NSSF® Report AMERICANS ATTITUDES · 2019-03-28 · trapping. Responsive Management has tracked public attitudes on the four activities in various forms since 1995, and the study

NSSF® Report

AMERICANS ATTITUDES

Toward Hunting, Fishing, Sport Shooting

and Trapping 2019

Conducted for the National Shooting Sports Foundation®

by Responsive Management

AMERICANS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD HUNTING, FISHING, SPORT SHOOTING, AND TRAPPING

Conducted for the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Under Multistate Conservation Grant Number F19AP00100

National Shooting Sports Foundation and Responsive Management

2019

AMERICANS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD HUNTING, FISHING, SPORT SHOOTING, AND TRAPPING

2019

National Shooting Sports FoundationJim Curcuruto, Director, Research & Market Development

11 Mile Hill Rd Newtown, CT 06470

Phone: 203-426-1320 E-mail: [email protected]

www.nssf.org

Responsive Management National Office Mark Damian Duda, Executive Director

Martin Jones, Senior Research Associate Tom Beppler, Senior Research Associate

Steven J. Bissell, Ph.D., Qualitative Research Associate Amanda Center, Research Associate

Andrea Criscione, Senior Research Associate Patrick Doherty, Research Associate

Gregory L. Hughes, P.E., Research Associate Caroline Gerken, Survey Center Manager

Alison Lanier, Business Manager

130 Franklin Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801

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

www.responsivemanagement.com

Although NSSF partnered with Responsive Management for this report and the

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies provided funding for it, any errors in the

report are the sole responsibility of Responsive Management.

Americans’ Attitudes Toward Hunting, Fishing, Sport Shooting, and Trapping i

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This study was conducted by Responsive Management and the National Shooting Sports

Foundation to assess trends in Americans’ attitudes toward hunting, fishing, sport shooting, and

trapping. Responsive Management has tracked public attitudes on the four activities in various forms

since 1995, and the study makes use of this trend data by examining how Americans’ attitudes have

changed over the years.1 The project was funded by a Multistate Conservation Grant from the

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The study entailed a scientific telephone survey of adult

Americans, ages 18 and older. Details of the survey methodology are shown in the body of the

report.

Overall, 80% of Americans approve of legal hunting. Approval of hunting is highest in the

Midwest (at 86% approval) and is lowest in the Northeast (72%). Americans’ level of approval of

hunting has remained generally consistent over the past quarter century, with a gradual increase in

approval since 1995 when approval was at 73%.

However, approval of hunting varies considerably depending on the stated reason for

hunting. When the reasons are utilitarian in nature—for meat, to protect humans or property, for

wildlife management—approval is very high, but hunting drops substantially when the reason is for

the sport or for the challenge; meanwhile, less than a third of Americans approve of hunting for a

trophy. Nonetheless, approval of these less popular hunting motivations has rebounded following

rather sharp declines in 2016 (note that administration of the 2016 survey followed several high-

profile news stories that depicted trophy hunting in a negative light).

The species being hunted also affects approval of hunting. Hunting of ungulates and

waterfowl is more accepted than hunting of predator species, while the hunting of African lions and

elephants has even less approval among Americans. Similarly, approval of hunting depends on the

technique being used, especially the extent to which the technique in question allows for fair chase

(i.e., whether the animal has a reasonable chance to evade the hunter). For example, more Americans

approve of hunting with archery equipment than approve of hunting with high-tech gear or hunting

on property that has a high fence around it.

The survey findings suggest that fishing is less controversial than hunting: 93% of Americans

approve of legal recreational fishing (compared to 80% who approve of legal hunting). Like hunting,

however, approval of fishing depends on the motivation: more Americans approve of fishing for food

than fishing for the sport, for the challenge, or for a trophy fish. Meanwhile, most methods of fishing

have high approval, with the exceptions of gigging and snagging.

The survey also examined attitudes toward shooting, finding that 81% of Americans approve

of legal recreational shooting. This finding is consistent with the approval rates for shooting found in

previous survey years, with the exception of a slight dip in approval in 2011.

Trapping is more controversial than the other outdoor recreational activities explored in this

study. Public opinion on regulated trapping is split: 52% of Americans approve while 31%

disapprove. Again, attitudes appear to be influenced by the stated motivation for the activity: there is

relatively high approval of trapping for wildlife restoration, population control, food, and property

protection, but less approval of trapping for money, fur clothing, and recreation.

Higher approval of all four activities (hunting, fishing, shooting, and trapping) is correlated

with being male, white, living in a rural area, living in the Midwest or Southeast regions, and

growing up with firearms. Conversely, lower approval of the activities is associated with being

female, Hispanic, black, living in an urban area, living in the Northeast or West regions, and not

growing up with firearms.

1 For the trend results in this report, comparisons of the new data are made only to previous Responsive

Management survey questions that used consistent wording.

ii Responsive Management

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction and Methodology ........................................................................................................1

Use of Telephones for the Survey ...........................................................................................1

Questionnaire Design ..............................................................................................................2

Survey Sample .........................................................................................................................2

Telephone Interviewing Facilities ...........................................................................................2

Interviewing Dates and Times .................................................................................................3

Telephone Survey Data Collection and Quality Control .........................................................3

Data Analysis ...........................................................................................................................3

Sampling Error ........................................................................................................................4

Additional Information About the Presentation of Results in the Report ...............................5

Demographic Correlation Graphs and How to Interpret Them ...............................................6

Attitudes Toward Hunting in the United States ...............................................................................7

Attitudes Toward Hunting in General .....................................................................................7

Motivations for Hunting ........................................................................................................12

Attitudes Toward Hunting Different Species ........................................................................23

Methods of Hunting ...............................................................................................................34

Attitudes Toward Fishing in the United States ..............................................................................44

Attitudes Toward Fishing in General ....................................................................................44

Motivations for Fishing .........................................................................................................48

Methods of Fishing ................................................................................................................57

Attitudes Toward Sport Shooting in the United States ..................................................................67

Attitudes Toward Trapping in the United States ...........................................................................72

Demographics ................................................................................................................................85

About Responsive Management ....................................................................................................89

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Americans’ Attitudes Toward Hunting, Fishing, Sport Shooting, and Trapping 1

INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY

This study was conducted by Responsive Management and the National Shooting Sports

Foundation (NSSF) to measure Americans’ attitudes toward hunting, fishing, sport shooting, and

trapping. Responsive Management has tracked public attitudes on the four activities in various

forms since 1995, and the study makes use of this trend data by examining how Americans’

attitudes have changed over the years.1 The study also examines how approval of hunting,

fishing, and trapping varies by motivation, species, and method. The study entailed a scientific

telephone survey of adult Americans, ages 18 and older. Data from the survey were weighted to

ensure that the results were representative of adult Americans as a whole.

In the survey, the four activities are referred to as follows: “legal hunting,” “legal recreational

fishing,” “legal recreational shooting,” and “regulated trapping.” The qualifying terms before

each activity serve to exclude any illegal or improper variations of the activity, as might be the

case if a respondent were to interpret the single term “hunting” as being inclusive of poaching.

The project was funded by a Multistate Conservation Grant from the Association of Fish and

Wildlife Agencies (AFWA). Previous similar trend surveys have been funded by a variety of

partners and grants, including through the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Association

of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Multistate Conservation Grant Program, the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, the Hunters’ Leadership Forum, the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife

Agencies, the Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Midwest Association of

Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Other sources for the data used in the hunting, fishing, and trapping trend analysis include

surveys for the Professional Outdoor Media Association and the Archery Trade Association;

additionally, the trend analysis on shooting uses data from a survey by Roper Starch Worldwide.

Sample sizes for these surveys range from 800 to 5,103, with sampling error ranging from plus

or minus 1.4 to 3.5 percentage points. All telephone surveys administered since 2006 entailed

landlines and cell phones called in their proper state and regional proportions.

Specific aspects of the research methodology are discussed below.

