Hunter Ethics and Fair Chase
Dave Ware, Game Division Manager

Hunter ethics and fair chase is closely related to the public’s perception of hunters and may strongly influence future support for hunting as a management tool. This is a very significant issue to hunters.

Equipment Technology
One issue that is being increasingly debated is the expanding use of technology for hunting. This is particularly evident with equipment technology. During development of the 2000–2002 hunting season package, weapon technology was extensively debated and regulations were modified for archery, muzzleloader, and modern firearm equipment. The most recent debate has been over the use of motorized waterfowl decoys, with Fish and Wildlife Commission action in 2001 that restricted the use of electronic waterfowl decoys.

Public opinion surveys conducted by Responsive Management in 2002, indicate both hunter and general public support for greater regulation of technology in hunting equipment. However, waterfowl hunters were equally split in support and opposition to regulation of electronic waterfowl decoys.

So what do these findings mean in terms of WDFW management? The Department plans to facilitate further public debate on technology regulation. Hunters have traditionally been aggressive at self-regulation in cases of fair chase.

Hunter Behavior
Another very significant issue for hunters is illegal activity and a desire for greater enforcement presence in the field. This is also a significant issue for the general public with the majority of opinion survey respondents feeling that a lot of hunters violate hunting laws. The general public felt that hunting without a license and poaching were the major violations with shooting game out of season and hunting over the bag limit also common violations. Hunters cited these same common violations with the addition of shooting from a vehicle.

The survey responses did report some additional significant findings:

• Both the general public and hunters felt that conflicts between hunters and non-hunters have been relatively minor.
  
• A strong majority of the public felt that hunting is a safe activity.
   
• When the general public was asked what information they used to base their response about hunter behavior, 76 percent said direct observation, physical evidence, or word of mouth.
   
• While the general public supports requiring hunter refresher courses, hunters do not.
   
• Of the general public that said hunter behavior was poor or fair, seventy one percent said that an additional training requirement would improve their opinion of hunters.

So what do these findings mean in terms of WDFW management? Further effort is needed by WDFW to document compliance rates for common violations and then to develop strategies to improve compliance. In addition, the basis for the public’s perception needs to be better identified so that it can be addressed. An example comes from work done in other states where increased frequency of contact or response and presence of officers (physical deterrent) was important in improved public perception of safety and enforcement.

Much of the general public’s perception of hunters comes from relatively direct experience with hunters or from friends and acquaintances experiences with hunters (word of mouth). In addition, conflict between hunters and non-hunters is considered relatively minor. This information supports continued strong emphasis in hunter education efforts and diligence by hunters when in the field.

The WDFW initiated a voluntary Advanced Hunter Education (AHE) program several years ago in response to private landowner conflicts with hunters. The idea was that greater training effort would be positively received by landowners and would create added hunting opportunities on private land for AHE graduates. The reception by landowners was minimal and there was no new funding or emphasis by the Department. This has resulted in minimal participation by hunters. Re-invigorating the AHE program may help address public support for additional hunter training and public opinion of hunters.