Other relatives

Others bypermission

Other

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent

Landowner (n=159)


Q120. During the past year, did you charge a fee for deer hunting on your land? (Asked of Georgia

landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres.)

1

12

74

14

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Didn't allowhunting on land

last year

Don't know

Percent

Landowner (n=200)


5

19

25

53

0 20 40 60 80 100

Major concern

Minor concern

Not a concern

Don't know

Percent

Landowner (n=200)

Q121. Would you say legal liability is a major concern, a minor concern, or not a concern when considering

allowing access to your land for deer hunting? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more

and who own a tract of at least 20 acres.)


Q122-124. Percent who strongly agree with the following statements.

15

22

25

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q124. If I couldreceive financialbenefits such as

tax breaks or cashpayments, I would

be very likely toallow more deer

huntingopportunities on my

land.

Q123. If I did nothave to worry aboutlegal liability issues,

I would be verylikely to allow more

deer huntingopportunities on my

land.

Q122. I would allowmore deer hunting

opportunities on myland, but I'm

worried aboutexcessive state or

federal governmentintrusion.

Percent

Landowner(n=200)


Q122-124. Percent who strongly or moderately agree with the following statements.

23

34

38

0 20 40 60 80 100





land.




land.





Percent

Landowner(n=200)


Q122-124. Percent who strongly disagree with the following statements.

33

41

44

0 20 40 60 80 100




land.





land.





Percent

Landowner(n=200)


Q122-124. Percent who moderately or strongly disagree with the following statements.

55

57

61

0 20 40 60 80 100








land.





land.

Percent

Landowner(n=200)


PROBLEMS WITH HUNTERS ON THE LAND � As discussed previously, people who had allowed deer hunting on their land but now do not

cited poor behavior of hunters, trespassing, crowding, and legal liability as reasons that they

stopped allowing deer hunting on the tract.

� Landowners were asked if they experienced problems with legal and illegal hunters, with and

without dogs, on their land. A substantial percentages (22%) had experienced problems with

illegal hunters hunting without dogs. Otherwise, problems with hunters were low—7% or

less.

• The most common problems with hunters were trespassing, violating game laws, and

damaging fences and/or leaving gates open. Lesser problems were unsafe behavior,

littering, damaging structures, and discourteous behavior.

• The problems caused by illegal hunters, with or without dogs, were considered major

problems by a majority of landowners who had experienced problems. The problems

caused by legal hunters, with or without dogs, were considered minor problems by a

majority of landowners who had experienced problems.

� Graphs are also shown with a breakdown of landowners into those from counties that allow

hunting with dogs and those that do not.


Q100, 105, 110, 115. Among all landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at

least 20 acres, percent who experienced problems with the following types of hunters on their land.

5

6

7

22

0 20 40 60 80 100

Q105. Hunters, whohunted deer without

dogs, illegally


dogs, legally

Q115. Hunters, whohunted deer with

dogs, illegally


dogs, legally

Percent


Q100, 105, 110, 115. Among all landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres, percent who did not experience

problems with the following types of hunters on their land.

28

29

35

51

0 20 40 60 80 100


dogs, legally


dogs, illegally


dogs, legally


dogs, illegally

Percent


Q100, 105, 110, 115. Among all landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at

least 20 acres, percent who had none of the following types of hunters on their land.

41

42

65

67

0 20 40 60 80 100


dogs, legally


dogs, illegally


dogs, legally


dogs, illegally

Percent


8

8

8

8

15

15

23

69

0

5

5

7

9

16

12

86

11

0

0

0

33

11

0

22

9

9

9

0

18

18

0

73

0 20 40 60 80 100

Trespassing

Violating gamelaws

Other

Damagingfences/leaving

gates open

Being unsafe

Littering

Damagingstructures

Being rude or notcourteous

Percent

Q102. Hunters who hunteddeer without dogs legally

Q107. Hunters who hunteddeer without dogs illegally

Q112. Hunters who hunteddeer with dogs legally

Q117. Hunters who hunteddeer with dogs illegally

Q102, 107, 112, 117. Percent who experienced the following types of problems with the given types of hunters. (Asked of

Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres who experienced problems

with the given hunters.) (Part 1.)


0

0

0

0

0

0

8

0

0

0

0

2

9

0

0

11

11

33

11

0

0

0

9

0

27

0

18

0

0 10 20 30 40

Threateningbehavior

Hunting from roads

Damaging/harassinglivestock

Noise from dogswas disturbing

Loss of privacy

Dogs damagingfields or yard

Too many people onland/crowding

Percent

Q102. Hunters who hunteddeer without dogs legally

Q107. Hunters who hunteddeer without dogs illegally

Q112. Hunters who hunteddeer with dogs legally

Q117. Hunters who hunteddeer with dogs illegally

Q102, 107, 112, 117. Percent who experienced the following types of problems with the given types of hunters. (Asked of

Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres who experienced problems

with the given hunters.) (Part 2.)


33

38

53

73

0 20 40 60 80 100


dogs, illegally


dogs, illegally


dogs, legally


dogs, legally

Percent

Q104, 109, 114, 119. Among all landowners who own 100 acres or more, who own a tract of at least 20 acres, and who

experienced problems with the given hunters, the percent who said that problems caused by the following types of

hunters were major problems.


27

47

56

62

0 20 40 60 80 100


dogs, legally


dogs, legally


dogs, illegally


dogs, illegally

Percent

Q104, 109, 114, 119. Among all landowners who own 100 acres or more, who own a tract of at least 20 acres, and who

experienced problems with the given hunters, the percent who said that problems caused by the following types of

hunters were minor problems.


Q100. Have you experienced any problems with the behavior of hunters, who hunted deer without dogs, legally, on this tract of land, in the past 2

years? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20

acres.)

3

43

45

9

0

41

54

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No: noproblems

with hunterswithout dogs

No: nohunters ofthis type

have beenon property

Don't know

Percent

Dog-hunting county (n=67)

Non dog-hunting county(n=133)


0

0

17

17

17

33

17

50

17

0

0

0

0

14

14

0

0

0

14

0

29

86

0 20 40 60 80 100

Trespassing

Violating game laws

Damaging fences/leaving gatesopen

Other

Damaging structures

Littering

Being unsafe

Being rude or not courteous

Threatening behavior

Hunting from roads

Loss of privacy

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent

Dog-hunting county(n=6)

Non dog-huntingcounty (n=7)

Q102. What types of problems did you experience with hunters who hunted deer without dogs, legally, on this

property over the past 2 years? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a

tract of at least 20 acres and who had problems with legal deer hunters who hunted deer without dogs on the land in

the past 2 years.)


33

67

86

14

0 20 40 60 80 100

Majorproblems

Minorproblems

Percent



Q104. Would you describe the problems you had with those who hunted deer without dogs, legally, on this

property in the past 2 years as major or minor? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who

own a tract of at least 20 acres and who had problems with legal deer hunters who hunted deer without dogs on the

land in the past 2 years.)


Q105. Have you experienced any problems with the behavior of hunters, who hunted deer without

dogs, illegally, on this tract of land, in the past 2 years? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100

acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres.)