USE OF TELEPHONES FOR THE SURVEY

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

almost universal ownership of telephones among Americans (both landlines and cell phones

were called in their exact state and regional proportions). Additionally, telephone surveys,

relative to mail or Internet surveys, allow for more scientific sampling and data collection,

provide higher quality data, obtain higher response rates, are more timely, and are more

cost-effective. Telephone surveys also have better representation of the sample than mail surveys

because the latter systematically exclude those who are not literate enough to complete the

surveys or who would be intimidated by having to complete a written survey—by an estimate of

the U.S. Department of Education’s National Institute of Literacy (2016), up to 43% of the

general population read no higher than a “basic level,” suggesting that they would be reticent to

1 For the trend results in this report, comparisons of the new data are made only to previous Responsive

Management survey questions that used consistent wording.

2 Responsive Management

complete a written survey. Finally, telephone surveys also have fewer negative effects on the

environment than do mail surveys because of reduced use of paper and reduced energy

consumption for delivering and returning the questionnaires.

QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN

The telephone survey questionnaire was developed cooperatively by Responsive Management

and NSSF, based on the research team’s familiarity with similar surveys. In addition, the

questionnaire in part included questions from previous surveys to allow for a trend analysis.

Responsive Management conducted pre-tests of the questionnaire to ensure proper wording,

flow, and logic in the survey.

SURVEY SAMPLE

The sample of adult Americans was obtained from Dynata (formerly known as Survey Sampling

International), a firm that specializes in providing scientifically valid samples for survey

research. The sample included both landlines and cell phones, which were called in the exact

proportions that they exist on a state-by-state and regional basis—the resulting national sample

was representative of all Americans living in households with a landline, cell phone, or both. A

probability-based selection process ensured that each eligible American had an equal chance of

being selected for the survey. This process ensured that the sample was valid because every

resident had a known chance of participating in the survey.

Responsive Management obtained a total of 3,014 completed interviews. The sample size is less

than 3,014 on some graphs because certain questions were asked only of a random subset of the

entire sample. This was done to minimize respondent burden by reducing the overall survey

length for each respondent.

TELEPHONE INTERVIEWING FACILITIES

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 outdoor recreation and

natural resources.

To ensure the integrity of the telephone survey data, 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 and other professional staff conducted a project briefing with the interviewers

prior to the administration of this survey. Interviewers were instructed on type of study, study

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

qualifiers for participation, interviewer instructions within the survey questionnaire, reading of

the survey questions, skip patterns, and probing and clarifying techniques necessary for specific

questions on the survey questionnaire.


INTERVIEWING DATES AND TIMES

Telephone surveying times are Monday through Friday from noon to 9:00 p.m., Saturday from

noon to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., 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 January 2019.

TELEPHONE SURVEY DATA COLLECTION AND QUALITY CONTROL

The software used for data collection was Questionnaire Programming Language (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 questionnaire 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 Survey Center Managers and statisticians monitored the data collection, including

monitoring of the actual telephone interviews without the interviewers’ knowledge, to evaluate

the performance of each interviewer and ensure the integrity of the data. The survey

questionnaire itself contains error checkers and computation statements to ensure quality and

consistent data. After the surveys were obtained by the interviewers, the Survey Center

Managers and/or statisticians checked each completed survey to ensure clarity and completeness.

DATA ANALYSIS

The analysis of data was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics as well as proprietary software

developed by Responsive Management. The survey data were weighted by age, gender, race/

ethnicity, and geographic region, based on the latest population proportions obtained from the

U.S. Census Bureau. Note that this weighting resulted in only minimal adjustments to the results

(typically 1-2%), as the raw data collected were quite close to actual population proportions. The

findings shown in this report are representative of adult Americans as a whole (see the

“Demographics” section at the end of the report for a breakdown of the characteristics of adult

Americans used for the weighting of survey data).

For all questions in the survey, crosstabulations were run to compare and contrast regional

differences. The four geographic regions used for these analyses are shown in the map on the

following page.


SAMPLING ERROR

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

interval. For the entire sample of adult Americans, the sampling error is at most plus or minus

1.76 percentage points. This means that if the survey were conducted 100 times on different

samples that were selected in the same way, the findings of 95 out of the 100 surveys would fall

within plus or minus 1.76 percentage points of each other. Sampling error was calculated using

the formula described below, with a sample size of 3,014 and a population size of 253,227,600

adult Americans.

Sampling Error Equation

( )

( )96.11

25.25.

−

−

=p

s

p

N

N

N

B

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).

Where: B = maximum sampling error (as decimal)

NP = population size (i.e., total number who could be surveyed)

NS = sample size (i.e., total number of respondents surveyed)

Map was created in color; legibility may be compromised if viewed in black and white.

U.S. Survey Regions


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESENTATION OF RESULTS IN THE REPORT

In examining the results, it is important to be aware that the questionnaire included several types

of questions:

• Closed-ended questions have an answer set from which to choose.

• Single or multiple response questions: Some questions allow only a single response,

while other questions allow respondents to give more than one response or choose all that

apply. Those that allow more than a single response are indicated on the graphs with the

label, “Multiple Responses Allowed.”

• Scaled questions: Many closed-ended questions (but not all) are in a scale, such as

excellent-good-fair-poor.

• Series questions: Many questions are part of a series, and the results are primarily

intended to be examined relative to the other questions in that series (although results of

the questions individually can also be valuable). Typically, results of all questions in a

series are shown together.

Some graphs show an average, either the mean or median (or both). The mean is simply the sum

of all numbers divided by the number of respondents. Because outliers (extremely high or low

numbers relative to most of the other responses) may skew the mean, the median may be shown.

The median is the number at which half the sample is above and the other half is below. In other

words, a median of 150 means that half the sample gave an answer of more than 150 and the

other half gave an answer of less than 150.

Most graphs show results rounded to the nearest integer; however, all data are stored in decimal

format, and all calculations are performed on unrounded numbers. For this reason, some results

may not sum to exactly 100% because of this rounding on the graphs. Additionally, rounding

may cause apparent discrepancies of 1 percentage point between the graphs and the reported

results of combined responses (e.g., when “strongly approve” and “moderately approve” are

summed to determine the total percentage of approval).


DEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATION GRAPHS AND HOW TO INTERPRET THEM

Special graphs that show many demographic variables as they relate to a single question are

included in this report. As shown in the example below, the graph shows the overall results

regarding the percentage who approve of hunting in the striped bar, as well as the percentage of

specific demographic groups that approve of hunting in the solid bars. All groups above the

striped bar have a higher percentage approving of hunting—in other words, these groups have a

higher likelihood of approving of hunting. On the other hand, all groups below the striped bar

have a lower percentage approving of hunting.

Percent of each of the following groups who

approve of legal hunting:

76.9

75.7

74.3

74.2

73.8

73.7

73.2

72.5

65.6

64.6

61.5

83.4

86.1

86.4

98.8

96.8

90.8

89.8

88.3

86.5

82.7

82.6

81.8

81.6

79.6

77.2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunter

Shooter

Angler

Resides in rural area

Grew up with family who owned firearms

White or Caucasian

Male

Resides in Midwest Region

Resides in small city or town

55 years old or older

Wildlife viewer

35-54 years old

Resides in Southeast Region

Total

Resides in West Region

Non-hunter

18-34 years old

Non-wildlife viewer

Non-angler

Resides in large city or suburb

Non-shooter

Female

Resides in Northeast Region

Did not grow up with family who owned firearms

Black or African-American

Hispanic or Latino

Percent (n=3014)

This graph looks at approval of legal hunting. The striped bar shows that 79.6% of adult Americans approve of hunting. Rural residents are more likely than the general population overall to approve of hunting, with 89.8% who do so. Conversely, those groups below the striped bar are less likely to approve of hunting than are residents overall. For instance, Hispanic residents (61.5%) are less likely to approve of hunting than are residents overall.


ATTITUDES TOWARD HUNTING IN THE UNITED STATES

ATTITUDES TOWARD HUNTING IN GENERAL

➢ Overall, 4 out of 5 Americans approve of hunting when the activity is asked about in a

general sense. (Note that the survey asked about legal hunting so that poaching or other

illegal activities would not be considered in the responses.)

• Differences in approval rates can be observed between the geographic regions, as well.

Regional crosstabulations show that approval of hunting is highest in the Midwest

(66% of residents strongly approve and 20% moderately approve, for an overall approval

of 86%) and lowest in the Northeast (72% overall approval).

