IDFG OHV Survey

Developed Area (City, Town, Suburb) in Idaho

Rural Area in Idaho

Developed Area (City, Town, Suburb) Out-of-State

Please continue with Q22 below

Rural Area Out-of-State

Please continue with Q22 below

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE ACCESS AND
HUNTING

SEEKING YOUR EXPERIENCES AND OPINIONS

Conducted by:
Department of Conservation Social Sciences

For:
Idaho Department of Fish and Game

First, some questions about your general hunting history.

Start Here

Please enter the 4-digit number printed in your letter. This will allow us to recognize you as someone who responded over the Internet.
If you respond on-line we will not send another questionnaire to you in the mail. This will save both time and money for printing and postage.
Your response is strictly CONFIDENTIAL and your name will NEVER be associated with any answers you give below.

Which of the following best describes you? (Please check only one response)

I am primarily a hunter

I am primarily an OHV enthusiast

I am both a hunter and an OHV enthusiast

About how many years have you hunted in Idaho? (Please enter the appropriate numbers)

Years hunted big game Years hunted upland game

Did you hunt in Idaho during any of the past 5 years? (Please check one)

                   YES                     NO

                       If YES, please check those years that you hunted. (Check each year that you hunted)

2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

How often have you hunted for each of the following types of game in Idaho?
(Please check one for each species)

GAME SPECIES	HOW OFTEN? do you hunt each?
A. White-tailed Deer
B. Mule Deer
C. Black Bear
D. Elk
E. Mountain Lion
F. Pronghorn
G. Upland Game/Birds
H. Wolf

Next, some questions about how you travel within your hunting area.

Have you ever used OHVs while you were on a hunting trip in Idaho? (Please check one)

                  YES                     NO
                          If YES, for how many years have you been using OHVs while hunting in Idaho?
                           (Please write you answer below)

                         OHV: Years

Excluding travel between your home and your hunting area, how often do you use each type
of travel within your hunting areas? (Please check one for each type of travel)

TYPE OF TRAVEL	HOW OFTEN do you use each when traveling within your hunting areas?
A. Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV)
B. Car/Truck
C. On foot
D. Horse/pack animals

How do you use your OHV while hunting, where it is legal to do so, within your hunting area?

Check here if you DO NOT use an OHV and skip to Q9 below.

(Please check one for each purpose)

PURPOSE	How often do you use your OHV for each purpose within your hunting area?
A. Traveling to an area where I will hunt on foot.
B. Traveling on roads and trails looking for game
C. Traveling on roads and trails for recreational purposes, but not for hunting.
D. Retrieving game.
E. Transporting bait into a bait station.
F. Transporting my hunting dog(s).
G. Hauling in/out hunting and camping supplies.
H. Hauling people to or from hunting camps.
I. Doing camp chores.
J. Scouting in my hunting area.

How has your hunting experience been affected by your use of OHVs while hunting?

(Please check how much you agree or disagree with each effect)

Effects of YOUR using OHVs while hunting	How has your hunting experience been affected by your use of OHVs?
A. My hunting success has increased.
B. It takes me less time to harvest game.
C. The amount of game I see has increased.
D. Makes it easer to retrieve game.
E. Allows me to access my hunting areas.
F. Allows me to hunt with friends and family who use OHVs while hunting.

In your experience how do you feel about the current level of OHV restrictions where you usually hunt in Idaho?
(Please check only one response.)

		I don't know Please continue with Q10 below
		About Right
		Not Restrictive Enough
		Too Restrictive

▼
	Please tell us what in particular makes you rate OHV management that way. (Please write in your answers below)

10.

How has your hunting experience been affected by other hunters using OHVs while hunting?

(Please check how much you agree or disagree with each effect)

Effects of OTHER HUNTERS using OHVs	How has your hunting experience been affected by other hunters using OHVs?
A. My hunting success has increased.
B. It takes me less time to harvest game.
C. The amount of game I see has increased.
D. Other hunters using OHVs while hunting have not affected my hunting.
E. I seek out areas to hunt where travel by OHVs is restricted during hunting season.
F. I like having the Motorized Vehicle Rule (MVR) for OHVs in some units.
G. Allows me to hunt with friends and family who use OHVs while hunting.

11.

How has your hunting experience been affected by other NON-MOTORIZED (e.g. foot or horseback) hunters while hunting?

(Please check how much you agree or disagree with each effect)

Effects of NON-MOTORIZED HUNTERS	How has your hunting experience been affected by other non-motorized hunters?
A. My hunting success has increased.
B. It takes me less time to harvest game.
C. The amount of game I see has increased.
D. Other non-motorized hunters have not affected my hunting.
E. I prefer to hunt with other non-motorized hunters

This section asks questions about the Motorized Vehicle Rule (MVR)

In response to hunter concerns that other hunters using OHVs can disrupt hunts and increase harvest vulnerability of game populations, the Idaho Fish & Game Commission adopted rules regulating the use of motorized vehicles for hunting travel by hunters in some hunting units. This Motorized Vehicle Rule (MVR) for Hunters states that in designated areas and hunts, hunters may only use motorized vehicles for hunting travel on established roadways that are open to motorized traffic and capable of being traveled by full-sized automobiles. The MVR means that in some hunts, hunters may not use OHVs on trails, even though they may be legal for OHV use. The rule does not apply to other motorized users who are not hunting.