1

46

31

21

3

38

37

22

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No: noproblems

with hunterswithout dogs



Don't know

Percent




7

7

7

21

21

79

7

7

03

3

3

7

10

10

7

14

90

0 20 40 60 80 100

Trespassing

Other

Violating game laws

Hunting from roads

Damagingfences/leaving gates

open

Being unsafe

Damagingstructures

Littering


Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent



Q107. What types of problems did you experience with hunters who hunted deer without dogs, illegally, on this


tract of at least 20 acres and who had problems with illegal deer hunters who hunted deer without dogs on the land in

the past 2 years.)


36

64

52

48

0 20 40 60 80 100

Majorproblems

Minorproblems

Percent



Q109. Would you describe the problems you had with thosewho hunted deer without dogs, illegally, on this property in

the past 2 years as major or minor? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a

tract of at least 20 acres and who had problems with illegal deer hunters who hunted deer without dogs on the land in

the past 2 years.)


Q110. Have you experienced any problems with the behavior of hunters, who hunted deer with dogs, legally, on this tract of land, in the past 2 years?

(Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres.)

1

64

22

12

0

68

32

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No: noproblems

with hunterswith dogs



Don't know

Percent




13

13

13

25

38

25

13

13

130

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

Noise from dogswas disturbing

Damagingfences/leaving gates

open

Trespassing


Loss of privacy


Being rude or notcourteous

Drinking alcohol

Other

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent



Q112. What types of problems did you experience with hunters who hunted deer with dogs, legally, on this property over the past 2 years? (Asked of Georgia

landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres and who had problems with legal

deer hunters who hunted deer with dogs on the land in the past 2 years.)


13

63

25

0

0

100

0 20 40 60 80 100

Majorproblems

Minorproblems

Don't know

Percent



Q114. Would you describe the problems you had with those who hunted deer with dogs, legally, on this


own a tract of at least 20 acres and who had problems with legal deer hunters who hunted deer with dogs on the



Q115. Have you experienced any problems with the behavior of hunters, who hunted deer with dogs, illegally, on this tract of land, in the past 2 years? (Asked of Georgia landowners who own 100 acres or more and who own a tract of at least 20 acres.)

1

64

22

12

2

65

31

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No: noproblems

with hunterswith dogs



Don't know

Percent




13

13

25

25

25

25

75

13

13

13

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

33

67

0 20 40 60 80 100

Trespassing

Noise fromdogs wasdisturbing

Hunting fromroads

Damagingfences/leaving

gates open

Other


Damagingstructures

Littering

Being rude ornot courteous

Drinking alcohol

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent



Q117. What types of problems did you experience with hunters who hunted deer with dogs, illegally, on this


tract of at least 20 acres and who had problems with illegal deer hunters who hunted deer with dogs on the



25

75

33

67

0 20 40 60 80 100

Majorproblems

Minorproblems

Percent



Q119. Would you describe the problems you had with those who hunted deer with dogs, illegally, on this


own a tract of at least 20 acres and who had problems with illegal deer hunters who hunted deer with dogs on the land

in the past 2 years.)


PROVISION OF INFORMATION ABOUT DEER IN GEORGIA � Direct mail (between 30% and 31% for all groups) was the most commonly given answer

regarding the best way to provide the respondent with information about deer in Georgia.

This was followed by magazines, newspapers, and TV.

Q169. What is the best way to provide you with information about deer in Georgia? We are not sending out information at this time; we are just

measuring interest.

2

3

3

3

12

16

14

25

10

31

9

4

7

1

4

5

9

9

11

8

11

9

9

11

27

30

1

3

3

6

4

5

4

11

9

13

18

31

18

0 20 40 60 80 100

Direct mail

Magazines

Newspaper

Don't know

TV

Brochures or pamphlets

Other

Georgia Hunting Seasons andRegulations

Email

Georgia DNR Website

Website other than GA DNRWebsite

Georgia DNR offices

Radio

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=212)


PARTICIPATION IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES � Participation in outdoor activities varied greatly from group to group. Hunters were the most

active group—a larger percentage of hunters relative to the general population and

landowners had participated in each of the five activities discussed in the survey.

Landowners were more active than were the general population.

• The top activity among the general population was watching wildlife within 1 mile of

home (64%), and 39% had taken a trip of at least a mile to view wildlife. Just under half

of the general population had fished (47%).

• The top activity among hunters was fishing (84%), followed closely by big game hunting

(83%). A majority of hunters had viewed wildlife within 1 mile of home (78%) or taken

a trip of at least 1 mile to view wildlife (64%).

• The top activity among landowners was wildlife viewing within 1 mile of home (75%),

and a majority had fished (58%). Landowners’ rates of big game and small game hunting

was approximately double that of the general population.


Q9. I'm going to read a list of outdoor activities, and I would like to know if you've participated in

each in the past 2 years:

20

15

20

39

47

64

2

67

83

64

84

78

9

37

48

58

75

39

0 20 40 60 80 100

Wildlife viewingwithin 1 mile of

home

Freshwater orsaltwater fishing

Taking a trip atleast 1 mile fromhome to observe

wildlife

Big gamehunting

Small gamehunting

None of these

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent


Landowner (n=212)




20

15

20

39

47

64

0 20 40 60 80 100


home



wildlife

Big gamehunting

Small gamehunting

None of these

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent





2

64

67

78

83

84

0 20 40 60 80 100


Big gamehunting


home

Small gamehunting


wildlife

None of these

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent

Hunter (n=418)




9

37

39

48

58

75

0 20 40 60 80 100


home



wildlife

Big gamehunting

Small gamehunting

None of these

Mul

tiple

Res

pons

es A

llow

ed

Percent

Landowner (n=212)


DEMOGRAPHIC DATA � The demographic data are shown in the graphs that follow.

• The most urban/suburban of the groups was hunters; the most rural was the landowners

group.

• The landowner group was more highly educated than the other groups.

• Landowners were skewed to the higher age groups. The general population was the most

evenly distributed among the age groups. Hunters were predominantly among the three

middle age categories (35-44 years old, 45-54 years old, and 55-64 years old).

• While the general population was fairly evenly split between male and female, hunters

and landowners were predominantly male.


Q172. Do you consider your place of residence to be in a large city or urban area, a suburban area, a

small city or town, or a rural area?

2

47

36

11

3

1

47

30

16

6

2

13

9

3

73

0 20 40 60 80 100

Large city orurban area

Suburbanarea

Small city ortown

Rural area

Refused

Percent



Q173. What is the highest grade level you have completed?

0

9

21

22

33

14

11

0

7

18

22

37

14

2

0

14

21

24

9

29

0 20 40 60 80 100

Grades 1 through 12, but nohigh school diploma

High school graduate orequivalent

Some college, trade, orbusiness school

College graduate

Graduate or professionaldegree

Don't know

Refused

Percent



Q174. May I ask your age?

8

12

20

16

25

16

0

1

21

0

0

3

11

27

27

27

5

2

0

0

0

2

13

29

46

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

65 years oldor older

55-64 yearsold

45-54 yearsold

35-44 yearsold

25-34 yearsold

18-24 yearsold

Under 18years old

Don't know

Refused

Percent



Q177. Respondent's gender (not asked, but observed by interviewer).

