public opinion on funding for the vermont fish and wildlife department and wildlife species...
TRANSCRIPT
Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in
Vermont
Presented to theVermont Fish and Wildlife Department
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Mark Damian Duda
Responsive Management
Fish and Wildlife Populations
Focus of Fish and Wildlife Management
Fish and Wildlife Professionals
Fish and Wildlife Habitats Human Populations
Methodology
Telephone survey
Vermont residents 18 years old and older
n = 1, 029
Sampling error is at most ± 3.05 percentage points
Results reported at the 95% confidence interval
Trends analysis conducted on questions previously asked in 1995, 1996, and 2000
Extensive crosstabulations, including by region, hunter/non-hunter, and gender
Survey Results
Support for or Opposition to Various Funding Mechanisms for
the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
4
3
4
5
39
42
2
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly support
Moderately support
Neither support nor oppose
Moderately oppose
Strongly oppose
Don't know
No opinion / Refused
Percent (n=1029)
Q14. Would you support or oppose the Department receiving general fund dollars for programs and activities in which it participates but
does not currently receive funding?
2
5
6
4
38
44
03
5
3
4
5
40
41
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly support
Moderately support
Neither support nor oppose
Moderately oppose
Strongly oppose
Don't know
No opinion / Refused
Percent
Has hunted in the past 5 years(n=238)
Has not hunted in the past 5years (n=791)
Q14. Would you support or oppose the Department receiving general fund dollars for programs and activities in which it participates but does
not currently receive funding?
4
3
5
6
41
38
42
5
6
6
5
33
45
0
3
3
6
37
47
3
3
5
4
4
3
42
40
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly support
Moderately support
Neither support nor oppose
Moderately oppose
Strongly oppose
Don't know
No opinion / Refused
Percent
Greater Chittenden Region (n=336)
Northeast Kingdom (n=107)
Central Vermont Region (n=289)
Southern Vermont Region (n=297)
Q14. Would you support or oppose the Department receiving general fund dollars for programs and activities in which it participates but does
not currently receive funding?
3
4
4
5
39
42
22
5
3
4
5
39
43
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly support
Moderately support
Neither support nor oppose
Moderately oppose
Strongly oppose
Don't know
No opinion / Refused
Percent
Male (n=494)
Female (n=531)
Q14. Would you support or oppose the Department receiving general fund dollars for programs and activities in which it participates but does
not currently receive funding?
Would you support or oppose the Department receiving general fund dollars for programs and activities in which it participates but does not (2007 wording: currently) receive
funding?
51
36
2 3 2 45 3 4 23610
3
3840
0 0
3942
4
0
20
40
60
80
100
Stronglysupport
Moderatelysupport
Neithersupport
noroppose
Moderatelyoppose
Stronglyoppose
Don'tknow
No opinion/ Refused
Pe
rce
nt
1995
2000
2007
4
21
13
3
32
26
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly support
Moderately support
Neither support nor oppose
Moderately oppose
Strongly oppose
Don't know
No opinion / Refused
Percent (n=1029)
Q15. Would you support or oppose a 1/8 of 1% increase in the state general sales tax in support of programs for which the Department
does not currently receive funding? (1 cent on every $8 spent.)
3
6
5
4
31
49
2
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly support
Moderately support
Neither support nor oppose
Moderately oppose
Strongly oppose
Don't know
No opinion / Refused
Percent (n=1029)
Q16. Would you support or oppose redistributing a portion of the current state sales tax so that the Fish and Wildlife Department would receive 1/8 of 1% of the existing sales tax? There would be no increase
in the state sales tax. (Tax now goes to the General Fund.)
3
6
7
3
34
45
2
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly support
Moderately support
Neither support nor oppose
Moderately oppose
Strongly oppose
Don't know
No opinion / Refused
Percent (n=1029)
Q17. Vermont has a Rooms and Meals tax on all lodging and prepared food. The tax currently goes to the general fund. Do you support or
oppose the Fish and Wildlife Department receiving a small percentage of the Rooms and Meals tax? There would be no increase in the tax.
Support for or Opposition to Wildlife Habitat Management
Efforts of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department
Q7, 9-12. Percent who strongly or moderately support the following.
92
87
83
80
74
0 20 40 60 80 100
Q11. The Department working with town or regionalplanning commissions to design plans that work around
and conserve important wildlife habitat
Q12. Protecting important wildlife habitat by providingfinancial incentives to property owners who conserve
habitat
Q9. The Department protecting important wildlife habitatby purchasing land
Q7. The Department protecting important wildlife habitatthrough Act 250
Q10. The Department regulating logging in areas withimportant wildlife habitat
Percent
Do you support or oppose protecting important wildlife habitat by providing financial incentives to property owners
who conserve habitat?
