Idaho Big Game Bowhunter Survey
 

       

Your Opinions Do Count!

This Survey is Sponsored by:

 

 

 
Throughout this survey “big-game” refers to white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain lion, pronghorn, black bear, and bighorn sheep.
 
 
Start Here
 Please enter the 5-digit number printed above your address on your envelop or letter. This will allow us to recognize you as someone who responded over the Internet.  
   Therefore, we will not send a 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.  
  Section 1. This section asks about your bowhunting background and participation.
 
Q1		   
How many years have you bowhunted big game in any state?
   Years
 
Q2 How many years have you hunted big game with a weapon other than a
bow in any state?
   Years
 
Q3 How likely is it that you will bowhunt during each of the next 5 years?
(Please check one)

Extremely
Unlikely

Very
Unlikely

 Unlikely

Neither Likely Nor Unlikely

Likely

Very
Likely

Extremely Likely

 

Q4 Approximately how many days did you spend bow hunting big game in any state in 2005?
   Days
    
Q5 Approximately how many days did you spend hunting big game with a weapon other than a bow in any state in 2005?
   Days
 
Q6 What type of weapon(s) did you use to hunt big game in 2005 in any state?
(Please check all that apply)
 
Shotgun Rifle
Handgun Traditional Muzzleloader
Compound Bow Modern Muzzleloader
Recurve or Longbow Crossbow

 
Q7 Approximately how many miles did you travel in total to bowhunt big game in any state in 2005?
  (miles)
 
Q8 Approximately how many miles did you travel in total to hunt any big game with a weapon other than a bow in any state in 2005? 
  (miles)
 

Q9

What big game did you hunt for with archery equipment in Idaho in 2005? (Please check all that apply)

Elk Black Bear
Mule Deer Mountain Lion
Moose Mountain Goat
White-tailed Deer Bighorn Sheep
Pronghorn

 

Q10

Did you use archery equipment during an "any weapon hunt" in Idaho in 2005?
  YES      NO  ?
  

Q11 Who introduced you to bowhunting? (Please check one)
 Immediate family member (parent, brother, sister)
 Extended family member (other relative)
 Friend
 No One (I was self-taught)
 Other:  Please explain:
 
Q12 How many bowhunting-related magazines do you currently subscribe to? (Enter a number)

   Magazines
  

Q13 How many bowhunting related books do you own? (Enter a number)

   Bowhunting Books
  

Q14 How many of each kind of bow do you own? (Enter a number for each)

   Compound Bow(s)        Recurve(s)            Longbow(s)
 

Q15 What was the overall quality of your bowhunting experience in Idaho during 2005?

  
  

Q16 Please indicate how the quality of your bowhunting experience in Idaho has
changed in the past 5 years. (Please select one) 

  
  

   
  Section 2. This section asks you how bowhunting fits into your life.
Q17 Are you a member of a bowhunting club or association?    NO      YES

If YES, please list them here:
  

Q18 Please indicate how you feel about each bowhunting statement listed below.
(Please check one for each statement)
 

I would rather go bowhunting than do most anything else.

I engage in activities that promote bowhunting.

I engage in efforts to recruit new bowhunters.

I consider bowhunting to be a central part of my lifestyle.

When I’m bowhunting I can really be myself.

I often discuss bowhunting with my friends.

I chose my career based on its impacts on my ability to go bowhunting.

I sometimes miss work or school to go bowhunting.

Most of my friends are in some way connected with bowhunting.
Bowhunting is important to my family.
If I couldn’t bowhunt, I would still participate in recreational archery shooting.

 
Q19 What other recreation activities do you actively participate in? (Please check all that apply)
 
Backpacking (overnight) Power Boating ATV/OHV Riding
Fishing (spin casting) Rafting Bird Watching
Fly Fishing Outdoor Photography Canoeing
Hiking Car / RV Camping Kayaking
Mountain Biking Horseback Riding Traveling
Snowmobiling Cross Country Skiing  
Skiing/Snowboarding Other:

 
Q20 "The time I spend doing other recreation activities limits the amount of time I have for bowhunting."
  
      (Please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree) 
   
   
  Section 3. This section asks you about how and where you bowhunt.
Q21 What hunting methods did you use while bowhunting in Idaho in 2005?
(Please check all that apply)
 
Spot and stalk Tree stand
Ground blind Still hunting
Calling Antler Rattling
Other: (Please list) 
 
Q22 In what unit(s) did you bowhunt big game in Idaho during 2005? (Please refer to the map above)

I HUNTED IN THE FOLLOWING UNIT(S):                

If you are unsure which unit you hunted in please write which region(s) you bowhunted big game in during 2005:    
I HUNTED IN THE FOLLOWING REGION(S):          
   
Q23

Excluding travel to and from home, how did you travel once you got to where you bowhunted in 2005? (Please check all that apply)

Car/Truck/Van/SUV Trail Bike
Skis/Snowshoes On Foot
Horse/Pack Animal Snowmobile
Boat Mountain Bike
ATV/OHV    

è

 If you checked ATV/OHV above, please indicate how you used your ATV/OHV within your hunting area. (Please check all that apply)
  Scouting for game
  Hauling supplies or people
  Traveling to my hunting area
  Retrieving game
  Traveling off-trail
  Other. Please list:
 
   
  Section 4. This section contains general bowhunting questions.
Q24 Where did you hunt big game in Idaho in 2005? (Please check all that apply) 
   
Private Land
Federal Land (non-Wilderness)
Designated Wilderness Area
State Land
Other: Please list: 
 
Q25 Please indicate how you feel about the general bowhunting related statements listed below. (Please check one for each statement)
 