57

43

3

97

13

87

0 20 40 60 80 100

Male

Female

Percent



ADDITIONAL COMMENTS Build me a pen and put me some deer in it. I live in the boonies (Colquitt County). We don't have deer around here. I watch animal programs on TV. I would really like to see more depredation permits given to landowners that need to control deer on their land. (Q166: Use of archery.) Echols County deer season should be open from September 11 to January 16 for either sex. Doe season is now so late that there is a 75 percent chance a doe will be pregnant. Keep tag system as it is. I am against fenced hunting. I am upset by the decision of then governor Zell Miller to use funds that had been set aside for GA to purchase additional land for hunters to help cover the cost of building the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Address harassment within the DNR, especially officers’ interaction with young, first-time hunters. Archery season should be longer. I believe that dog hunting should be allowed; I know there are a few bad apples, but I disagree with punishing those who do right. Better staffing at the GA DNR would alleviate many problems and allow more hunters to hunt legally with the resources of the GA DNR.


APPENDIX A: SURVEY INSTRUMENT 2004 GADNR Deer Management Survey

1. PRESS RETURN WHEN INTERVIEW BEGINSSTART

TIMER STARTS AFTER THIS SCREEN

2. DOS SURVEY NAMESNAME 1:1

(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. GADEER

3. Hello, my name is __________, may I speak with __________?I'm calling on behalf of the Georgia Department of NaturalResources to conduct a study with state residents, hunters,and landowners on deer management in Georgia. We are notselling anything or asking for donations and your answersare very important in developing effective managementstrategies for the State's deer population. Do you havea few minutes to answer some questions?

CONPER 1:2(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Correct person, good time to do survey|__| 2. Bad time/Schedule recall|__| 3. Answering machine/No answer/Busy signal|__| 4. Refusal|__| 5. Not eligible|__| 6. Disconnected|__| 7. Business/Government Office|__| 8. Deaf/Language barrier|__| 9. Bad Number (missing digit, begins with zero, etc.)

4. ENTER SAMPLE TYPE FROM CALL SHEET.SAMPLE 1:3


|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 4)|__| 2. General Population|__| 3. Hunter|__| 4. Landowner


2004 GADNR Deer Management Survey Page 2

5. Time when interview beganTIME1 1:4-8

|__|__|__|__|__|

6. DETERMINATION OF SURVEY SKIP PATHPATH 1:9


|__| 1. SKIP PATH

IF (#3 = 1) GO TO #9IF (#3 = 2) GO TO #7

SKIP TO QUESTION 184===========================================================

7. When would be a more convenient time to call you back?Thank you for your time.

WHENCALLENTER DAY AND TIME ON CALLSHEET (CB)

SKIP TO QUESTION 184===========================================================

8. YOU DID NOT USE SPACE BARNOSPAC01

PRESS ENTER TO TRY AGAIN

9. First, I'm going to read a list of outdoor activities andI would like to know if you've participated in each in thepast 2 years: (READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

ACTIV 1:10-19(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Wildlife viewing around your home, that is, for the primary|__| 2. purpose of closely observing, photographing, feeding, or (GO TO QUESTION

9)|__| 3. trying to identify wildlife within 1 mile of your home (GO TO QUESTION 9)|__| 4. Taking a trip at least 1 mile from your home for the primary|__| 5. purpose of observing, photographing feeding or trying to (GO TO QUESTION

9)|__| 6. identify wildlife (GO TO QUESTION 9)|__| 7. Freshwater or saltwater fishing|__| 8. Big game hunting|__| 9. Small game hunting|__| 10. DNR: None of these

IF (#9 = 0) GO TO #8



10. Generally, which of the following statements best describesyour feelings about deer in your county? (READ LIST)

DEERFEEL 1:20(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 10)|__| 2. I enjoy seeing and having deer around,|__| 3. I enjoy seeing a few deer, but worry about problems they cause,|__| 4. I generally regard deer as a nuisance, or|__| 5. I have no particular feeling about deer|__| 6. Don't know

11. People associate different values with deer. I would liketo know if each of these is important or unimportant to you.

First, is it important or unimportant to you to know that deerexist in Georgia? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

DEEREXST 1:21(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 11)|__| 2. Very important|__| 3. Somewhat important|__| 4. Neither important nor unimportant|__| 5. Somewhat unimportant|__| 6. Very unimportant|__| 7. Don't know

12. Is it important or unimportant to you to know that you have deeraround your home? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

DEERHOME 1:22(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




13. Do you agree or disagree that deer are properly managedin Georgia? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

PROPMGMT 1:23(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 13)|__| 2. Strongly agree|__| 3. Moderately agree|__| 4. Neither agree nor disagree|__| 5. Moderately disagree|__| 6. Strongly disagree|__| 7. Don't know

14. Do you agree or disagree that landowners properly managedeer on their land in Georgia?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

LANDMGMT 1:24(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


15. Is it important or unimportant to you to know that deerpopulations are being properly managed in Georgia?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

DEERMGMT 1:25(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




16. Is it important or unimportant to you to know thatpeople have the opportunity to hunt deer in Georgia?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

DEERHUNT 1:26(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


17. Is it important or unimportant to you to know that peoplehave the opportunity to watch or photograph deer in Georgia?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

DEERVIEW 1:27(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




18. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife ResourcesDivision has a number of missions. It regulates hunting,fishing, and the operation of boats and watercraft in Georgia,protects non-game and endangered wildlife, and maintains publiceducation and law enforcement programs to ensure that Georgia'snatural resources will be conserved for our present and futuregenerations.

In general, how would you rate the performance of the GeorgiaDepartment of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division?Would you say they do an excellent, good, fair, or poor job?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

RATEDNR 1:28(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 18)|__| 2. Excellent|__| 3. Good|__| 4. Fair|__| 5. Poor|__| 6. Don't know

19. Would you say you know a great deal, a moderate amount, alittle, or nothing about the Georgia DNR's DEER MANAGEMENTPROGRAM? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

KNOWDNR 1:29(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 19)|__| 2. A great deal|__| 3. A moderate amount|__| 4. A little|__| 5. Nothing|__| 6. Don't know

20. Would you rate the Georgia DNR's DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM asexcellent, good, fair, or poor? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

RATECNTY 1:30(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




21. Traditionally, the State has managed deer populations throughhunting. As urban sprawl closes hunter access to deer habitat,do you think that the responsibility to manage deer-humanconflicts should change in these areas?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

SPRAWL 1:31(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 21)|__| 2. Yes|__| 3. No (GO TO QUESTION 25)|__| 4. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 23===========================================================



23. Who should have primary responsibility for managementof deer-human conflicts in developing areas?(READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

WHOMNG 1:32-38(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Real estate developers|__| 2. Community groups like landowner associations|__| 3. New landowners|__| 4. County animal control|__| 5. State government|__| 6. Don't know|__| 7. Other

IF (#23 = 0) GO TO #22IF (#23 @ 7) GO TO #24

SKIP TO QUESTION 25===========================================================

24. ENTER OTHER GROUP OR AGENCY THAT SHOULD HAVE RESPONSIBILITYFOR DEER-HUMAN CONFLICTS IN DEVELOPING AREAS.

WHOMNGST 2:1-240___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________



25. What is your opinion of the health of the deer herdin Georgia? Would you say it is healthy or unhealthy?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

HERDHLTH 2:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 25)|__| 2. Very healthy|__| 3. Somewhat healthy|__| 4. Neither healthy nor unhealthy|__| 5. Somewhat unhealthy|__| 6. Very unhealthy|__| 7. Don't know

