Wave 1 letter

4/2/10

FHW-W1[L] DRAFT (Wave 1 Letter)

Dear Doe Household:

The Census Bureau is conducting the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We will be collecting information about people’s involvement in fishing, hunting, and wildlife-watching activities (feeding, observing, or photographing wildlife) in 2011. Fish and wildlife agencies and organizations will use the information to improve management of fish and wildlife resources for your enjoyment.

We selected your address, not you personally, as part of a scientifically determined sample throughout the country. Your help is voluntary, and there are no penalties for not answering any questions. Because this is a sample survey, however, your household represents hundreds of other households in your State. We will ask you if members of your household have participated in fishing, hunting, or wildlife-watching activities since January 1, 2011, or if they plan to participate before the end of the year. Your participation is extremely important to ensure that the final results are complete and accurate. Your answers will be completely confidential.

Beginning April 1, Census Bureau representatives will contact sample households by telephone. Unfortunately, we do not have a telephone number for every household in our sample, so Census Bureau representatives will personally visit these households to collect the information for the survey. Personal visits are very expensive. You can help us keep costs down by calling us toll free at 1-888-369-1081 to complete a telephone interview at a time convenient for you. Our telephone center is open Sunday through Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

On the back of this letter are answers to questions that survey participants ask most frequently. Also enclosed is a reference aid, which will assist you in answering the survey questions. Please keep this reference aid handy for when we contact you.

Thank you for your cooperation. The Census Bureau and the Fish and Wildlife Service appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves

Enclosures

What is this survey all about?

The Fish and Wildlife Service is charged with the overall Federal responsibility for the country’s fish and wildlife resources. Its mission is to assure the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish and wildlife for the continuing benefit of the American people. To assist in carrying out its responsibilities, the Fish and Wildlife Service has sponsored national surveys of fishing, hunting, and wildlife-related recreation at about 5-year intervals since 1955. The survey is authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Act and the Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Acts.

How will the information be used?

In addition to the Fish and Wildlife Service, State, local, and other Federal agencies use the survey results to provide essential information on present recreation demand and to project future demand both nationally and on a state-by-state basis. The information is used to track trends in fish and wildlife-related recreation and to help develop plans and projects that enhance sport fish, hunting, and wildlife-related recreation activities.

How will this survey benefit me?

The information you provide will help identify trends in fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching. Policymakers and natural resource managers will use this information to address your recreational needs and to plan resources, education, and recreation programs to meet your community’s future needs.

Why can’t you select someone else?

Your answers are very important to this study, because your household was selected to represent many other households. It would cost too much and take too long to survey all households in the country. We cannot substitute another address for your household, because it would harm the quality of the data we select. The survey’s success depends on your voluntary participation.

How long will this interview take?

We expect the interview to take from 6 to 18 minutes, with an average of 10 minutes per person. If you have any comments or suggestions about this survey, please send them to: the Paperwork Project 1220-xxxx, U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road 3K138, Washington, DC 20233. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget control number. The Office of Management and Budget control number for this survey is 1018-0088, which expires XX/XX/XXXX.

What confidential protection do I have?

We are conducting this survey under the authority of Title 13, United States Code, Section 8. Section 9 of the law requires us to keep all information about you and your household strictly confidential. We may use the information only for statistical purposes. Every Census Bureau employee takes an oath and is subject to a jail penalty, a fine, or both if he or she discloses any information that would identify an individual.