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