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Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Wednesday, July 18, 2007 Mark Damian Duda Responsive Management

Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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Page 1: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 2: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife
Page 3: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Fish and Wildlife Populations

Focus of Fish and Wildlife Management

Fish and Wildlife Professionals

Fish and Wildlife Habitats Human Populations

Page 4: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife
Page 5: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 6: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Survey Results

Page 7: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Support for or Opposition to Various Funding Mechanisms for

the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

Page 8: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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?

Page 9: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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?

Page 10: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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?

Page 11: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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?

Page 12: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 13: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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.)

Page 14: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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.)

Page 15: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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.

Page 16: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Support for or Opposition to Wildlife Habitat Management

Efforts of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

Page 17: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 18: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 19: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Opinions on Management of Various Wildlife Populations

Page 20: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 21: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 22: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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?

Page 23: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 24: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 25: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 26: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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.)

Page 27: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 28: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Human-Wildlife Conflicts

Page 29: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 30: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 31: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 32: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 33: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 34: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 35: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 36: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Chronic Wasting Disease

Page 37: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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.)

Page 38: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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.)

Page 39: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Participation in Hunting

Page 40: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 41: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 42: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 43: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 44: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Satisfaction with Hunting

Page 45: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 46: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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.)

Page 47: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

Opinions on Hunting Regulations

Page 48: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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.)

Page 49: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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

Page 50: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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.)

Page 51: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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)

Page 52: Public Opinion on Funding for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and Wildlife Species Management in Vermont Presented to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife

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.)