Understanding Beliefs and Attitudes about an Urban Wildlife Hunt near Anchorage, Alaska
Whittaker D, Manfredo MJ, Fix PJ, Sinnott R, Miller S, Vaske JJ. 2001. Understanding Beliefs and Attitudes about an Urban Wildlife Hunt near Anchorage, Alaska. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 29(4):1114-1124
Using hunting as a management tool in urban areas is often controversial and contrasts with many hunts in rural or wildland settings. Faced with contentious decision-making environments, managers increasingly want to understand public acceptability of hunts before implementing them. A survey of Anchorage residents about acceptability of a nearby moose (Alces alces) hunt offered an opportunity to apply attitude theory to this issue. Results showed majority (51%) support for the hunt, although 34% were opposed and 15% were undecided. There also was considerable divergence in the underlying beliefs of those who supported and opposed the hunt. Support was based primarily on beliefs that it would reduce moose-vehicle accidents, reduce potentially dangerous human-moose encounters, prevent moose overpopulation, and provide good hunting opportunities. Opposition was based on beliefs that the hunt would be expensive to administer, generate conflict between pro-hunters and anti-hunters, prevent nonhunter use of the area, and potentially injure a hunter or someone else. Respondents unsure about the hunt generally held beliefs that were intermediate between those for and against the hunt, offering an explanation for their neutrality. Belief differences among the groups suggest that there may be opportunities to create greater consensus for hunt-related decisions, and that some beliefs are value-based and may be relatively resistant to change. Findings also highlight the utility of the attitude model.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Whittaker, Doug; Manfredo, Michael; Fix, Peter; Sinnott, Rick; Miller, SuzAnne; Vaske, Jerry
- Units
- CAKN , DENA , YUCH , WRST
- Keywords
- acceptability, behavioral intention, beliefs, deer management, Hunting, Management Actions, Moose, public attitudes, reasoned action, Urban