Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Minnesota
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Canadian and American waterfowl hunters were surveyed to identify their hunting trip preferences. Respondents were individuals that were or had participated in waterfowl hunting, and most had hunted the majority of the last five years. We identified four latent classes of waterfowl hunters that varied in their preferences for harvest, access effort, length of travel, quantity of waterfowl seen, and the potential for interference/ competition. We found a diminishing return associated with the number of waterfowl harvested, and that devoted and local hunters did not perceive appreciable benefit from harvesting more birds beyond harvesting a single bird. Results highlight the importance of not only considering population size, but also the location of habitat for people and waterfowl. Our results provide waterfowl managers important insights into the heterogeneity of North American waterfowl hunters by highlighting differences in priorities for waterfowl hunting trips. Notably, to address this heterogeneity, managers could consider the balance of objectives, actions and resources designed to satisfy current waterfowl hunters to that of attracting new individuals. Managing access to improve the likelihood that hunters will see and have opportunities to harvest some waterfowl has benefit to hunters.