I like to try new bowhunting equipment  
Maintaining the traditional values of bowhunting is important to me  
I regularly spend time practicing with my bow(s) in the off-season  
I enjoy studying the natural history of big-game species  
It is important that my hunting area is easy to get to  
Limiting the use of new bowhunting technology is important to me  

 
Q26

What is the average distance you shoot at big game with a bow? (Please check one)

I've never shot at big game 1 to 20 yds 21 to 30 yds 31 to 40 yds 41 to 50 yds More than 50 yds
Q27

How would you rank your personal knowledge of and experience with bowhunting big game? (Please check one response for each pair of phrases)

  -3   -2   -1  0 +1   +2   +3   
I know very little
about bowhunting

I know a lot
about bowhunting
I am an inexperienced
bowhunter		 I'm an experienced
bowhunter
I'm an uninformed
bowhunter		 I'm an informed
bowhunter
I'm a novice bowhunter I'm an expert bowhunter
 

 
Q28 Where do you get your bowhunting information? (Please check all that apply)
 
    Family    Friend(s)
    Magazines    Idaho Fish & Game publications
    Newspaper    Television
    Bowhunting organization    Idaho Fish & Game Website
    Other (please list):

Of the information sources listed above, which one provides the most reliable information?
  (Please list one)
      Most reliable information source
 
Q29 Approximately how many big game animals have you harvested in the past 3 years in any state?
 (Please enter a number in each box)
    Animals with a BOW
    Animals with any weapon other than a bow
 
   
   
  Section 5. You are almost done. This section asks about your thoughts on big game bowhunting management.
   
We would like to know how you feel about the regulation and management of bowhunting in Idaho. Please indicate your opinion on the following potential management actions. (Please check one answer for each management action)
 
Q30

Management Action

 Favor Do not Favor
but
Would Accept		 Would not
Accept		 Need More
Information
Traditional-only hunts. Convert less than 4 existing big game bow hunts to hunts limited to archers using recurve or longbows only.   
Traditional-only hunts. Convert more than 4 existing big game bow hunts to hunts limited to archers using recurve or longbows only.
Traditional-only hunts. Convert no existing big game bow hunts to hunts limited to archers using recurve or longbows only.
Mule Deer vs. Elk. In mule deer dominated zones (mainly in southern Idaho), set management priorities that increase mule deer populations even if it means elk populations may decrease.

 
Q31

Please indicate how you feel about the general bowhunting management related statements listed below. (Please check one for each statement)

Hunting in units with overlapping firearm and bow seasons detracts from my overall hunting experience?
   		  
Non-handicapped hunters should be allowed to hunt big game with a crossbow during archery-only seasons.   
   
Q32 This question asks you to make comparisons between different potential regulations. For each of the following pairs of actions, please check which one is the most acceptable, even if you don't like either one.

Do you favor THIS?

   OR  

THIS?
Allow mechanical broadheads or Allow bows with up to 80% let-off
Keep bow seasons during the rut or Allow mechanical broadheads
Establish limited entry/lottery bow hunts or Keep bow seasons during the rut
Keep bow seasons during the rut or Allow bows with up to 80% let-off
Keep let-off at 65% or Allow mechanical broadheads
Shorten bow seasons from 2005 levels or Keep bow seasons during the rut
Keep let-off at 65% or Allow bows with up to 80% let-off
Shorten bow seasons from 2005 levels or Allow mechanical broadheads
Shorten bow seasons from 2005 levels or Establish limited entry/lottery bow hunts
Establish limited entry/lottery bow hunts or Allow bows with up to 80% let-off
Keep let-off at 65% or Keep bow seasons during the rut
Establish limited entry/lottery bow hunts or Keep let-off at 65%
Shorten bow seasons from 2005 levels or Allow bows with up to 80% let-off
Establish limited entry/lottery bow hunts or Allow mechanical broadheads
Shorten bow seasons from 2005 levels or Keep let-off at 65%

 
   
   
  Section 6: Finally, some questions about you.
Q33 What is your gender?  Male        Female
 
Q34 Where did you live for the majority of the year 2005? (Please check one)
Developed residential area in Idaho
      (City, town, or suburbs)		 Rural area in Idaho Out-of-sate

 

Q35 What is your highest level of education?  (Please check one)
Elementary School Bachelors Degree
Some High School Some Graduate School
High School Graduate Graduate or Professional Degree
Some College    

 
Q36 What is your employment status? (Please check all that apply)
 
Employed full-time Retired
Employed part-time Homemaker
Unemployed Student
   
Q37
What is your Zip Code?  (Enter your Zip)
Q38
What year were you born?    (Enter the year)
 
 
 
 
Q39		 We understand that income is a very personal matter for many people and we understand if you do not feel like sharing this information with us, however, we guarantee you complete confidentiality for all the information on this questionnaire.

What was your total pre-tax household income in 2005? (Please check one)
I'd rather not answer $50,001 to $70,000
Less than $10,000 $70,001 to $90,000
$10,001 to $30,000 $90,001 to $110,000
$30,001 to $50,000 Greater than $110,000
   
  Thank you very much for your help! Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about bow hunting in Idaho? We would appreciate any comments.

   Please click the "Submit" button to send your responses to us.

   Thank You.

 

 

 

If you have further questions, please contact:
 
Eric Ellis
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Conservation Social Sciences
College of Natural Resources
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho, 83844-1139
Email: ejellis@uidaho.edu
 		 Professor Edwin E. Krumpe
Department of Conservation Social Sciences
College of Natural Resources
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho, 83844-1139
Email: edkrumpe@uidaho.edu

Phone: 208-885-7911