• Americans’ level of approval for hunting has remained generally consistent over the past

quarter century, with a gradual uptick since 1995 when approval was at 73% (in fact, the

current approval level of 80% is the highest yet among the study years).

• Sport shooters and anglers are more likely to approve of hunting than the average

American. Other groups associated with higher levels of approval of hunting are those

who live in rural areas, those who grew up in a family that owned firearms, white

residents, and male residents. On the other hand, groups associated with lower levels of

approval of hunting include Hispanic residents, those who did not grow up in a family

that owned firearms, black residents, Northeast region residents, and female residents.

(Note that the demographic correlation graphs of those who approve and disapprove of

hunting are largely the inverse of each other; however, they are not quite mirror images

due to neutral and “don’t know/refused” responses.)

➢ The survey also asked respondents, regardless of their personal opinion of hunting, if they

agree or disagree that it is acceptable for other people to hunt provided they do so legally and

in accordance with hunting laws and regulations. Most Americans (92%) agree that it is

acceptable, compared to only 6% who disagree. Given that the initial question showed that

13% of Americans disapprove of hunting, this follow-up question suggests that just over half

of those who disapprove nonetheless feel that others should have the right to hunt.

• There was little variation between the regions on overall agreement, although strong

agreement was highest in the Midwest and Southeast regions.

• There was a slight decrease in overall agreement compared to 2011.


Q106. Do you approve or disapprove of legal

hunting?

55

25

7

4

9

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent (n=3014)

80%

13%


hunting?

44

28

7

6

13

10

8

3

7

24

58

2

5

2

66

20

5

1

9

4

49

28

9

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)

Q106. Do you approve or disapprove of legal hunting?

22

7375

17 16

78

20

74

12

79

13

77

14

79

13

80

0

20

40

60

80

100

Overall approval Overall disapproval

Pe

rce

nt

1995 2003 2006 2011 2013 2015 2016 2019

(2019 n=3014)

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approve of legal hunting:

76.9

75.7

74.3

74.2

73.8

73.7

73.2

72.5

65.6

64.6

61.5

83.4

86.1

86.4

98.8

96.8

90.8

89.8

88.3

86.5

82.7

82.6

81.8

81.6

79.6

77.2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunter

Shooter

Angler



White or Caucasian

Male




Wildlife viewer

35-54 years old


Total


Non-hunter

18-34 years old

Non-wildlife viewer

Non-angler


Non-shooter

Female




Hispanic or Latino

Percent (n=3014)



disapprove of legal hunting:

11.0

10.8

10.1

7.9

7.8

7.2

6.9

6.1

4.9

1.7

0.4

15.8

15.8

16.2

25.8

22.9

21.0

19.5

17.0

16.2

14.2

13.2

13.0

12.7

12.5

11.5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hispanic or Latino




Female

Non-shooter

Non-angler


Non-wildlife viewer

Non-hunter

18-34 years old


35-54 years old

Total



Wildlife viewer


White or Caucasian

Male




Angler

Shooter

Hunter

Percent (n=3014)


Q109. No matter your opinion on hunting, do you

agree or disagree that it is OK for other people to

hunt if they do so legally and in accordance with

hunting laws and regulations?

75

17

2

1

4

Less than 0.5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neither agree nor

disagree

Somewhat

disagree

Strongly disagree

Don't know

Percent (n=3014)

92%

6%*

*Apparent discrepancy

is due to rounding of

numbers on graph;

calculation is made on

unrounded numbers.

Q109. No matter your opinion on hunting, do you

agree or disagree that it is OK for other people to

hunt if they do so legally and in accordance with

hunting laws and regulations?

67

21

2

2

7

00

3

1

2

15

79

1

3

1

81

14

1

1

6

2

72

19

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Neither agree nor

disagree

Somewhat

disagree

Strongly disagree

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)

Q109. No matter your opinion on hunting, do you agree or disagree

that it is OK for other people to hunt if they do so legally and in

accordance with hunting laws and regulations?

4

9592

6

0

20

40

60

80

100

Agree Disagree

Pe

rce

nt

2011 2019

(2019 n=3014)

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MOTIVATIONS FOR HUNTING

➢ Approval of hunting varies considerably depending on the stated reasons for hunting. When the

reasons are utilitarian in nature—for meat, to protect humans or property, for wildlife

management—approval is very high. In addition, a strong majority of Americans are supportive

of hunting to obtain organic meat or locally sourced food. On the other hand, approval of hunting

drops substantially when the reasons are for the sport, the challenge, or a trophy. The motivations

for hunting asked about in the survey and the percentages who approve of each are listed below,

in descending order of strong approval:

• To protect humans from harm (85% approve; 63% strongly approve)

• For the meat (84% approve; 61% strongly approve)

• For wildlife management (82% approve; 58% strongly approve)

• To get locally sourced food (83% approve; 56% strongly approve)

• To get organic meat (77% approve; 50% strongly approve)

• To protect property (74% approve; 48% strongly approve)

• For the sport (50% approve; 26% strongly approve)

• For the challenge (41% approve; 19% strongly approve)

• For a trophy (29% approve; 9% strongly approve)

o The nationwide results for this series of motivations are shown together on one graph for

comparison. This is followed by graphs showing the series results within each region, as

well as the regional crosstabulation for each motivation individually.

o The trend graph shows that the percentages who approve of hunting for the sport, for the

challenge, and for a trophy have returned to 2006 levels after showing sharp declines in

2016.

➢ The preceding series showed a high level of approval of hunting for the meat. The survey also

asked respondents if they had eaten wild-caught game meat, such as venison or deer, wild turkey,

boar, buffalo, or duck in the 12 months prior to the survey; less than half of Americans (43%)

had done so.

• Residents of the Midwest are the most likely to have done so: at 55%, the Midwest is the

only region in which a majority of its residents have eaten game meat.


Percent that [approve / disapprove] of hunting for

each of the following reasons:

63

61

58

56

50

48

26

19

9

22

23

25

26

27

26

25

22

20

3

3

3

3

5

5

5

5

4

5

4

6

4

5

9

11

14

15

6

8

9

8

11

11

34

39

51

1

1

1

2

2

1

1

1

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

To protect humans

from harm

For the meat

For wildlife

management

To get locally

sourced food

To get organic meat

To protect property

For the sport

For the challenge

For a trophy

Percent (n=975)

Strongly approve

Moderately approve

Neither approve nor disapprove

Moderately disapprove

Strongly disapprove

Don’t know


Percent that strongly approve or moderately

approve of hunting for each of the following

reasons:

74

77

82

83

84

85

50

41

29

0 20 40 60 80 100

To protect humans

from harm

For the meat

To get locally

sourced food

For wildlife

management

To get organic meat

To protect property

For the sport

For the challenge

For a trophy

Percent (n=975)


Percent that strongly or moderately approve of

hunting for each of the following reasons:

(Northeast Region)

25

38

50

83

82

81

79

73

70

0 20 40 60 80 100

To protect

humans from

harm

To get locally

sourced food

For the meat

For wildlife

management

To get organic

meat

To protect

property

For the sport

For the challenge

For a trophy

Northeast (n=196)




(Southeast Region)

31

42

52

89

86

85

85

79

79

0 20 40 60 80 100

To protect humans

from harm

For wildlife

management

For the meat

To get locally

sourced food

To get organic

meat

To protect property

For the sport

For the challenge

For a trophy

Southeast (n=361)




(Midwest Region)

34

51

57

89

87

84

84

78

78

0 20 40 60 80 100

For the meat

To protect humans

from harm

For wildlife

management

To get locally

sourced food

To get organic

meat

To protect property

For the sport

For the challenge

For a trophy

Midwest (n=198)




(West Region)

24

33

42

82

80

77

77

75

68

0 20 40 60 80 100

For the meat

To get locally

sourced food

To protect humans

from harm

For wildlife

management

To get organic

meat

To protect property

For the sport

For the challenge

For a trophy

West (n=220)


Q118. For the meat?

(Do you approve or disapprove of hunting

for this reason?)

51

30

3

7

9

12

8

3

2

19

66

0

5

2

67

22

4

1

11

3

56

26

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q119. For a trophy?


for this reason?)

6

20

7

14

51

21

46

18

4

19

12

3

46

14

12

22

3

2

60

11

7

18

3

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q120. To protect humans from harm?


for this reason?)