26. In the county where you live, do you think there are moredeer now compared to 5 years ago, the same number of deer,or do you think there are fewer deer than 5 years ago?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

DEERPOP 2:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 26)|__| 2. More deer|__| 3. The same number of deer|__| 4. Fewer deer|__| 5. Don't know

27. Do you think the deer population in the county where youlive is overabundant, about right, or underabundant?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

POPLEV 2:243(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 27)|__| 2. Overabundant|__| 3. About right|__| 4. Under-abundant|__| 5. Don't know



28. In your opinion should the deer population in the county whereyou live be increased, remain the same, or be decreased?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

DEERLEV 2:244(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 28)|__| 2. Increased (GO TO QUESTION 30)|__| 3. Remain the same (GO TO QUESTION 38)|__| 4. Decreased (GO TO QUESTION 41)|__| 5. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 47===========================================================



30. Why do you think the deer population in the county whereyou live should be increased?(DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

WHYINC 2:245-250(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. The deer population is too low|__| 2. I never see any deer|__| 3. I like to watch deer|__| 4. Better hunting opportunities|__| 5. Don't know|__| 6. Other

IF (#30 = 0) GO TO #29IF (#30 @ 6) GO TO #31

SKIP TO QUESTION 32===========================================================

31. ENTER OTHER REASON DEER POPULATION SHOULD BE INCREASED.WHYINCST 3:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________



32. Would you support or oppose an increase in the deer populationin the county where you live if it meant more automobileaccidents with deer?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

MOREACC 3:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 32)|__| 2. Strongly support|__| 3. Moderately support|__| 4. Neither support or oppose|__| 5. Moderately oppose|__| 6. Strongly oppose|__| 7. Don't know

33. Would you support or oppose an increase in the deer populationin the county where you live even if it meant more damage togardens and landscaping?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

MOREDAMG 3:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


34. Would you support or oppose an increase in the deer populationin the county where you live if it meant more crop damagefor farmers?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

DEERCRPS 3:243(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




35. Would you support or oppose an increase in the deer populationin the county where you live if it meant poorer health overallfor the deer herd? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

POORHLTH 3:244(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


36. Would you support or oppose an increase in the deerpopulation in the county where you live even if itmeant less food or poorer quality habitat for otherwildlife? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

LESSFOOD 3:245(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


SKIP TO QUESTION 47===========================================================





38. Why do you think the deer population in the county whereyou live should stay the same?(DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

WHYSAM 3:246-250(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Hunting is good|__| 2. Don't see too many deer|__| 3. Haven't had any problems with deer|__| 4. Don't know|__| 5. Other

IF (#38 = 0) GO TO #37IF (#38 @ 5) GO TO #39

SKIP TO QUESTION 47===========================================================

39. ENTER OTHER REASON FOR KEEPING DEER POPULATION THE SAME.WHYSAMST 4:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

SKIP TO QUESTION 47===========================================================





41. Why do you think the deer population in the county whereyou live should be decreased?(DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

WHYDEC 4:241-249(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Auto accidents|__| 2. Damage to crops|__| 3. Damage to flower beds or gardens|__| 4. Deer are malnourished in the winter|__| 5. Too many DOES (sex ratio out of balance)|__| 6. Destruction of plant species from over-browsing|__| 7. Would allow for increased hunting bag limits|__| 8. Don't know|__| 9. Other

IF (#41 = 0) GO TO #40IF (#41 @ 9) GO TO #42

SKIP TO QUESTION 43===========================================================

42. ENTER OTHER REASON FOR DECREASING DEER POPULATION.WHYDECST 5:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

43. Would you support or oppose a decrease in the deer populationin the county where you live even if it meant fewer huntersspending money while hunting deer?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

HUNTSPND 5:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




44. Would you support or oppose a decrease in the deer populationin the county where you live even if it meant fewer wildlifewatchers and photographers spending money while watching orphotographing deer? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

LESSWTCH 5:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


45. Would you support or oppose a decrease in the deer populationin the county where you live even if it meant fewer hunterswould be able to harvest a deer?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

LESSHVST 5:243(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


46. Would you support or oppose a decrease in the deer populationin the county where you live even if it meant fewer peoplewould be able to see a deer?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

LESSVIEW 5:244(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




47. Have you experienced any damage caused by deer overthe past 12 months?

DEERDAMG 5:245(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 47)|__| 2. Yes (GO TO QUESTION 49)|__| 3. No|__| 4. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 51===========================================================



49. What type of damage have you had which was caused by deer?(DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

DAMAGE 6:1-13(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Garbage|__| 2. Yard|__| 3. Agricultural damage (crops)|__| 4. Agricultural damage (orchard)|__| 5. Garden (personal)|__| 6. Pets|__| 7. Livestock|__| 8. Structural damage (such as fencing)|__| 9. Threat or injury to human|__| 10. Annoyance to humans|__| 11. Car collisions|__| 12. Don't know|__| 13. Other

IF (#49 = 0) GO TO #48IF (#49 @ 13) GO TO #50

SKIP TO QUESTION 51===========================================================

50. ENTER OTHER TYPE OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY DEER.DAMAGEST 7:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________



51. In general, how well does the Georgia DNR respond to homeownerand landowner requests for assistance to reduce damage causedby wildlife, such as damage to and loss of crops and animals?Would you say excellent, good, fair, or poor?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

HANDLE 7:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


52. In the past 2 years, have you or any other member of yourhousehold had a vehicle collision with a deer on Georgia'sroads or highways?

ACCIDENT 7:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


SKIP TO QUESTION 54===========================================================

53. How many vehicle collisions with deer have you or othermembers of your household had on Georgia's roads orhighways in the past 2 years?

NUMACC 7:243-245|__|__|__|

LOWEST VALUE = 1



54. In relation to other driving hazards, would you say deerare not a hazard, a minor hazard, or a major road hazard?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

HAZARD 7:246(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 54)|__| 2. Not a road hazard|__| 3. Minor road hazard|__| 4. Major road hazard|__| 5. Don't know

55. What do you consider to be the top driving hazard in Georgia?(DO NOT READ LIST)

TOPHZRD 7:247-248(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 55)|__| 2. Careless drivers|__| 3. Drunk drivers|__| 4. Drivers talking on cell phones|__| 5. Ice|__| 6. Snow|__| 7. Rain|__| 8. Deer|__| 9. Don't know|__| 10. Other (GO TO QUESTION 56)

SKIP TO QUESTION 57===========================================================

56. ENTER OTHER DRIVING HAZARD.OTHHZRD 8:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________



57. In general, do you support or oppose legal deer huntingin Georgia? (READ LIST AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

HUNTOP 8:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 57)|__| 2. Strongly support|__| 3. Moderately support|__| 4. Neither support nor oppose|__| 5. Moderately oppose|__| 6. Strongly oppose|__| 7. Don't know

58. Did you hunt in Georgia in the past 2 years?HUNTGA 8:242



SKIP TO QUESTION 60===========================================================

59. Did you hunt deer in Georgia in the past 2 years?HUNTER 8:243


|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 59)|__| 2. Yes|__| 3. No|__| 4. Don't know



