Seminars & Discussions

Exploring the Impact of First-Time Hunters on Satisfaction with Tier II Duck Hunting Regulations

Abstract

Waterfowl hunting has long been essential for funding conservation in the United States, but fewer people are participating now than in previous decades. In an effort to reverse this decline, wildlife agencies in South Dakota and Nebraska introduced the two-tier duck hunting regulation designed to make hunting more accessible. This new regulation's goal is to simplify bag limits making it easier for first time hunters to begin. This study examines hunters' attitudes toward the two-tier duck hunting regulation, focusing on the experiences and the satisfaction of first-time hunters as compared to those with more experience. We analyzed survey responses from 418 participants across Nebraska and South Dakota, using ordinal regression to assess satisfaction across seven area components, including how easy it was to enroll for Tier II, report harvests, and comply with regulatory requirements. Our findings indicate that first-time hunters were more satisfied overall than their more experienced counterparts, especially regarding harvest reporting and regulatory compliance. Analysis of satisfaction levels among a population with diverse experience levels highlights these positive experiences and reinforces the importance of considering first-time hunters when making management decisions. Agencies can create a welcoming environment for first-time hunters by making processes simpler and offering support, helping to attract and keep new hunters while preserving the tradition of hunting and the conservation funding it provides.

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Species Preferences on Angler Motivational Factors in Kansas

Abstract

Understanding the factors that motivate anglers to go fishing is crucial for effective fisheries management and conservation efforts. People's engagement with fishing is deeply influenced by their motivations—a complex interplay of the needs, desires, and goals that propel people to engage in recreation. We analyzed anglers' motivations to seek their primary species—including trophy fishing, keeping and eating the catch, identity, social interaction, and gear use—across various species preferences, such as Bass, Catfish, Walleye, and panfish. Data were collected via a web-based survey distributed to a stratified random sample of licensed anglers across Kansas. We sent invitations to 7500 licensed anglers and had 771 total responses (a 13% response rate). Preliminary results indicate significant differences in motivational factors when comparing species preferences. Walleye anglers are more motivated by keeping the fish they catch and liking the taste of their preferred species. In contrast, Bass anglers place a much lower value on reaching the bag limit, fishing for nutrition, and keeping the fish they catch. Among all species, anglers placed the most importance on choosing a fishing location because of the presence of their preferred fish species. These results highlight the importance of species-specific management strategies catering to the angling community's diverse motivations. Through understanding differentiated motivations, managers can be provided with critical insights into the importance of various motivational factors of recreational fishing as they relate to sought-after fish species, helping to inform the development of targeted regulations and conservation strategies that address the diverse needs and values of fishing communities in the Midwest.

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Biology and Conservation of Nurse Sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum) from Bimini, The Bahamas

Abstract

The nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is abundant in coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, yet they remain relatively understudied, aside from their reproductive behavior. Previously listed as ‘data deficient’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), their status was updated to ‘vulnerable’ in 2021. This recent status update indicates additional research on this species is critical. Nurse shark populations in The Bahamas present an ideal study system as there are long-term datasets available for investigation on their morphometrics, movements, and genetics. To assess the age and growth of this species, we used mark-recapture data of 91 individual nurse sharks from Bimini, The Bahamas, and found that nurse sharks are slower-growing and longer-lived than previously thought, with the oldest individual predicted to be 43 years old. A long-term acoustic monitoring program of shark species in Bimini has additionally revealed that nurse sharks are capable of making long-distance migrations with evidence of repeated return migrations back to Bimini. In lieu of these discoveries, combining genetics with telemetry data has become increasingly important in fisheries management to assess population connectivity and diversity within species. Using over 350 samples of nurse shark tissues from The Bahamas, we aim to determine the population structure of nurse sharks in this area to help contribute crucial information to the conservation of this ‘vulnerable’ species.

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