61

23

3

5

7

10

4

4

3

21

67

1

6

4

64

23

1

1

8

7

57

19

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q121. For the challenge?


for this reason?)

14

25

7

16

38

11

36

15

6

22

20

0

30

15

24

27

4

2

51

10

17

17

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)


Q122. To get organic meat?


for this reason?)

45

28

6

7

11

42

11

4

4

28

52

2

9

5

51

27

6

2

11

8

52

22

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q123. For wildlife management?


for this reason?)

53

25

4

6

11

11

6

5

2

25

61

0

7

6

63

22

2

0

12

6

52

25

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q124. To protect property?


for this reason?)

41

29

4

13

13

01

8

6

6

25

54

0

12

8

54

24

2

2

13

9

39

28

9

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q125. For the sport?


for this reason?)

21

30

6

12

32

01

31

9

7

24

28

1

31

10

30

27

1

0

42

12

24

18

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)


Q126. To get locally sourced food?


for this reason?)

48

34

3

7

8

01

9

3

2

24

61

4

6

2

60

24

5

2

9

6

53

26

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q118-125. Percent who strongly or moderately approve of hunting for

the following motivations:

7469

36

26

21

7774

50

41

29

71

*

81

*

8585

53

40

28

78

88 8785

83858482

0

20

40

60

80

100

For the meat To protect

humans from

harm

To get locally

sourced food

For widlife

management

To get

organic meat

To protect

property

For the sport For the

challenge

For a trophy

Pe

rce

nt

2006 2016 2019

(2019 n=3014)*Motivation not asked about in 2006 survey


Q111. Not including meat from farm-raised

sources, ordered at restaurants, or bought at

stores, have you eaten any wild-caught game meat,

such as venison or deer, wild turkey, boar, buffalo,

or duck, in the past 12 months?

43

56

Less than 0.5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent (n=3014)

Q111. Not including meat from farm-raised

sources, ordered at restaurants, or bought at

stores, have you eaten any wild-caught game meat,

such as venison or deer, wild turkey, boar, buffalo,

or duck, in the past 12 months?

37

63

0

0

54

46

55

45

1

36

64

0

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes

No

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)


ATTITUDES TOWARD HUNTING DIFFERENT SPECIES

➢ Attitudes toward hunting vary according to the species being hunted. This study, consistent with

others, shows that hunting of ungulates, such as deer and elk, or waterfowl is more acceptable

than is hunting of predators, such as bear, mountain lions, or wolves. Meanwhile, less than a fifth

of Americans approve of hunting for exotic species such as African lions and elephants. The

species asked about in the survey and the percentages who approve of hunting each are listed

below, in descending order of strong approval:

• Deer (78% approve; 56% strongly approve)

• Wild turkey (78% approve; 55% strongly approve)

• Duck (74% approve; 47% strongly approve)

• Rabbit (72% approve; 47% strongly approve)

• Squirrel (65% approve; 43% strongly approve)

• Elk (66% approve; 39% strongly approve)

• Alligator (61% approve; 36% strongly approve)

• Mourning dove (44% approve; 24% strongly approve)

• Black bear (44% approve; 21% strongly approve)

• Grizzly bear (40% approve; 20% strongly approve)

• Wolf (39% approve; 20% strongly approve)

• Mountain lion or cougar (38% approve; 18% strongly approve)

• African lion (14% approve; 6% strongly approve)

• African elephant (7% approve; 3% strongly approve)

o The nationwide results for this series of species are shown together on one graph,

followed by graphs showing the series results within each region and the regional

crosstabulation for each species individually.

o The trend graph shows that approval of hunting black bear and wild turkey has increased

since 2016.

o It is interesting to note that there is no species for which hunting approval is as high as it

is for hunting in general. This suggests that, for some, it is easier to approve of hunting in

general when specific animals are not being considered.


Percent that [approve / disapprove] of hunting each

of the following species:

56

55

47

47

43

39

36

24

21

20

20

18

6

3

22

24

28

25

22

27

25

20

23

20

19

20

8

3

3

4

4

3

5

6

8

10

7

7

7

7

6

5

5

5

7

9

9

8

10

11

12

11

13

13

9

7

14

11

14

15

19

18

17

31

34

39

39

39

68

80

0

2

1

1

1

2

4

4

3

2

3

2

4

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Deer

Wild turkey

Duck

Rabbit

Squirrel

Elk

Alligator

Mourning dove

Black bear

Grizzly bear

Wolf

Mountain lion or cougar

African lion

African elephant

Percent (n=975)

Strongly approve

Moderately approve



Strongly disapprove

Don't know



approve of hunting each of the following species:

7

14

38

39

40

65

66

72

74

78

78

61

44

44

0 20 40 60 80 100

Wild turkey

Deer

Duck

Rabbit

Elk

Squirrel

Alligator

Mourning dove

Black bear

Grizzly bear

Wolf


African lion

African elephant

Percent (n=975)



hunting each of the following species:

(Northeast Region)

42

46

57

74

72

69

66

60

59

40

36

32

14

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Wild turkey

Deer

Duck

Rabbit

Elk

Alligator

Squirrel

Black bear

Grizzly bear

Wolf


Mourning dove

African lion

African elephant

Northeast (n=196)




(Southeast Region)

44

52

65

82

82

76

75

70

69

40

37

37

17

9

0 20 40 60 80 100

Deer

Wild turkey

Duck

Rabbit

Squirrel

Alligator

Elk

Mourning dove

Black bear

Grizzly bear


Wolf

African lion

African elephant

Southeast (n=361)




(Midwest Region)

46

48

63

82

80

75

74

71

68

44

43

39

11

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Deer

Wild turkey

Duck

Rabbit

Elk

Squirrel

Alligator

Black bear

Wolf

Grizzly bear


Mourning dove

African lion

African elephant

Midwest (n=198)




(West Region)

39

47

48

77

75

72

71

68

62

37

34

33

10

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Duck

Wild turkey

Deer

Rabbit

Elk

Squirrel

Alligator

Mourning dove

Black bear


Wolf

Grizzly bear

African lion

African elephant

West (n=220)


Q129. Deer?


for this species?)

47

25

4

7

17

01

12

3

2

24

58

0

11

5

69

13

1

0

18

4

49

23

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q130. Wild turkey?


for this species?)

47

27

4

9

10

31

10

3

3

25

58

2

11

5

62

18

3

3

12

5

51

24

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q131. Black bear?


for this species?)

19

27

9

14

28

31

35

13

7

22

21

5

30

11

27

21

6

2

43

10

19

20

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q132. Mourning dove?


for this species?)

12

20

11

13

39

54

28

9

6

22

30

3

35

12

22

17

11

5

26

9

28

20

12

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)


Q133. Mountain lion or cougar?


for this species?)

13

23

9

19

33

41

41

13

8

17

20

2

37

12

19

24

7

1

46

11

18

19

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q134. Elk?


for this species?)

27

33

6

11

20

31

19

8

6

25

40

5

14

8

44

27

3

1

16

7

45

23

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q135. Duck?


for this species?)

39

30

4

10

16

20

12

8

3

27

49

1

15

6

52

22

4

0

13

4

46

30

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q136. Grizzly bear?


for this species?)

16

26

11

13

29

51

39

13

7

19

22

3

37

9

23

22

6

2

50

9

18

15

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)


Q137. Alligator?


for this species?)

32

27

9

13

14

52

17

8

4

24

45

3

13

12

32

31

8

4

23

10

28

20

15

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q138. Wolf?


for this species?)

18

22

8

14

33

43

40

12

7

18

19

2

32

14

23

23

6

1

48

11

18

15

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q139. Rabbit?


for this species?)

34

32

3

10

20

21

17

6

2

27

48

1

7

14

54

21

3

1

16

8

51

20

3

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q140. Squirrel?


for this species?)

31

26

5

16

20

10

18

8

3

23

47

3

14

9

50

18

6

1

24

6

43

19

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)


Q141. African lion?


for this species?)

3

10

9

10

64

43

68

8

4

9

9

4

65

11

7

4

9

3

76

7

3

7

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q142. African elephant?


for this species?)