60. Have any other members of your household hunteddeer in Georgia in the past 2 years?

FAMHUNT 8:244(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


IF (#4 = 3 AND #59 = 2) GO TO #61

SKIP TO QUESTION 86===========================================================

61. In the past 2 years, did you hunt deer primarily onprivate land or public land in Georgia?

HUNTLAND 8:245(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 61)|__| 2. Private land|__| 3. Public land|__| 4. Both about equally|__| 5. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 63===========================================================





63. On which public lands did you hunt deer in Georgia overthe past 2 years? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

PUBLND 9:1-10(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. None; Didn't hunt on public land in the past 2 years|__| 2. National Wildlife Refuge|__| 3. Wildlife Management Area|__| 4. National Forest Service Lands|__| 5. National Seashore|__| 6. State parks|__| 7. State public fishing areas|__| 8. Army Corps of Engineers lands|__| 9. Military lands|__| 10. Other

IF (#63 = 0) GO TO #62IF (#63 @ 10) GO TO #64

SKIP TO QUESTION 65===========================================================

64. ENTER OTHER PUBLIC HUNTING LAND.PUBLNDST 9:11-250

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

65. How many days did you hunt deer this past season in Georgia?DAYSHUNT 10:1-3

|__|__|__| days

IF (#65 > 0) GO TO #66

SKIP TO QUESTION 68===========================================================

66. Did you harvest any deer this past season in Georgia?HARVEST 10:4





67. In what counties did you hunt deer in Georgia this past season?(ENTER 3-DIGIT COUNTY CODE; ALLOW UP TO 5 RESPONSES)

|__|__|__| ; |__|__|__| ; |__|__|__| ; |__|__|__| ; |__|__|__|

68. What was your most important reason for hunting deerin Georgia in the past 2 years? (READ LIST)

HUNTRSN 10:20(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 68)|__| 2. For the meat|__| 3. Opportunity to harvest a buck|__| 4. To be with family and friends|__| 5. For the sport and recreation|__| 6. To be close to nature|__| 7. For relaxation|__| 8. Don't know|__| 9. Other (GO TO QUESTION 69)

SKIP TO QUESTION 71===========================================================

69. ENTER OTHER REASON FOR HUNTING DEER.OTHRSN 11:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

SKIP TO QUESTION 71===========================================================





71. Is there anything that has reduced the quality of your deerhunting experiences in Georgia or prevented you from going deerhunting in the past 2 years? (DNR LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

TAKAWY 12:1-17(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Nothing takes away|__| 2. No time - work obligations|__| 3. No time - family obligations|__| 4. No time (in general)|__| 5. Lack skills/lack knowledge|__| 6. Too expensive/cost of equipment/cost of licenses/permits|__| 7. Too crowded/too many hunters in the field|__| 8. Not enough places|__| 9. Season does not fit schedule/bag limits/season length|__| 10. Not enough game|__| 11. Poor behavior of other hunters|__| 12. Complex regulations/frequent changes in regulations|__| 13. Not enough large antlered bucks|__| 14. No one to go with|__| 15. Age/health|__| 16. Don't know|__| 17. Other

IF (#71 = 0) GO TO #70IF (#71 @ 17) GO TO #72

SKIP TO QUESTION 73===========================================================

72. ENTER OTHER ITEM THAT HAS REDUCED THE QUALITY OF DEERHUNTING EXPERIENCES OR PREVENTED DEER HUNTING.

TAKAWYST 13:1-240___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

73. Have you hunted deer with dogs in Georgia? If yes:Was it in the past 12 months?

DOGHUNT 13:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 73)|__| 2. Yes: in the past 12 months|__| 3. Yes: but not in the past 12 months|__| 4. No|__| 5. Don't know



74. Do you support or oppose an increase in deer huntinglicense fees if you knew that the money would be usedfor deer management activities?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

DEERFEES 13:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


75. Do you support or oppose an increase in deer huntinglicense fees if you knew that the money would NOT beused for deer management activities?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

NOTUSED 13:243(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


76. Do you support or oppose a longer deer hunting season inGeorgia? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

LONGSEAS 13:244(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




77. Do you support or oppose extending the deer season in thenorthern zone of Georgia to match the southern zone?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

ZONESEAS 13:245(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


78. Do you support or oppose allowing Georgia huntersto hunt DOES anytime during the deer season?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

HUNTDOES 13:246(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


SKIP TO QUESTION 80===========================================================





80. Some hunters have asked the Georgia DNR to manage the deerherd for quality deer, but not everyone agrees on what thismeans. What does the term quality deer management mean toyou? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

QUAL 14:1-6(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Increased size of deer/bigger bucks|__| 2. Increased number of deer|__| 3. Increase in overall health of herd|__| 4. Decreased number of deer|__| 5. Don't know|__| 6. Other

IF (#80 = 0) GO TO #79IF (#80 @ 6) GO TO #81

SKIP TO QUESTION 82===========================================================

81. ENTER OTHER MEANING FOR QUALITY DEER.QUALST 14:7-246

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

82. Management of deer populations to produce older or mature bucks,often called quality deer management, requires that young, smallantlered bucks be protected and that more DOES be killed. Areyou willing to give up the chance to shoot small-antlered bucks,for instance a buck with less than 8 points, and shoot more DOESin exchange for an increased chance to shoot large-antleredbucks in later years?

QDM 14:247(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 82)|__| 2. Willing to give up opportunity to shoot small-antlered bucks|__| 3. Not willing to give up opportunity to shoot small-antlered bucks|__| 4. Don't know/don't care



83. Do you support or oppose the general idea of having hunterskill DOES before they can qualify to shoot an antlered buck?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

TAKEDOES 14:248(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


84. In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfiedwith the current deer season structure?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

CRNTSEAS 14:249(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 84)|__| 2. Very satisfied|__| 3. Somewhat satisfied|__| 4. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied|__| 5. Somewhat dissatisfied|__| 6. Very dissatisfied|__| 7. Don't know

85. In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with how wellthe Georgia DNR incorporate hunters' wants and needs intothe management of the state's deer population?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

HNTRWNTS 14:250(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 85)|__| 2. Very satisfied|__| 3. Somewhat satisfied|__| 4. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied|__| 5. Somewhat dissatisfied|__| 6. Very dissatisfied|__| 7. Don't know



86. Do you own land in Georgia?OWNLAND 15:1



IF (#4 = 4 AND #86 = 2) GO TO #87

SKIP TO QUESTION 126===========================================================

87. How many acres do you own which are in one tract? If you ownmultiple tracts, please tell me how many acres the largest is.(ENTER ? FOR DON'T KNOW)

ACRES 15:2-6|__|__|,|__|__|__| acres

IF (#87 > 20) GO TO #88

SKIP TO QUESTION 126===========================================================

88. In what county is this tract located?

|__|__|__|

SKIP TO QUESTION 90===========================================================





90. What is the primary use of this tract of land?(DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

LNDUSE 15:10-20(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Farming|__| 2. Ranching|__| 3. Forestry|__| 4. Not being used|__| 5. Residential|__| 6. Investment|__| 7. General recreation|__| 8. Hunting|__| 9. Fishing|__| 10. Don't know|__| 11. Other

IF (#90 = 0) GO TO #89IF (#90 @ 11) GO TO #91

SKIP TO QUESTION 92===========================================================

91. ENTER OTHER USE OF LAND.LNDUSEST 16:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

92. Do you currently deer hunt or allow others to deerhunt on this tract of land?

ALLWHNT 16:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 92)|__| 2. Yes (GO TO QUESTION 98)|__| 3. No



