Wisconsin Andejægere tilfredse

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Although it is hard to believe n at least if you are from this neck of the woods n according to a recent survey, most Wisconsin duck hunters were satisfied with the duck hunting season’s length, timing and bag limits in the state from 2000 to 2004.

According to findings of a survey of licensed Wisconsin duck hunters that was a part of a national survey of 10,000 duck hunters, Wisconsin duck hunters agreed, in most part, with hunters in other parts of the country.
The duck hunter survey was a project of the National Flyway Council and Wildlife Management Institute. The Wisconsin DNR was a major contributor to the study. Tom Hauge, director of the DNR Bureau of Wildlife Management, is a member of the National Flyway Council that planned and directed the study.

Kent Van Horn, DNR waterfowl specialist, helped design survey questions, and says waterfowl hunting is popular in Wisconsin. Wisconsin waterfowlers are fortunate according to Horn, because Wisconsin has worked hard to protect the state’s valuable wetlands and the state is an important stopover along major duck and goose migration routes.

Wisconsin’s 75,000 waterfowl hunters represent the second highest number of goose hunters among the states and the fourth highest number of duck hunters. Duck hunters spend about $40 million on their sport each year.

The survey shows that, at the national level, 59 percent of respondents indicated seasons from 2000 to 2004 were about right. Wisconsin results showed 64 percent of respondents said the season length was about right. Nationally, 34 percent said the season was too short.

Wisconsin respondents mirrored the national response when asked about bag limits. In both cases 72 percent of respondents thought the bag limit was about right. At the national level, 13 percent said the bag limit was too low and 8 percent said it was too high. In Wisconsin, 11 percent said the bag limit was too low and 10 percent said it was too high.

Hunters seemed satisfied with the timing of the season nationally, with Wisconsin hunters exceeding the national average in their satisfaction. Also at the national level, 58 percent of those surveyed said crowding of hunting areas was more of a problem during the 2000 n 2004 period.

Fifty-eight percent said hunter pressure was greater, and 56 percent said ducks arriving after the close of the season was a problem.

In Wisconsin, 67 percent of hunters perceived crowding at hunting areas as a problem; 64 percent felt hunting pressure was a greater problem; and 57 percent felt interference from other hunters was a problem.

Waterfowlers did express concerns with their hunting experience. Nationally, 57 percent of duck hunters thought the overall quality of their hunt became worse from 2000 to 2004. Forty percent said hunting quality was the same or better than five years ago.

In Wisconsin, 58 percent of duck hunters surveyed said overall quality of their hunting experience became worse during the survey period. Thirty-nine percent of Wisconsin hunters surveyed said hunting quality was the same or improved.

Wisconsin hunters expressed concern about when ducks arrive, the length of time ducks stay, overall duck numbers and the number of places to hunt. Neither the weather nor water conditions have been ideal in the state during recent years.

Despite these perceptions, 68 percent of both the national survey group and the Wisconsin group were neutral or satisfied with their last duck hunting experience. Sixty-three percent of Wisconsin hunters indicated they were hunting the same or more days, compared to five years ago; and 17 percent just started duck hunting in the last few years.

.....nu OGSÅ ejer af en 243win :-)

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