1

4

7

7

80

12

79

5

5

4

5

3

80

8

3

1

5

2

81

7

3

3

3

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q129-142. Percent of respondents who strongly approve or

moderately approve of hunting for each of the following species:

6966

58

4240 39

37 37

16

4

78

74

79

72

65 66

61

44

4039

44

38

14

7

**

42

47

*

60

**

75

*

78

*

40

*

71

77 76

71

0

20

40

60

80

100

Deer Duck Wild

turkey

Rabbit Squirrel Elk Alligator Mourning

dove

Grizzly

bear

Wolf Black

bear

Mountain

lion or

cougar

African

Lion

African

elephant

Pe

rce

nt

2006 2016 2019

(2019 n=3014)*Species not asked about in 2006 survey


METHODS OF HUNTING

➢ The methods used to hunt also affect Americans’ attitudes toward the sport. The hunting

methods asked about in the survey and the percentages who approve of each are listed below,

in descending order of strong approval:

• Hunting with a bow and arrow (80% approve; 60% strongly approve)

• Hunting with dogs (55% approve; 26% strongly approve)

• Hunting using scents that attract game (43% approve; 18% strongly approve)

• Hunting over bait (32% approve; 13% strongly approve)

• Hunting bear during the spring (20% approve; 10% strongly approve)

• Hunting using high-tech gear such as hearing devices or laser tripwires

(26% approve; 9% strongly approve)

• Hunting on property that has a high fence around it

(21% approve; 8% strongly approve)

o The nationwide results for this series of hunting methods are shown together on one

graph, followed by graphs showing the series results within each region and the

regional crosstabulation for each method individually.

o Although hunting using high-tech gear and on high-fence property remain unpopular

methods of hunting, approval for each has notably increased since 2016.


Percent that [approve / disapprove] of hunting

using each of the following methods:

60

26

18

13

10

9

8

6

7

8

11

6

8

11

12

14

17

17

14

12

24

33

41

43

46

52

3

4

5

5

9

4

513

18

10

19

25

29

20

2 4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunting with a bow and arrow

Hunting with dogs

Hunting using scents that attract game

Hunting over bait

Hunting bear during the spring

Hunting using high-tech gear such as

hearing devices or laser tripwires

Hunting on property that has a high fence

around it

Percent (n=975)

Strongly approve

Moderately approve



Strongly disapprove

Don't know



approve of hunting using each of the following

methods:

21

26

32

43

55

80

20

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunting with a bow

and arrow

Hunting with dogs

Hunting using

scents that attract

game

Hunting over bait

Hunting using high-

tech gear such as

hearing devices or

laser tripwires

Hunting on property

that has a high

fence around it

Hunting bear during

the spring

Percent (n=975)



hunting using each of the following methods:

(Northeast Region)

17

71

55

40

27

22

20

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunting with a bow

and arrow

Hunting with dogs

Hunting using

scents that attract

game

Hunting using high-

tech gear such as

hearing devices or

laser tripwires

Hunting over bait

Hunting bear during

the spring

Hunting on property

that has a high

fence around it

Northeast (n=196)




(Southeast Region)

25

27

39

45

52

81

21

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunting with a bow

and arrow

Hunting with dogs

Hunting using

scents that attract

game

Hunting over bait

Hunting using high-

tech gear such as

hearing devices or

laser tripwires

Hunting on

property that has a

high fence around

it

Hunting bear

during the spring

Southeast (n=361)




(Midwest Region)

21

87

64

48

31

30

25

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunting with a bow

and arrow

Hunting with dogs

Hunting using

scents that attract

game

Hunting over bait

Hunting using high-

tech gear such as

hearing devices or

laser tripwires

Hunting bear

during the spring

Hunting on

property that has a

high fence around

it

Midwest (n=198)




(West Region)

15

79

51

39

31

22

18

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunting with a bow

and arrow

Hunting with dogs

Hunting using

scents that attract

game

Hunting over bait

Hunting using high-

tech gear such as

hearing devices or

laser tripwires

Hunting on property

that has a high

fence around it

Hunting bear during

the spring

West (n=220)


Q145. Hunting over bait?


using this method?)

6

16

8

23

42

53

40

10

7

19

20

5

38

16

13

19

10

7

46

10

10

21

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q146. Hunting on property that has a high-fence

around it?


using this method?)

4

13

9

16

54

54

51

11

9

16

9

5

51

15

10

11

9

8

53

15

8

10

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q147. Hunting using scents that attract game?


using this method?)

11

29

9

17

31

34

33

10

8

23

22

6

27

13

21

28

6

6

39

11

16

23

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q148. Hunting with dogs?


using this method?)

21

34

6

12

24

33

27

12

6

26

27

5

16

9

35

30

6

5

29

9

24

27

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)


Q149. Hunting using high-tech gear such as

hearing devices or laser tripwires?


using this method?)

7

20

6

17

47

45

47

14

7

16

11

2

44

19

9

21

5

7

45

20

7

15

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q150. Hunting with a bow and arrow?


using this method?)

51

20

4

8

15

33

11

2

2

20

61

1

9

2

68

19

0

3

12

3

59

20

3

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)

Q151. Hunting bear during the spring?


using this method?)

9

11

13

24

34

98

47

14

11

11

10

10

40

14

14

11

10

11

47

17

8

7

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=196)

Southeast (n=361)

Midwest (n=198)

West (n=220)


Q145-151. Percent who strongly approve or moderately approve of

hunting for each of the following methods:

22

14

22

80

55

43

32

2621 202020

27

36

57

* *

29

76

54

38

0

20

40

60

80

100

Hunting with a

bow and arrow

Hunting with dogs Hunting using

special scents

that attract game

Hunting over bait Hunting using

high-tech gear

Hunting in a high-

fence preserve /

Hunting on

property that has

a high fence

around it

Hunting bear

during the spring

Pe

rce

nt

2007 2016 2019

*Method not asked about in 2007 survey

(2019 n=3014)


ATTITUDES TOWARD FISHING IN THE UNITED STATES

ATTITUDES TOWARD FISHING IN GENERAL

➢ There is less controversy surrounding fishing, relative to hunting, with the vast majority of

Americans approving of fishing. Nationally, 93% of Americans approve of legal recreational

fishing, while only 3% disapprove.

• There is little variation between the regions regarding overall approval, although strong

approval is highest in the Midwest. The nationwide percentage of approval has remained

consistent over the years.

• The demographic correlations graphs show little variation between the groups regarding

approval of fishing. Compared to the overall percentage of Americans who approve of

fishing, there is slightly less approval among Hispanic residents and those who did not

grow up with firearms in the family.


recreational fishing?

75

18

3

1

2

Less than 0.5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent (n=3014)

93%

3%


recreational fishing?

70

21

4

2

3

00

1

1

3

18

77

0

1

1

84

12

2

1

2

1

70

22

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)

jcurcuruto

Highlight


Q107. Do you approve or disapprove of legal recreational fishing?

3

95

90

4 5

93

2

93

3

93

0

20

40

60

80

100


Pe

rce

nt

1995 2003 2006 2011 2019

(2019 n=3014)



approve of legal recreational fishing:

92.5

91.9

91.9

91.9

91.5

91.4

91.3

91.2

91.1

88.3

87.7

94.9

95.1

95.1

98.5

98.2

98.1

96.7

95.9

95.8

94.7

94.4

94.3

94.0

93.5

92.7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunter

Angler

Shooter


White or Caucasian



Male

35-54 years old

Wildlife viewer




Total

Non-hunter



Female

Non-shooter

18-34 years old

Non-wildlife viewer


Non-angler



Hispanic or Latino

Percent (n=3014)



disapprove of legal recreational fishing:

2.5

2.3

2.3

2.2

2.1

2.0

1.7

1.4

1.2

1.1

0.6

3.4

3.4

3.6

6.5

5.3

4.6

4.0

3.9

3.6

3.2

3.1

2.9

2.8

2.7

2.5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hispanic or Latino

Did not grow up with family who owned

firearms


18-34 years old

Non-angler


Female

Non-wildlife viewer

Non-shooter


Non-hunter


Total


Wildlife viewer


35-54 years old




Male

White or Caucasian


Shooter

Hunter

Angler

Percent (n=3014)


MOTIVATIONS FOR FISHING

➢ Approval of fishing can vary depending on the motivations for fishing. Fishing for food is

considered much more acceptable than fishing for the sport, for the challenge, or for a trophy

fish. These results largely mirror those of the hunting portion of the survey, indicating that

Americans approve of fishing for utilitarian purposes much more than they approve of

fishing for sport. The motivations for fishing asked about in the survey and the percentages

who approve of each are listed below, in descending order of strong approval:

• For fish to eat (96% approve; 84% strongly approve)

• To supplement income (82% approve; 55% strongly approve)

• For the challenge (70% approve; 43% strongly approve)

• For the sport (73% approve; 43% strongly approve)

• For a trophy fish (53% approve; 26% strongly approve)

o The nationwide results for this series of motivations are shown together on one graph,


crosstabulation for each motivation individually.

o For most motivations, strong approval is highest in the Midwest and strong

disapproval is highest in the Northeast.

o Approval of fishing to supplement income has increased substantially, going from

65% in 2006 to 82% in 2019. The percentages of Americans who approve of fishing

for the challenge and for a trophy fish have also notably increased.