93. Did you ever allow deer hunting on this tract of land?EVRALLOW 16:242


|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 93)|__| 2. Yes (GO TO QUESTION 95)|__| 3. No

SKIP TO QUESTION 100===========================================================



95. Why have you stopped allowing deer hunting on thistract of land? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

WHYSTP 17:1-13(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Poor behavior of hunters|__| 2. Trespassing|__| 3. Concern for personal safety|__| 4. Hunters being rude or not courteous|__| 5. Too many people on land|__| 6. Loss of privacy|__| 7. Legal liability|__| 8. Damage to property (other than agricultural or livestock)|__| 9. Agricultural damage|__| 10. Damage to livestock|__| 11. Drinking alcohol|__| 12. Don't know|__| 13. Other

IF (#95 = 0) GO TO #94IF (#95 @ 13) GO TO #96

SKIP TO QUESTION 100===========================================================



96. ENTER OTHER REASON FOR DISALLOWING HUNTING.WHYSTPST 18:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

SKIP TO QUESTION 100===========================================================



98. Who, including yourself, do you currently allow to hunt deer onthis tract of land? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

WHOALW 18:241-247(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Myself|__| 2. Immediate family (spouse, children)|__| 3. Other relatives|__| 4. Friends and acquaintances|__| 5. Others by permission|__| 6. Anyone|__| 7. Other

IF (#98 = 0) GO TO #97IF (#98 @ 7) GO TO #99

SKIP TO QUESTION 100===========================================================

99. ENTER OTHERS CURRENTLY ALLOWED TO HUNT DEER.WHOALWST 19:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________



100. Have you experienced any problems with the behavior of hunters,who hunted deer WITHOUT dogs, legally, on this tract of land,in the past 2 years? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

LGLWDHNT 19:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 100)|__| 2. Yes (GO TO QUESTION 102)|__| 3. No: no problems with hunters without dogs|__| 4. No: no hunters of this type have been on property|__| 5. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 105===========================================================



102. What types of problems did you experience with hunters whohunted deer WITHOUT dogs, legally, on this property over thepast 2 years? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

WODLGL 20:1-14(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Trespassing|__| 2. Hunting from roads|__| 3. Loss of privacy|__| 4. Too many people on land/crowding|__| 5. Damaging structures|__| 6. Damaging fences/leaving gates open|__| 7. Damaging/harassing livestock|__| 8. Littering|__| 9. Being unsafe|__| 10. Being rude or not courteous|__| 11. Threatening behavior|__| 12. Violating game laws|__| 13. Drinking alcohol|__| 14. Other

IF (#102 = 0) GO TO #101IF (#102 @ 14) GO TO #103

SKIP TO QUESTION 104===========================================================



103. ENTER OTHER TYPE OF PROBLEM.WODLGLST 21:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

104. Would you describe the problems you had with those who hunteddeer WITHOUT dogs, legally, on this property in the past twoyears as major or minor? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

LGLWDPRB 21:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 104)|__| 2. Major problems|__| 3. Minor problems|__| 4. Don't know

105. Have you experienced any problems with the behavior of hunters,who hunted deer WITHOUT dogs, illegally, on this tract of land,in the past 2 years? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

ILLWDHNT 21:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 105)|__| 2. Yes (GO TO QUESTION 107)|__| 3. No: no problems with hunters without dogs|__| 4. No: no hunters of this type have been on property|__| 5. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 110===========================================================





107. What types of problems did you experience with hunters whohunted deer WITHOUT dogs, illegally, on this property overthe past 2 years? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

WODILL 22:1-14(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Trespassing|__| 2. Hunting from roads|__| 3. Loss of privacy|__| 4. Too many people on land/crowding|__| 5. Damaging structures|__| 6. Damaging fences/leaving gates open|__| 7. Damaging/harassing livestock|__| 8. Littering|__| 9. Being unsafe|__| 10. Being rude or not courteous|__| 11. Threatening behavior|__| 12. Violating game laws|__| 13. Drinking alcohol|__| 14. Other

IF (#107 = 0) GO TO #106IF (#107 @ 14) GO TO #108

SKIP TO QUESTION 109===========================================================

108. ENTER OTHER TYPE OF PROBLEM.WODILLST 23:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

109. Would you describe the problems you had with those who hunteddeer WITHOUT dogs, illegally, on this property in the past twoyears as major or minor? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

ILLWDPRB 23:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




110. Have you experienced any problems with the behavior of hunters,who hunted deer WITH dogs, legally, on this tract of land,in the past 2 years? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

LGLDGHNT 23:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 110)|__| 2. Yes (GO TO QUESTION 112)|__| 3. No: no problems with hunters with dogs|__| 4. No: no hunters of this type have been on property|__| 5. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 115===========================================================



112. What types of problems did you experience with hunters whohunted deer WITH dogs, legally, on this property over thepast 2 years? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

DGLGL 24:1-16(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Noise from dogs was disturbing|__| 2. Dogs damaging fields or yard|__| 3. Trespassing|__| 4. Hunting from roads|__| 5. Loss of privacy|__| 6. Too many people on land/crowding|__| 7. Damaging structures|__| 8. Damaging fences/leaving gates open|__| 9. Damaging/harassing livestock|__| 10. Littering|__| 11. Being unsafe|__| 12. Being rude or not courteous|__| 13. Threatening behavior|__| 14. Violating game laws|__| 15. Drinking alcohol|__| 16. Other

IF (#112 = 0) GO TO #111IF (#112 @ 16) GO TO #113

SKIP TO QUESTION 114===========================================================



113. ENTER OTHER TYPE OF PROBLEM.DGLGLST 25:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

114. Would you describe the problems you had with those who hunteddeer WITH dogs, legally, on this property in the past twoyears as major or minor? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

LGLDGPRB 25:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


115. Have you experienced any problems with the behavior of hunters,who hunted deer WITH dogs, illegally, on this tract of land,in the past 2 years? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

ILLDGHNT 25:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 115)|__| 2. Yes (GO TO QUESTION 117)|__| 3. No: no problems with hunters with dogs|__| 4. No: no hunters of this type have been on property|__| 5. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 120===========================================================





117. What types of problems did you experience with hunters whohunted deer WITH dogs, illegally, on this property over thepast 2 years? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

DGILL 26:1-16(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Noise from dogs was disturbing|__| 2. Dogs damaging fields or yard|__| 3. Trespassing|__| 4. Hunting from roads|__| 5. Loss of privacy|__| 6. Too many people on land/crowding|__| 7. Damaging structures|__| 8. Damaging fences/leaving gates open|__| 9. Damaging/harassing livestock|__| 10. Littering|__| 11. Being unsafe|__| 12. Being rude or not courteous|__| 13. Threatening behavior|__| 14. Violating game laws|__| 15. Drinking alcohol|__| 16. Other

IF (#117 = 0) GO TO #116IF (#117 @ 16) GO TO #118

SKIP TO QUESTION 119===========================================================

118. ENTER OTHER TYPE OF PROBLEM.DGILLST 27:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

119. Would you describe the problems you had with those who hunteddeer WITH dogs, illegally, on this property in the past twoyears as major or minor? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

