Americans Back Concept Of Hunting Public Concerned Over Hunters Who Are Unsafe, Violate Fish, Game Laws

Most Americans approve of hunting, according to results of a three-year study commissioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, the majority also believes that a lot of hunters violate hunting laws or practice unsafe behavior.

The study, conducted by Responsive Management of Harrisonburg, Va., found that 40 percent of Americans strongly approved and 33 percent more moderately approved of hunting. Just 11 percent strongly disapproved and 11 percent moderately disapproved.

The study also found that 81 percent of Americans believed that hunting should remain legal while 16 percent said it should be illegal.

But despite that support for hunting, 62 percent of Americans felt “a lot” of hunters violated hunting laws or practiced unsafe behavior while hunting.

The study was not designed to determine whether this was true, but about 40 percent of those surveyed said they thought “a lot” or a “moderate number” of hunters drink while in the field. Nearly half of the hunters surveyed agreed.

Mollie Beattie, Fish and Wildlife Service director, said the study affirms that American people understand the role of hunters in wildlife conservation “and support regulated hunting as an acceptable and legal wildlife-related activity, even if they do not choose to hunt themselves.”

“At the same time, the study should alert the hunting community to the public’s concern over unethical or unsafe hunting practices,” Beattie added.

The study found that hunting and fishing are primarily family activities.

“People are initiated into hunting and fishing through the family,” said Mark D. Duda, of Responsive Management. “They derive most of their satisfaction from participating with family members. They often stop hunting and fishing when there are no family or friends to share the experience with.”

Among the study’s other findings: * The overall number of hunters fell from 10.2 percent of the population in 1980 to 9.3 percent in 1990. The percentage of men who hunt dropped from 19.5 percent to 16.4 percent. The percentage of women rose from 1.3 percent to 2.7 percent.

* The percentage of the population that fished climbed from 26 percent to 27.4 percent. Men stayed the same between 1980 and 1990 at 37 percent while the percentage of women rose from 15 percent to 17.7 percent.

* While 96 percent of Americans believe fishing should remain legal, 40 percent believe that “a lot” of anglers violate fishing laws. The biggest violations were seen to be numbers of fish over the limit and keeping undersized fish.

* Why do people hunt: 25 percent primarily for meat, 12 percent to be with friends and family, 43 percent for recreation and 21 percent to be close to nature.

* Why do people fish: 13 percent primarily for food, 25 percent to be with family and friends, 18 percent for sport, 33 percent for relaxation, 7 percent to be close to nature and 3 percent to catch large fish.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review