Percent that [approve / disapprove] of fishing for


84

55

43

43

26

12

27

26

30

27

5

9

7

9

5

7

7

13

6

13

12

24

3

1

1

1

1 1

1

0

0 20 40 60 80 100

For fish to eat

To supplement

income

For the challenge

For the sport

For a trophy fish

Percent (n=1041)

Strongly approve

Moderately approve



Strongly disapprove

Don't know



approve of fishing for each of the following

reasons:

53

70

73

82

96

0 20 40 60 80 100

For fish to eat

To supplement

income

For the sport

For the challenge

For a trophy fish

Percent (n=1041)



fishing for each of the following reasons:

(Northeast Region)

97

81

66

65

47

0 20 40 60 80 100

For fish to eat

To supplement

income

For the challenge

For the sport

For a trophy fish

Northeast (n=197)




(Southeast Region)

96

83

75

71

58

0 20 40 60 80 100

For fish to eat

To supplement

income

For the sport

For the challenge

For a trophy fish

Southeast (n=380)




(Midwest Region)

97

82

78

77

61

0 20 40 60 80 100

For fish to eat

To supplement

income

For the sport

For the challenge

For a trophy fish

Midwest (n=224)




(West Region)

95

80

71

64

42

0 20 40 60 80 100

For fish to eat

To supplement

income

For the sport

For the challenge

For a trophy fish

West (n=240)


Q155. For fish to eat?

(Do you approve or disapprove of fishing

for this reason?)

84

12

0

1

2

00

1

1

2

14

82

0

2

0

90

7

1

1

1

2

81

14

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)

Q156. For the sport?


for this reason?)

35

30

5

10

19

11

10

6

8

30

46

2

7

7

49

29

6

2

12

7

38

33

9

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)

Q157. To supplement income?


for this reason?)

56

24

5

4

6

42

5

4

6

26

57

4

5

5

57

25

5

2

6

6

49

32

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)

Q158. For the challenge?


for this reason?)

41

25

7

7

19

11

13

7

9

27

44

2

8

5

53

24

8

2

11

11

36

29

11

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)


Q159. For a trophy fish?


for this reason?)

22

25

8

16

29

01

22

10

8

27

31

1

19

9

30

31

10

3

27

17

19

23

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)

Q155-159. Percent who strongly or moderately approve of fishing for

the following motivations:

5348

6465

75

96

70

96

73

82

0

20

40

60

80

100

For fish to eat For the sport To supplement

income

For the challenge For a trophy fish

Pe

rce

nt

2006 2019

(2019 n=3014)


METHODS OF FISHING

➢ As with hunting, the methods used to fish can influence Americans’ attitudes toward the

sport. Approval is high for the most common fishing methods (catch-and-release fishing,

fishing with bait, fly-fishing, and fishing with lures). Crabbing has slightly lower approval,

and then there is a sharp decline in approval for gigging and snagging. The fishing methods

asked about in the survey and the percentages who approve of each are listed below, in

descending order of strong approval:

• Catch-and-release fishing (89% approve; 73% strongly approve)

• Fishing with bait (91% approve; 68% strongly approve)

• Fly-fishing (84% approve; 63% strongly approve)

• Fishing with lures (86% approve; 63% strongly approve)

• Crabbing (79% approve; 54% strongly approve)

• Gigging (57% approve; 32% strongly approve)

• Snagging (43% approve; 21% strongly approve)

o The nationwide results for this series of fishing methods are shown together on one

graph, followed by graphs showing the series results within each region and the

regional crosstabulation for each method individually.

o Strong approval is highest in the Midwest for all methods except crabbing, which has

higher approval in the Northeast and Southeast.

o Although the least popular methods of fishing are gigging and snagging, approval of

each has increased substantially since 2006.


Percent who [approve / disapprove] of fishing

using each of the following methods:

73

68

63

63

54

32

21

23

21

24

25

26

22

3

3

5

5

8

10

9

3

3

2

8

14

4

2

3

16

25

2

3

7

4

9

9

9

16

1

1

2

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Catch-and-release

fishing

Fishing with bait

Fly-fishing

Fishing with lures

Crabbing

Gigging

Snagging

Percent (n=1041)

Strongly approve

Moderately approve



Strongly disapprove

Don't know


Percent who strongly approve or moderately

approve of fishing using each of the following

methods:

57

79

84

86

89

91

43

0 20 40 60 80 100

Fishing with bait

Catch-and-release

fishing

Fishing with lures

Fly-fishing

Crabbing

Gigging

Snagging

Percent (n=1041)


Percent who strongly or moderately approve of

fishing using each of the following methods:

(Northeast Region)

35

88

84

81

77

76

47

0 20 40 60 80 100

Fishing with bait

Catch-and-release

fishing

Fishing with lures

Crabbing

Fly-fishing

Gigging

Snagging

Northeast (n=197)




(Southeast Region)

44

92

90

88

88

84

61

0 20 40 60 80 100

Fishing with bait

Catch-and-release

fishing

Fishing with lures

Fly-fishing

Crabbing

Gigging

Snagging

Southeast (n=380)




(Midwest Region)

51

94

94

92

87

77

64

0 20 40 60 80 100

Fishing with bait

Catch-and-release

fishing

Fishing with lures

Fly-fishing

Crabbing

Gigging

Snagging

Midwest (n=224)




(West Region)

40

88

86

83

82

78

55

0 20 40 60 80 100

Fishing with bait

Catch-and-release

fishing

Fly-fishing

Fishing with lures

Crabbing

Gigging

Snagging

West (n=240)


Q162. Fishing with bait?


using this method?)

63

24

3

1

3

52

1

1

3

23

70

1

2

1

79

16

1

4

1

2

61

28

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)

Q163. Fishing with lures?


using this method?)

59

23

3

3

3

93

1

2

6

25

63

3

2

1

75

17

2

4

3

5

54

28

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)

Q164. Catch-and-release fishing?


using this method?)

65

19

3

5

6

31

4

2

3

16

73

1

2

1

81

13

1

3

4

4

69

16

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)

Q165. Fly-fishing?


using this method?)

52

23

8

2

3

126

1

1

3

24

63

6

3

0

75

12

4

5

1

2

61

22

8

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)


Q166. Crabbing?


using this method?)

58

19

6

3

4

106

2

2

7

25

59

11

3

1

50

26

8

9

2

2

47

31

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)

Q167. Gigging?


using this method?)

26

21

12

8

19

138

14

8

9

26

35

7

16

7

36

28

7

9

15

8

27

28

13

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)

Q168. Snagging?


using this method?)

19

16

11

13

27

1410

22

14

11

23

21

7

22

14

29

22

6

7

30

14

17

24

8

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=197)

Southeast (n=380)

Midwest (n=224)

West (n=240)


Q162-168. Percent who strongly or moderately approve of fishing for

each of the following methods:

79

58

4345

79

85868690

32

84

9186

89

0

20

40

60

80

100

Fishing with

bait

Fishing with

lures

Catch-and-

release fishing

Fly fishing Crabbing Gigging Snagging

Pe

rce

nt

2006 2019

(2019 n=3014)


ATTITUDES TOWARD SPORT SHOOTING IN THE UNITED STATES

➢ Overall, 81% of Americans approve of legal recreational shooting, compared to 12% who

disapprove.