58
29
2 5 3 34451
28
57
0
20
40
60
80
100
Stronglysupport
Moderatelysupport
Neithersupport
nor oppose
Moderatelyoppose
Stronglyoppose
Don't know
Pe
rce
nt
1996
2007
Opinions on Management of Various Wildlife Populations
Q40. In your opinion, should the deer population in your county be increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
32
48
5
7
8
0 20 40 60 80 100
Increased
Remain the same
Decreased
No opinion
Don't know
Percent (n=1029)
Q40. In your opinion, should the deer population in your county be increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
2
1
3
27
66
10
9
5
54
22
0 20 40 60 80 100
Increased
Remain thesame
Decreased
No opinion
Don't know
Percent
Has hunted in the past 5 years(n=238)
Has not hunted in the past 5years (n=791)
12
10
7
5
22
44
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly agree
Moderately agree
Neither agree nordisagree
Moderatelydisagree
Strongly disagree
Don't know
Percent (n=1029)
Q49. In 2005, Vermont established a law making it illegal for the public to feed wild deer. Do you agree or disagree that this regulation is important
for helping to prevent the spread of deer diseases?
Q50. In your opinion, should the moose population in your county be increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
10
7
10
54
19
0 20 40 60 80 100
Increased
Remain the same
Decreased
No opinion
Don't know
Percent (n=1029)
Q68. In your opinion, should the black bear population in your county be increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
10
10
7
57
16
0 20 40 60 80 100
Increased
Remain the same
Decreased
No opinion
Don't know
Percent (n=1029)
Q59. In your opinion, should the wild turkey population in your county be increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
8
7
10
60
15
0 20 40 60 80 100
Increased
Remain the same
Decreased
No opinion
Don't know
Percent (n=1029)
3
12
12
4
30
38
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly support
Moderatelysupport
Neither supportnor oppose
Moderatelyoppose
Strongly oppose
Don't know
Percent (n=97)
Q125. Do you support or oppose the current turkey management strategy to limit fall turkey hunting for the purpose of maximizing spring turkey hunting harvests? (Asked of those who hunted wild turkey in Vermont.)
Q39. In your opinion, should the beaver population in your county be increased, remain the same, or be decreased?
17
13
12
50
9
0 20 40 60 80 100
Increased
Remain the same
Decreased
No opinion
Don't know
Percent (n=1029)
Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Q18. Have you had any damage to your vehicle from wildlife in Vermont in the past 5 years?
86
14
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yes
No
Percent (n=1029)
Q21. I am going to list a few species of animals and I need to know if you had any damage to your vehicle from each species in the past 5 years in Vermont. (Asked of those who had damage to their vehicle
from wildlife in the past 5 years.)
9
1
5
5
8
79
0 20 40 60 80 100
White-tailed deer
Moose
Black bear
Wild turkey
Coyote
None of these species
Mu
ltip
le R
esp
on
ses
Allo
wed
Percent
Q22. Have you had any damage to your personal property from wildlife in Vermont in the past 5 years? This does not include damage
to your vehicle.
79
21
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yes
No
Percent (n=1029)
Have you had any damage to your personal property from wildlife in Vermont in the past 5 years?
21
7976
24
0
20
40
60
80
100
Yes No
Pe
rce
nt
1996
2007
Q28. What kind of damage did the wildlife cause? (Asked of those who had damage to their personal property from wildlife in the past 5
years.)
1
1
1
2
4
6
7
11
12
61
3
3
3
0 20 40 60 80 100
Ornamental plants / landscaping / gardens
Structural damage
Agricultural damage (commercial)
Livestock predation
Pets
Other
Fencing
Garbage
Bird feeders
Threat to humans
Don't know
Flooding
Patio or outside furniture damaged
Mu
ltip
le R
esp
on
ses
Allo
wed
Percent
What kind of damage did the wildlife cause?
61
12 113 3 22
17
6510
63
0
20
40
60
80
100
Ornamentalplants /
landscaping /gardens
Structuraldamage
Agriculturaldamage
(commercial)
Fencing Garbage Threat tohumans
Pe
rce
nt
1996
2007
Q38. A healthy bear population may mean there could be black bears on or near your property. How tolerant are you of black bears on or
near your property?
5
9
9
7
29
41
0 20 40 60 80 100
Very tolerant
Moderatelytolerant
Neither tolerantnor intolerant
Moderatelyintolerant
Very intolerant
Don't know
Percent (n=1029)
Chronic Wasting Disease
19
11
39
24
6
0 20 40 60 80 100
High risk
Medium risk
Low risk
No risk at all
Don't know
Percent (n=233)
Q114. How would you rate the Vermont deer population's risk for Chronic Wasting Disease? Would you say the Vermont deer population is at a high risk, a medium risk, a low risk, or no risk at all for Chronic Wasting Disease? (Asked of those who have hunted white-tailed deer
in Vermont.)
