Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference 2018

AUTHORS: Matthew P. Gruntorad, Christopher J. Chizinski - School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska

ABSTRACT: Elk hunting is a highly pursued activity by many big game hunters. In Nebraska, residents must acquire a permit through a lottery system. We sought to explore differences in perceptions of constraints to elk hunting based on whether the hunter had ever actively hunted elk in Nebraska as well as whether active hunters had held a general or landowner permit. Surveys were sent to hunters who had either held a general, held a landowner, or had not yet successfully drawn an elk hunting permit between 2011 and 2016. Questions assessed factors that could potentially constrain an individual’s ability to hunt elk. More than 40% of the lottery applicants had been granted permission to hunt on private land, while 90% of hunters having possessed a general elk hunting permit had received permission. Approximately, 70% of hunters possessing a landowner permit hunted on their own land. The constraints perceived by lottery applicants and the constraints realized by the general elk permit were similar, suggesting that those that are trying to acquire an elk permit have an understanding of the process required to hunt elk on private land in Nebraska. However, those perceptions of constraints to hunting elk in Nebraska differed significantly between the general permit holders and landowner permit holders. Specifically, those hunting with a general permit were more likely to be constrained by: finding private land, obtaining permission from other landowners, paying for the cost to hunt on private land, and having access to elk on the land they utilized than those hunters having possessed a landowner permit. Understanding the perceived and realized barriers to elk hunting in Nebraska, whether through possessing a general or landowner permit, is important as it provides a valuable tool for managing the species and provides an opportunity to maximize hunting opportunities for Nebraskans.