ILLDGPRB 27:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




120. During the past year, did you charge a fee for deer hunting on your land?FEEHUNT 27:242


|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 120)|__| 2. Yes|__| 3. No|__| 4. Didn't allow hunting on land last year|__| 5. Don't know

121. Would you say legal liability is a major concern, a minorconcern, or not a concern when considering allowing accessto your land for deer hunting? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

LGLLIAB 27:243(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 121)|__| 2. Major concern|__| 3. Minor concern|__| 4. Not a concern|__| 5. Don't know

122. Now I'm going to read you a list of statements and I wouldlike to know if you agree or disagree with each. First, Iwould allow more deer hunting opportunities on my land, butI'm worried about excessive state or federal governmentintrusion. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

INTRUDE 27:244(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




123. If I did not have to worry about legal liability issues, Iwould be very likely to allow more deer hunting opportunitieson my land. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

NOWORRY 27:245(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


124. If I could receive financial benefits such as tax breaksor cash payments, I would be very likely to allow more deerhunting opportunities on my land. Do you agree or disagreewith this statement?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

PAYMENTS 27:246(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


125. In general, how well does the Georgia DNR incorporatelandowners' wants and needs into the management of thestate's deer population? Would you say they do anexcellent, good, fair, or poor job?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

LANDWNTS 27:247(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




126. The Georgia DNR considers many factors when making decisionsabout game management in Georgia. I'm going to read some ofthese factors and I'd like to know if you think each shouldbe an important or unimportant consideration.

How important or unimportant should SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION suchas hunter kills, population survey data, and population modelingbe in making decisions about deer management?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

BIOINFO 27:248(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


127. How important or unimportant should the PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENTOF GEORGIA DNR BIOLOGISTS be in making decisions about deermanagement? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

BIOJUDGE 27:249(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


128. How important or unimportant should the ECONOMIC IMPACTOF HUNTING in Georgia be in making decisions about deermanagement? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

ECOINFO 27:250(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




129. How important or unimportant should SOCIAL CONCERNS (publicvalues) be in making decisions about deer management inGeorgia? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

SOCINFO 28:1(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


130. How important or unimportant should POLITICAL CONCERNS bein making decisions about deer management in Georgia?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

POLITCON 28:2(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


131. In general, do you support or oppose hunting as a way tomanage deer populations?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

HUNTMGMT 28:3(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




132. Deer may be hunted with dogs only during authorized seasonsand localities. Additionally, deer may be hunted with dogsonly on properties of at least 1000 contiguous acres thatare properly permitted by the GA DNR. In general, do yousupport or oppose Georgia hunters using dogs to hunt deer?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

DOGHUNTS 28:4(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 132)|__| 2. Strongly support (GO TO QUESTION 134)|__| 3. Moderately support (GO TO QUESTION 134)|__| 4. Neither support or oppose|__| 5. Moderately oppose (GO TO QUESTION 137)|__| 6. Strongly oppose (GO TO QUESTION 137)|__| 7. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 139===========================================================



134. What is your main reason for supporting hunting deerwith dogs? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

SUPDOG 28:5-11(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Tradition/we have always done it|__| 2. Increase hunter's chance of harvest|__| 3. Like to work with dogs|__| 4. We have too many deer|__| 5. Doesn't matter how they are hunted|__| 6. Don't know|__| 7. Other

IF (#134 = 0) GO TO #133IF (#134 @ 7) GO TO #135

SKIP TO QUESTION 139===========================================================



135. ENTER OTHER REASON FOR SUPPORTING HUNTING DEER WITH DOGS.SUPDOGST 29:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

SKIP TO QUESTION 139===========================================================



137. What is your main reason for opposing hunting deerwith dogs? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

OPDOG 29:241-249(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Not fair chance for deer|__| 2. Inhumane to deer|__| 3. Inhumane to dogs|__| 4. Dogs may get deer that aren't legal|__| 5. Dogs increase chance for trespass|__| 6. Dangerous to have loose dogs around|__| 7. Opposed to all hunting|__| 8. Don't know|__| 9. Other

IF (#137 = 0) GO TO #136IF (#137 @ 9) GO TO #138

SKIP TO QUESTION 139===========================================================

138. ENTER OTHER REASON FOR OPPOSING HUNTING DEER WITH DOGS.OPDOGST 30:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________



139. Do you support or oppose having one statewide season for deerwith no deer zones? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

NOZONES 30:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


140. Do you support or oppose controlling deer in urban andsuburban areas? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

CONTROL 30:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


SKIP TO QUESTION 142===========================================================





142. How do you think deer should be controlled in urban andsuburban areas? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

CNTRL 30:243-250(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Should not be controlled at all/Natural factors|__| 2. Hunting|__| 3. Archery hunting only|__| 4. Professionals or sharpshooters|__| 5. Biological birth control|__| 6. Trapping and relocation|__| 7. Don't know|__| 8. Other

IF (#142 = 0) GO TO #141IF (#142 @ 8) GO TO #143

SKIP TO QUESTION 144===========================================================

143. ENTER OTHER WAY TO CONTROL DEER IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS.CNTRLST 31:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

144. Do you support or oppose the use of professionals orsharpshooters to control deer in urban and suburbanenvironments? (READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

PROS 31:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




145. Do you support or oppose the use of regulated archery huntingto control deer in urban and suburban environments?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

BOWHUNT 31:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


146. Do you support or oppose the use of regulated hunting tocontrol deer in Parks or on other recreation lands thattraditionally have been closed to deer hunting?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

HUNTPARK 31:243(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


147. Do you support or oppose the use of professionals orsharpshooters to control deer on Parks or other recreationlands that traditionally have been closed to deer hunting?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

PROPARK 31:244(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




148. Do you think it should be legal or not legal to huntwhite-tailed deer or other large animals inside anarea fenced so that it restricts animal movements?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

FENCED 31:245(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 148)|__| 2. Legal|__| 3. Not legal|__| 4. Don't know

149. Would you support or oppose hunting of white-tailed deerinside enclosed fenced areas if allowing it generatedeconomic activity for rural Georgia?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

ECOFENCE 31:246(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


150. Do you think it should be legal or not legal to huntnon-native, exotic deer (not white-tailed deer)inside enclosed fenced areas?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

EXOTIC 31:247(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 150)|__| 2. Legal|__| 3. Not legal|__| 4. Don't know



151. Would you support or oppose hunting of non-native, exoticdeer (not white-tailed deer) inside enclosed fenced areasif allowing it generated economic activity for rural Georgia?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

ECOEXO 31:248(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


152. If it was legal, what do you think should be the minimumacreage to hunt non-native, exotic deer (not white-taileddeer) inside enclosed fence areas?

EXACRES 32:1-5|__|__|,|__|__|__| acres

LOWEST VALUE = 1

153. Do you think it should be legal or not legal to huntwhite-tailed deer by attracting them using bait like cornas an attractant (Not a planted food plot)?