21
24
42
11
3
0 20 40 60 80 100
High risk
Medium risk
Low risk
No risk at all
Don't know
Percent (n=233)
Q115. How would you rate the Vermont deer hunters' risk for Chronic Wasting Disease? Would you say Vermont deer hunters are at a high risk, a medium risk, a low risk, or no risk at all for Chronic Wasting
Disease? (Asked of those who have hunted white-tailed deer in Vermont.)
Participation in Hunting
Q81. In the past 5 years, have you hunted with...? (Asked of those who hunted in the past 5 years.)
42
54
97
0 20 40 60 80 100
A rifle orshotgun
Amuzzleloader
Archeryequipment
Mu
ltip
le R
esp
on
ses
Allo
wed
Percent
Q86. Which of the following species did you hunt in the past 5 years in Vermont? (Asked of those who hunted.)
4011222355
1012
1617
2355
755
0 20 40 60 80 100
White-tailed deer
Wild turkey
Black bear
Ruffed grouse
Rabbit or hare
Coyote
Gray squirrel
Ducks
Woodchuck
Moose
Geese
Crow
Fox
Raccoon
Don't know
Muskrat
BobcatNone / Did not hunt in past 5 years in
Vermont
Mu
ltip
le R
esp
on
ses
Allo
wed
Percent
In 2006 (1995), which Vermont deer seasons did you hunt in?
88
43
33
910
2732
88
0
20
40
60
80
100
Rifle Muzzleloader Archery None in 1995 /2006
Pe
rce
nt
1996
2007
Q83. How important are public lands to your hunting experience? (Asked of those who have hunted.)
5
22
17
56
0 20 40 60 80 100
Very important
Somewhatimportant
Not important
Don't know
Percent (n=421)
Satisfaction with Hunting
Q88, 90, 92, 94, 96, and 98. Percent who were very or somewhat satisfied with their hunting experiences for the following species.
92
90
71
70
54
52
0 20 40 60 80 100
Q92. Wild turkey (n=97)
Q90. Moose (n=20)
Q98. Rabbit or hare (n=49)
Q96. Ruffed grouse (n=66)
Q94. Black bear (n=70)
Q88. White-tailed deer (n=233)
Percent
16
35
3
24 21
1075
1
36
51
0
20
40
60
80
100
Verysatisfied
Somewhatsatisfied
Neithersatisfied
nordissatisfied
Somewhatdissatisfied
Verydissatisfied
Don't know
Pe
rce
nt
1996
2007
How satisfied are you with your white-tailed deer hunting experience in Vermont over the past 5 years? (Asked of those who have hunted
white-tailed deer in Vermont.)
Opinions on Hunting Regulations
3
24
9
40
24
0 20 40 60 80 100
1 deer
2 deer
3 deer
As high as Department biologistsrecommend
None of these / Don't know
Percent (n=233)
Q106. Currently Vermont hunters are allowed to harvest up to 2 deer per year for all seasons combined. Do you think the annual
bag limit per hunter in Vermont for deer should be 1, 2, 3, or as high as Department biologists recommend? (Asked of those who have
hunted white-tailed deer in Vermont.)
Q109. Should Vermont hunters be able to harvest antlerless deer during the...? (Asked of those who hunted white-tailed deer in
Vermont.)
5
11
20
22
38
57
0 20 40 60 80 100
Archery season
Muzzleloader season
Rifle season
Antlerless deer huntingshouldn't be allowed
None of these
Don't know
Mu
ltip
le R
esp
on
ses
Allo
wed
Percent
87
10
3
0 20 40 60 80 100
Very aware
Somewhat aware
Not at all aware
Percent (n=233)
Q113. How aware are you of the regulation established in 2005 that makes it illegal to hunt or take any wild animal, including deer, during the deer
hunting season using bait? (Asked of those who have hunted white-tailed deer in Vermont.)
Q110. Do you prefer to have the muzzleloader season before the November rifle season, after the November rifle season, or both
before and after the November rifle season?(Asked of those who hunted white-tailed deer in Vermont.)
3
9
10
48
30
0 20 40 60 80 100
Have muzzleloader season beforeNovember rifle season
Have muzzleloader season afterNovember rifle season
Have muzzleloader season beforeand after November rifle season
Don't know
Other
Percent (n=233)
7
39
11
4
16
23
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly support
Moderately support
Neither support nor oppose
Moderately oppose
Strongly oppose
Don't know
Percent (n=252)
Q119. Currently, moose may be harvested during the season with rifles, handguns, muzzleloaders, bows, or shotguns. Do you support or oppose establishing an archery-only season for moose in Vermont
in addition to the regular moose hunting season? (Asked of those who have hunted.)