• As with hunting and fishing, approval is highest in the Midwest and lowest in the

Northeast.

• This approval rate is consistent with the 2016 survey.

o Groups most commonly associated with approval of sport shooting are hunters and

anglers, those who grew up with a family that owned firearms, those who live in rural

areas, white residents, and male residents. At the opposite end, the groups most

commonly associated with disapproval of shooting are black residents, those who did

not grow up with a family that owned firearms, Northeast region residents, Hispanic

residents, and female residents.

➢ The survey also asked respondents to select a statement that best reflects their opinion of

recreational shooting sports. The three statements and the percentages who selected each are

as follows:

• Shooting sports are perfectly acceptable. (65%)

• Shooting sports are OK, but maybe a little inappropriate now. (23%)

• Shooting sports are inappropriate nowadays. (9%)

o Residents of the Midwest and Southeast regions are the most likely to say shooting

sports are perfectly acceptable, whereas those in the Northeast are the least likely to

say this.

o These results are consistent with the findings from 2011.

jcurcuruto

Highlight



recreational shooting?

59

22

6

3

9

Less than 0.5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent (n=3014)

81%

12%


recreational shooting?

51

22

6

4

15

10

9

2

6

22

61

0

6

4

64

20

5

1

7

3

59

23

7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)

Q108. Do you approve or disapprove of legal recreational shooting?

14

79

71

19

13

79

12

81

0

20

40

60

80

100


Pe

rce

nt

2006 2011 2016 2019

(2019 n=3014)

jcurcuruto

Highlight



approve of legal recreational shooting:

78.6

78.0

77.8

76.2

75.8

75.5

75.3

75.1

73.0

68.4

61.6

84.7

85.0

86.8

98.6

98.3

91.2

89.1

88.1

87.2

84.3

83.1

82.9

82.6

82.3

81.1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Shooter

Hunter

Angler



White or Caucasian

Male

35-54 years old


Wildlife viewer

18-34 years old




Total

Non-hunter



Non-angler

Female

Hispanic or Latino

Non-wildlife viewer

Non-shooter




Percent (n=3014)



disapprove of legal recreational shooting:

10.8

10.3

10.1

9.6

8.5

7.6

7.6

6.6

5.9

0.8

0.8

14.6

14.7

15.3

25.9

21.3

19.8

18.8

16.2

15.9

14.4

13.9

12.3

11.6

11.0

10.9

0 20 40 60 80 100




Hispanic or Latino

Non-shooter

Female

Non-angler


Non-wildlife viewer


Non-hunter

Total


Wildlife viewer


18-34 years old

35-54 years old



Male

White or Caucasian



Angler

Hunter

Shooter

Percent (n=3014)


Q110. Which of the following statements best

describes your opinion of recreational shooting

sports?

65

23

9

2

2

0 20 40 60 80 100

Shooting sports

are perfectly

acceptable

Shooting sports

are OK, but

maybe a little

inappropriate now

Shooting sports

are inappropriate

nowadays

None of these

Don't know

Percent (n=3014)

Q110. Which of the following statements best

describes your opinion of recreational shooting

sports?

54

31

11

2

2

2

2

8

19

69

1

1

70

20

8

2

1

64

25

8

0 20 40 60 80 100

Shooting sports

are perfectly

acceptable

Shooting sports

are OK, but

maybe a little

inappropriate

now

Shooting sports

are inappropriate

nowadays

None of these

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)

Q110. Which of the following statements best describes your opinion

of recreational shooting sports?

2

11

28

59

3

63

23

11

5

27

66

2 39

23

65

0

20

40

60

80

100

Shooting sports are

perfectly acceptable

Shooting sports are okay,

but maybe a little

inappropriate now

Shooting sports are

inappropriate nowadays

None of these describes

my opinion / don't know

Pe

rce

nt

2001 2006 2011 2019

(2019 n=3014)


ATTITUDES TOWARD TRAPPING IN THE UNITED STATES

➢ Trapping is more controversial than the other outdoor recreation activities discussed in this

study. A slight majority of Americans (52%) approve of regulated trapping, while 31%

disapprove.

• Approval is higher in the Midwest and Southeast regions, and disapproval is higher in the

Northeast and West regions.

• Since 2006, overall approval has remained consistent but strong disapproval has

decreased slightly.

o Those who participate in hunting, sport shooting, and fishing are considerably more

likely to approve of trapping than is the average American. Other groups more likely

to approve of trapping are those in rural areas, male residents, Midwest region

residents, those who grew up with a family that owned firearms, and white residents.

Conversely, groups who are more likely to disapprove of trapping are black residents,

those who did not grow up with a family that owned firearms, Hispanic residents,

female residents, and those who live in the Northeast and West regions.

➢ Opinion is highly influenced by the stated reason for the trapping of wildlife. Approval is

highest for trapping if it is for wildlife restoration and population control. Similarly, trapping

to provide food or protect property has more approval than trapping for money, fur clothing,

or recreation. The motivations asked about in the survey and the percentages who approve of

each are listed below, in descending order of strong approval:

• As part of a restoration program (84% approve; 59% strongly approve)

• For subsistence (73% approve; 47% strongly approve)

• To help control wildlife populations (73% approve; 47% strongly approve)

• For food (72% approve; 44% strongly approve)

• To reduce damages to crops and gardens (69% approve; 39% strongly approve)

• To reduce damage to human property (65% approve; 35% strongly approve)

• As part of a biological study (64% approve; 33% strongly approve)

• To make money (35% approve; 16% strongly approve)

• For fur clothing (30% approve; 13% strongly approve)

• For recreation (28% approve; 10% strongly approve)

o The nationwide results for this series of motivations are shown together on one graph,


crosstabulation for each motivation individually.

o For most of these motivations, approval of trapping is highest in the Midwest region,

although trapping to protect crops or gardens and human property has the most

approval in the Southeast. Disapproval is highest in the Northeast region for nearly all

trapping motivations.

jcurcuruto

Highlight


Q113. In general, do you approve or disapprove of

regulated trapping?

29

23

11

10

21

5

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent (n=3014)

52%

31%

Q113. In general, do you approve or disapprove of

regulated trapping?

22

24

11

11

27

55

19

9

12

25

30

5

16

8

38

25

8

6

24

14

25

18

13

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)

Q113. In general, do you approve or disapprove of regulated trapping?

21

57

25

106

22

31

10

29

23

11

0

20

40

60

80

100

Strongly approve Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Pe

rce

nt

2006 2019

(2019 n=3014)

jcurcuruto

Highlight



approve of regulated trapping:

47.9

47.7

46.1

45.5

45.3

44.7

43.4

42.4

42.1

40.3

33.2

56.1

58.6

60.1

83.4

74.0

66.2

65.3

62.7

62.3

55.5

54.7

54.5

54.1

52.2

50.3

0 20 40 60 80 100

Hunter

Shooter

Angler


Male



White or Caucasian



18-34 years old

Wildlife viewer

35-54 years old

Total


Non-wildlife viewer

Non-hunter



Non-angler

Non-shooter


Hispanic or Latino

Female



Percent (n=3014)



disapprove of regulated trapping:

28.8

28.4

27.8

26.5

25.6

24.7

24.0

22.3

20.4

14.7

9.0

35.9

37.2

37.3

46.8

41.1

40.2

38.3

37.8

37.4

34.6

33.7

32.5

31.4

31.1

30.9

0 20 40 60 80 100



Hispanic or Latino


Female



Non-shooter

Non-angler

Non-hunter


Non-wildlife viewer

Total

18-34 years old

Wildlife viewer

35-54 years old



White or Caucasian


Male


Angler


Shooter

Hunter

Percent (n=3014)


Percent who [approve / disapprove] of trapping for


59

47

47

44

39

35

33

16

13

10

24

26

26

28

30

30

31

19

17

17

4

7

6

6

7

7

8

7

7

6

3

7

7

6

9

10

6

15

14

16

6

10

12

14

12

15

18

40

47

48

3

3

2

2

2

3

4

4

3

3

0 20 40 60 80 100

As part of a restoration program

For subsistence

To help control wildlife populations

For food

To reduce damage to crops and gardens

To reduce damage to human property

As part of a biological study

To make money

For fur clothing

For recreation

Percent (n=998)