BAIT 32:6(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 153)|__| 2. Legal (GO TO QUESTION 155)|__| 3. Not legal (GO TO QUESTION 158)|__| 4. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 160===========================================================





155. What is your main reason for supporting hunting deerover bait? (DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

SUPBAT 32:7-14(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Tradition/we have always done it|__| 2. Increase hunter's chance of harvest|__| 3. Helps with quality deer management (can take old DOES)|__| 4. Doesn't matter how they are hunted|__| 5. Feeding is beneficial to deer herd's health|__| 6. Allows hunters to better control deer populations|__| 7. Don't know|__| 8. Other

IF (#155 = 0) GO TO #154IF (#155 @ 8) GO TO #156

SKIP TO QUESTION 160===========================================================

156. ENTER OTHER REASON FOR SUPPORTING HUNTING DEER OVER BAIT.SUPBATST 33:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

SKIP TO QUESTION 160===========================================================





158. What is the main reason for opposing hunting deer over bait?(DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

OPBAT 33:241-247(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Not fair chance for deer|__| 2. Unethical to trick deer|__| 3. Not good to feed deer|__| 4. Opposed to all hunting|__| 5. Hunters will kill too many deer over bait|__| 6. Don't know|__| 7. Other

IF (#158 = 0) GO TO #157IF (#158 @ 7) GO TO #159

SKIP TO QUESTION 160===========================================================

159. ENTER OTHER OPPOSING HUNTING DEER OVER BAIT.OPBATST 34:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

160. Would you support or oppose allowing hunting deer directlyover bait if it was part of a year-round feeding program?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

YEARRND 34:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




161. Do you support or oppose management for large-antlered deer?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

LARGDEER 34:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


162. Do you think the Georgia DNR should provide more, the same,or less assistance to private landowners to manage deer?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

ASSIST 34:243(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 162)|__| 2. Much more (GO TO QUESTION 164)|__| 3. Somewhat more (GO TO QUESTION 164)|__| 4. The same|__| 5. Somewhat less|__| 6. Much less|__| 7. Don't know

SKIP TO QUESTION 166===========================================================





164. In what ways would you like the Georgia DNR to providemore assistance to private landowners managing deer?(DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

WHTWAY 34:244-250(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Deer depredation permits|__| 2. Technical assistance|__| 3. Developing habitat for deer|__| 4. Law enforcement efforts|__| 5. Deer deterrents (electric fencing, etc.)|__| 6. Don't know|__| 7. Other

IF (#164 = 0) GO TO #163IF (#164 @ 7) GO TO #165

SKIP TO QUESTION 166===========================================================

165. ENTER OTHER FORM OF ASSISTANCE FOR LANDOWNERS.WHTWAYST 35:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

166. Do you agree or disagree that local municipalities thatpass firearms ordinances, thereby preventing deer hunting,should be required to mitigate deer damage?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

GUNLAWS 35:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)




167. Do you support or oppose allowing hunters who usemuzzleloading firearms to use magnifying scopes?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY; PROMPT FOR DEGREE)

SCOPES 35:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)


SKIP TO QUESTION 169===========================================================



169. What is the best way to provide you with informationabout deer in Georgia? We are not sending out informationat this time; we are just measuring interest.(DO NOT READ LIST; CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

GETINF 36:1-13(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

|__| 1. Direct mail|__| 2. Newspaper|__| 3. TV|__| 4. Magazines|__| 5. Radio|__| 6. Brochures or pamphlets|__| 7. Georgia Hunting Seasons and Regulations|__| 8. Georgia DNR offices|__| 9. Georgia DNR website|__| 10. Website other than GA DNR website|__| 11. Email|__| 12. Don't know|__| 13. Other

IF (#169 = 0) GO TO #168IF (#169 @ 13) GO TO #170

SKIP TO QUESTION 171===========================================================



170. ENTER OTHER WAY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT DEER.GETINFST 37:1-240

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

171. Now I just have a few final background questions to helpus analyze the results.

DEMOPRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE.

172. Do you consider your place of residence to be in a large cityor urban area, a suburban area, a small city or town, or arural area?

RESIDE 37:241(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 172)|__| 2. Large city or urban area|__| 3. Suburban area|__| 4. Small city or town|__| 5. Rural area|__| 6. DNR: Refused

173. What is the highest grade level you have completed?(READ SCALE AS NECESSARY)

LEVED 37:242(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 173)|__| 2. Grades 1 through 12, but no high school diploma|__| 3. High school graduate or equivalent|__| 4. Some college, trade, or business school|__| 5. College graduate|__| 6. Graduate or professional degree|__| 7. Don't know|__| 8. DNR: Refused

174. And finally, may I ask your age?(ENTER ? FOR DON'T KNOW; ENTER 888 FOR REFUSED)

AGE 37:243-245|__|__|__|

LOWEST VALUE = 1



175. That's the end of the questionnaire, thank you very muchfor your time and cooperation!(ENTER ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS; IN FIRST PERSON; 240 CHARACTERS)

END 38:1-249___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

SKIP TO QUESTION 177===========================================================

176. YOU HAVE INDICATED A TERMINATEDINTERVIEW, IS THIS CORRECT?

TM 38:250(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 176)|__| 2. Yes, save as a terminated interview (GO TO QUESTION 177)|__| 3. No, take me back to the survey (GO TO QUESTION 6)|__| 4. No, I'd like to exit the survey

SKIP TO QUESTION 185===========================================================

177. OBSERVE AND RECORD RESPONDENT'S GENDER.GENDER 39:1


|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 177)|__| 2. Don't know|__| 3. Male|__| 4. Female

178. ENTER 3-DIGIT COUNTY CODECOUNTY 39:2-4

|__|__|__|

179. ENTER REGION FROM CALLSHEETREGION 39:5


|__| 1. Invalid answer. Select another. (GO TO QUESTION 179)|__| 2. North|__| 3. South



180. ENTER CASE NUMBER FROM CALLSHEET.CASENO 39:6-9

|__|__|__|__|

181. TIME INTERVIEW WAS COMPLETED.ENDTIME 39:10-14

|__|__|__|__|__|

182. Please enter your initials in LOWERCASE ONLY!INTVRINT 39:15-17

|__|__|__|

183. Enter the area code and telephone number dialed.TELEPHON 39:18-27

|__|__|__|-|__|__|__|-|__|__|__|__|

LOWEST VALUE = 1

184. DETERMINES RESULT CODE FOR CALLRESULT 39:28-29


|__| 1. Completed survey|__| 2. Call back|__| 3. Answering machine/No answer/Busy signal|__| 4. Refusal|__| 5. Not eligible|__| 6. Disconnected/Nonworking number|__| 7. Business/Government office|__| 8. Deaf/Language Barrier|__| 9. Bad number (missing digit, begins with zero, etc.)|__| 10. Terminated interview

COMPUTE IF (#176 = 2) 10COMPUTE #3

185. SAVE ALL INTERVIEWS, UNLESSTHIS IS A PRACTICE INTERVIEW!

FINISH 39:30(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. Save answers (GO TO QUESTION 187)|__| 2. Erase answers|__| 3. Review answers (GO TO QUESTION 6)



186. ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO ERASE THIS INTERVIEW?ONLY ERASE IF THIS IS A PRACTICE INTERVIEW!!!

MAKESURE 39:31(CHECK ONLY ONE ANSWER)

|__| 1. No, do not erase the answers (GO TO QUESTION 185)|__| 2. Yes, erase this interview, it is only practice

187. Date call was madeINTVDAT 39:32-39

|__|__|__|__|-|__|__|-|__|__|Year Month Day

SAVE IF (#185 = 1)

opinions and attitudes of georgia …...opinions of residents, hunters, and landowners toward deer...

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