However, the rule does NOT apply to:

• Using an OHV to pack in or out camping equipment;
• Holders of valid handicapped permits using an OHV;
• Retrieving downed game using an OHV with permission from the landowner or manager; and
• Operating an OHV on private land with permission from the landowner or manager.

12.

To the best of your knowledge, did this Motorized Vehicle Rule for Hunters apply to any of the designated hunts
in which you hunted in 2011? (Please check one response)

		I did not hunt in Idaho in 2011
		I am not familiar with the Motorized Vehicle Rule
		Yes, I'm sure it applied to one or more of the designated hunts that I hunted
		I think it applied, but I'm not 100% sure
		I don't think it applied, but I'm not 100% sure
		No, I'm sure it did not apply to any of the designated hunts that I hunted in 2011

13.

In general, how do you feel bout this Motorized Vehicle Rule (MVR) for Hunters?

Statements about the MVR	How do you feel about the MVR for Hunters? (Please check how much you agree or disagree with each effect)
A. I like having the MVR in some units.
B. I think the MVR now applies to too many units or hunts.

14.

Below is a map showing the hunting units that currently have designated hunts with IDFG restrictions on OHV use under the Motorized Vehicle Rule (MVR). Did you hunt in any of these units in 2011?
(Please check all that apply)

    For big game             YES                NO
    For upland game         YES                   NO

15.

What is your level of acceptance about specific components of the current Motorized Vehicle Rule (MVR)?

		(Please select one for each component)
	Current Components of the MVR	Favor It	Do Not Favor, But Acceptable	Not Acceptable	Need More Information
A.	In the designated hunts where the MVR applies, hunters may only use motorized vehicles on established roadways, capable of being traveled by full-sized automobiles.
B.	The Commission designates which hunts will have MVR restrictions for hunters. In some instances, not all of the big game hunts in the same Game Management Unit currently have the same MVR restrictions for hunters.
C.	Hunters must also comply with any other restrictions on motorized vehicle use imposed by the landowner, manager, or land management agencies.
D.	Holders of an IDFG Handicapped Persons Motor Vehicle Hunting Permit may use a vehicle for hunting, if allowed by the landowner or manager.
E.	Hunters may use a motorized vehicle to retrieve downed game, if allowed by the landowner or manager.
F.	Hunters may use a motorized vehicle to pack in and out camping equipment, if allowed by the landowner or manager.

The Fish and Game Commission has heard from many hunters and is considering the following potential changes to the existing Motorized Vehicle Rule (MVR). These changes are intended to make the rule more consistent and understandable.

	■	The name of the rule will be changed to the Motorized Hunting Rule (MHR) to clarify that the restrictions apply only to hunting as opposed to non-hunting recreation.
	■	The MHR will be simpler to understand and will apply to standardized dates (August 30 to December 31) throughout specified game management units, rather than only to certain hunts and some weeks for some big game species.
	■	The MHR will apply to all big game species.
	■	The MHR will now apply to Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goat hunts.

Q16.

What is your level of acceptance about the following potential changes to the Motorized Hunting Rule (MHR)?

		(Please select one for each potential change)
	Potential Changes to the Motorized Hunting Rule (MVR)	Favor It	Do Not Favor, But Acceptable	Not Acceptable	Need More Information
A.	The new MHR will apply to big game only
B.	The new MHR will apply to all big game hunting in a game management unit, during standardized dates (August 30 to December 31) as opposed to individual hunts within a unit.
C.	The new MHR will now apply to Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goat hunting.
D.	The new MHR will not apply to upland game hunting.

Q17.

The Motorized Hunting Rule (MHR) currently applies to designated hunts in 31 of the 99 game management units in Idaho (see the map above in Q14). If the potential changes mentioned above were adopted, how might you feel about the MHR?

Your response to the MHR	How likely might you feel about each response to the MHR? (Please select one for each response)
A. I would quit hunting.
B. I would hunt in another state.
C. I would hunt in my preferred area but without an OHV.
D. I would hunt in a different area where I could use my OHV.
E. I would be a less successful hunter.

Q18.

Do you feel that you have enough information to be able to plan your hunting and follow regulations?
(Please check one)

Yes No

Q19.

How would you prefer IDFG provide information to you? (Check all that apply)


		Paper Maps
		Signs
		Brochures
		Information on IDFG website
		Other

Finally, a few questions about you

This information will be used to combine the responses of groups of people, but will not be used to identify you as an individual.

Q20.

Where did you live in 2011? (Please check one response)

Q21.

How long have you lived in Idaho? (Please enter the number of years)

Years

Q22.

Are you: (Please check one)

Male Female

Q23.

In what year were you born? (Please enter the year)

I was born in

Q24.

Do you have any physical limitations that would prevent you from hunting without using an OHV?
(Please check one response)

Yes No

Thank you for your help!
Do you have any other insights to share with us, specifically about the Motorized Vehicle Rule for hunters?
We would appreciate any comments.

Please send us your survey by clicking the "Submit" button.