Strongly approve

Moderately approve



Strongly disapprove

Don't know


Percent who strongly approve or moderately

approve of trapping for each of the following

reasons:

28

65

69

72

73

73

84

64

35

30

0 20 40 60 80 100


For subsistence


For food




To make money

For fur clothing

For recreation

Percent (n=998)



trapping for each of the following reasons:

(Northeast Region)

26

26

54

82

69

67

66

62

61

21

0 20 40 60 80 100



For food

For subsistence

To reduce damage to crops and

gardens



For fur clothing

To make money

For recreation

Northeast (n=189)




(Southeast Region)

32

37

67

84

77

75

74

74

73

30

0 20 40 60 80 100




gardens

For subsistence


For food


To make money

For fur clothing

For recreation

Southeast (n=350)




(Midwest Region)

36

43

63

87

80

77

75

68

66

31

0 20 40 60 80 100


For subsistence

For food



gardens



To make money

For fur clothing

For recreation

Midwest (n=216)




(West Region)

27

34

61

82

72

72

68

66

64

26

0 20 40 60 80 100


For food

For subsistence





To make money

For recreation

For fur clothing

West (n=243)


Q171. For food?

(Do you approve or disapprove of trapping

for this reason?)

38

29

4

7

20

22

12

6

7

26

48

3

8

5

50

27

7

2

16

4

40

31

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=189)

Southeast (n=350)

Midwest (n=216)

West (n=243)

Q172. For recreation?


for this reason?)

10

11

6

18

53

23

48

12

6

19

12

6

41

18

10

21

5

2

48

17

10

17

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=189)

Southeast (n=350)

Midwest (n=216)

West (n=243)

Q173. For subsistence?


for this reason?)

43

23

7

12

13

13

10

5

8

25

49

3

6

6

52

28

5

4

10

5

42

29

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=189)

Southeast (n=350)

Midwest (n=216)

West (n=243)

Q174. To help control wildlife populations?


for this reason?)

41

28

5

8

17

11

9

5

7

21

56

3

12

7

49

26

3

3

12

6

37

31

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=189)

Southeast (n=350)

Midwest (n=216)

West (n=243)


Q175. To reduce damage to crops and gardens?


for this reason?)

31

31

9

11

17

12

9

8

6

28

47

4

13

11

43

25

4

3

12

9

32

34

10

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=189)

Southeast (n=350)

Midwest (n=216)

West (n=243)

Q176. To reduce damage to human property?


for this reason?)

25

29

11

14

19

13

12

6

5

29

45

4

13

11

36

30

6

4

18

9

30

31

8

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=189)

Southeast (n=350)

Midwest (n=216)

West (n=243)

Q177. For fur clothing?


for this reason?)

10

16

8

13

51

12

45

15

6

18

14

5

38

15

18

18

6

3

52

12

11

15

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=189)

Southeast (n=350)

Midwest (n=216)

West (n=243)

Q178. To make money?


for this reason?)

8

18

9

17

45

34

35

16

8

18

19

5

33

13

21

22

7

4

46

12

13

21

4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=189)

Southeast (n=350)

Midwest (n=216)

West (n=243)


Q179. As part of a biological study?


for this reason?)

34

28

10

5

22

25

16

7

6

31

36

5

16

8

31

32

9

4

18

6

32

32

8

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=189)

Southeast (n=350)

Midwest (n=216)

West (n=243)

Q180. As part of a restoration program?


for this reason?)

59

22

6

3

6

34

7

3

3

22

62

2

5

3

62

25

2

3

7

3

54

28

6

0 20 40 60 80 100

Strongly approve

Moderately

approve

Neither approve

nor disapprove

Moderately

disapprove

Strongly

disapprove

Don't know

Percent

Northeast (n=189)

Southeast (n=350)

Midwest (n=216)

West (n=243)


DEMOGRAPHICS

➢ The following demographic data were collected for crosstabulations and data analysis:

• Age.

• Gender.

• Race or ethnicity.

• Type of residential area.

• State of residence.

Q191. May I ask your age?

4

19

16

17

16

17

12

0 20 40 60 80 100

65 years old or

older

55-64 years old

45-54 years old

35-44 years old

25-34 years old

18-24 years old

Refused

Percent (n=3014)

Mean: 46.86

Median: 47

Note that the survey

was limited to adults

age 18 or older.

Q191. May I ask your age?

4

20

17

16

14

17

12

4

12

17

16

17

15

18

3

13

16

15

19

17

17

5

12

18

16

17

15

16

0 20 40 60 80 100

65 years old or

older

55-64 years old

45-54 years old

35-44 years old

25-34 years old

18-24 years old

Refused

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)

Northeast

Mean: 47.40

Median: 48

Southeast

Mean: 46.48

Median: 46

Midwest

Mean: 47.61

Median: 47

West

Mean: 46.26

Median: 45

Note that the survey

was limited to adults

age 18 or older.


Q199. Respondent's gender (not asked; observed

by interviewer).

49

51

0 20 40 60 80 100

Male

Female

Percent (n=3014)

Q199. Respondent's gender (not asked; observed

by interviewer).

48

52

51

48

49

51

49

50

0 20 40 60 80 100

Male

Female

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)

Q188. What races or ethnic backgrounds do you

consider yourself? Please mention all that apply.

3

1

1

3

1

4

Less than 0.5

69

12

12

0 20 40 60 80 100

White or Caucasian

Hispanic or Latino

Black or African-

American

Native American or

Alaskan native or

Aleutian

East Asian

South Asian

Middle Eastern

Other

Don't know

Refused

Mu

ltip

le R

es

po

nse

s A

llo

we

d

Percent (n=3014)

Q188. What races or ethnic backgrounds do you

consider yourself? Please mention all that apply.

0

0

2

1

3

2

0

1

3

0

3

68

21

4

4

2

1

0

3

1

4

4

1

2

1

18

10

62

0

4

2

17

13

66

3

1

3

81

5

9

0 20 40 60 80 100

White or Caucasian

Hispanic or Latino


Native American or Alaskan native or

Aleutian

East Asian

South Asian

Middle Eastern

Other

Don't know

Refused

Mu

ltip

le R

es

po

nse

s A

llo

we

d

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)


Q190. Do you consider your place of residence to

be a large city or urban area, a suburban area, a

small city or town, a rural area on a farm or ranch,

or a rural area not on a farm or ranch?

1

27

24

26

6

14

1

0 20 40 60 80 100

Large city or urban

area

Suburban area

Small city or town

Rural area on a

farm or ranch

Rural area not on

a farm or ranch

Don't know

Refused

Percent (n=3014)

Q190. Do you consider your place of residence to

be a large city or urban area, a suburban area, a

small city or town, a rural area on a farm or ranch,

or a rural area not on a farm or ranch?

1

25

26

27

6

13

1

2

2

16

7

27

22

25

2

1

15

10

22

27

25

2

1

10

3

36

23

25

0 20 40 60 80 100

Large city or

urban area

Suburban area

Small city or town

Rural area on a

farm or ranch

Rural area not on

a farm or ranch

Don't know

Refused

Percent

Northeast (n=582)

Southeast (n=1091)

Midwest (n=638)

West (n=703)


Q194. What is your state of residence?

1.1

1.2

1.7

0.5

2.0

2.2

3.4

1.5

0.7

1.9

0.4

0.5

0.8

0.4

2.6

0.6

6.4

2.7

0.3

3.5

1.0

1.2

4.1

0.4

1.4

0.3

1.9

9.3

0.8

0.2

2.3

2.3

0.5

1.7

0.2

0.5

6.4

0.3

1.2

1.4

0.2

2.1

0.8

12.4

1.7

3.5

0.2

0.5

3.5

2.1

1.4

0 20 40 60 80 100

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Washington, D.C.

Percent (n=3014)


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Responsive Management is an internationally recognized survey research firm specializing in

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Documents

NSSF® Report AMERICANS ATTITUDES · 2019-03-28 · trapping. Responsive Management has tracked public attitudes on the four activities in various forms since 1995, and the study