Hunting Practices in Pennsylvania: Knowledge vs. Opinion

By: Morgan Campbell, Mark Chronister & Amber Brasington

Logistics

● Purpose: To determine the effect of knowledge on Pennsylvania resident’s opinion of hunting

● Response Rate: 34% (51/approx. 150)● Demographics:

○ 29 females, 22 males○ 49 PA residents, 2 who are not○ All have friends/relatives who hunt○ 26 from rural community, 19 suburban, 6 urban

Data and Frequencies

Statement & Scale = SD (1); D (2); A (3); SA (4) Mean Freq. (n)

Hunting is safe for children (12 years and younger) 2.14 51

Hunting is safe for adults (age 19+) 3.57 51

Hunting large game (i.e. deer, elk, bear) is an acceptable practice 3.39 51

Hunting small game (i.e. squirrel, rabbit) is an acceptable practice 3.33 51

Question & Scale = True (1); False (2) Mean Freq. (n)

Hunter’s Safety Course is required in order to purchase a hunting license in Pennsylvania

1.24 51

Conclusions- Mark

Findings:● Survey takers largely believe that hunting is not safe for children younger than 12● Laws were not well known within the group of survey takers● For the most part, survey takers did not find issue with any hunting practices in PA

Conclusion:Our survey showed that many people, even PA residents, do not know or understand the laws

in place to enforce hunting in the state of Pennsylvania, however many do not oppose the practice.

Recommendations:● Provide educational pamphlets to hunters and non-hunters● Show how safe hunting practices are by providing up to date statistics● Provide economic statistics and to reinforce the importance of hunting in the community