Economic Assessment of Conservation Reserve Program Lands for Hunting

Roger Smith
123 Main Street
South Dakota
Dear South Dakota Deer Hunter:
I am writing to ask for your help in a study of deer hunters in South Dakota. The general purpose of the study is to
learn more about deer hunting patterns so we can provide specific information to wildlife managers and landowners
to improve hunting opportunities and the quality of hunting in the state of South Dakota. The study is being
supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, who has asked us here at Colorado State
University to help conduct the survey. This survey effort is separate from other surveys conducted by the South
Dakota Department of Game, Fish, & Parks (ex. harvest surveys). We would greatly appreciate you filling this
survey out even if you have filled out a harvest report for the season. Answering the survey will only take a few
minutes, but it has the potential to improve your hunting experience.
Your responses are important to us whether this is the first time you bought a hunting license or the twentieth time.
For our sample to represent hunters in your state, it is important that we hear from all different types of hunters,
including you (even if there is a more active deer hunter in your household). The survey is voluntary, and the
results of this survey will be held strictly confidential.
When you have completed the survey please mail it back to us in the enclosed postage paid stamped return
envelope. If you have any questions about the survey, please feel free to contact me by calling 970-491-7307 or
emailing me at [email protected]
Thank you for helping us with this important study and we look forward to receiving your completed survey.
Sincerely,

Dr. John Loomis, Project Manager
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
This voluntary survey contains information collections that are covered by the Office of Management and Budget clearance
number 0560-XXXX, which expires XX/XX/XXXX. The burden to the public for these voluntary information collections is
estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering the data needed, and
completing and submitting the information collection. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of
these information collections, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Skip Hyberg, Stop 0508, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250, or by email to [email protected].

OMB No. 0560-XXXX
Approval Expires: XX/XX/XXXX

DEER HUNTING IN SOUTH DAKOTA
A survey of individuals who hunted deer in
South Dakota in the 2014 season

A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency,
being carried out by Colorado State University. This survey is conducted under
authorities provided by Food Security Act of 1985 (Pub. L. 99–198), as
amended.
Under Title 7 of the U.S. Code and CIPSEA (Public Law 107-347), facts about your
operation are kept confidential and used only for statistical purposes. Your help
on this study is greatly appreciated!
Please return your completed questionnaire in the self-addressed pre-paid
envelope included. Thanks!
PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT
This voluntary survey contains information collections that are covered by the Office of Management and Budget clearance
number 0560-XXXX, which expires XX/XX/XXXX. The burden to the public for these voluntary information collections is
estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering the data needed, and
completing and submitting the information collection. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of
these information collections, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Skip Hyberg, Stop 0508, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250, or by email to [email protected].
Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80525
970-491-7307
[email protected]
Cover Illustration: Tom Kelly, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

1

I. YOUR 2014 DEER HUNTING SEASON IN SOUTH DAKOTA
You have been contacted because you purchased a deer hunting license in 2014. The information you provide will
help the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks, farmers/ranchers as well as U.S. Department of
Agriculture Farm Service agency to improve hunting opportunities for you.
1. Did you hunt deer during the 2014 hunting season in South Dakota? Circle one:
Yes

(please continue with the survey)

No

(please return the uncompleted survey in the postage paid envelope. Returning the envelope provides
essential information even if you did not hunt)

When we ask about your South Dakota Hunting Season in the following questions we mean just your deer hunting
activity in early, regular and late seasons (including white-tail and mule deer) combined during the 2014 season.
When we talk about a Hunting Trip, we mean a trip taken for the primary purpose of hunting deer.
2. How many deer hunting trips did you make during this 2014 Hunting Season?

______ # of Trips

3. In total, about how many days of deer hunting did you take this Hunting Season? ______# of Days
4. During the hunting season what percent of your time deer hunting was spent on:
Private Lands (including Walk-In Areas*) ______% + Public Lands _____% + Right of Ways_____ % = 100%
*Walk-In Areas are privately owned acres with public hunting access.

5. If you did NOT hunt deer on Private Lands go to II. YOUR DEER HUNTING EXPERIENCE on page 2.
IF you DID hunt deer on Private Lands please tell us about the type of lands you hunted. This will help farmers,
ranchers, other landowners and SD Game, Fish & Parks better manage for deer.
5a. Percent of your time this hunting season spent deer hunting on each of the following land cover types:
Cropland ____% (Type(s)_______________) + Grassland_____ % +
Wetland & Area surrounding wetland______% + River bottom_____% + Other______% = 100%
5b. Percent of your time this season spent deer hunting on private land enrolled in the state Walk-In Areas
Program?
_____%

6. Did you hunt deer on lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)* lands during the 2014 deer
hunting season? (check one) ____Yes ____No ____Unsure
*CRP land typically resemble tracts of perennial grasses and/or wooded shelter belts occasionally with wetlands intermixed

2

If No or Unsure please go to Question #7.
If Yes,
6a. What percent of your time spent deer hunting this season was spent:
Directly on lands enrolled in CRP _____% Lands adjacent to CRP _____%
7. Is the availability of CRP lands an important factor in your decision of where to hunt deer? Circle one:
Not at all
Important

Slightly
Important

Important

Very
Important

Extremely
Important

8. Is the availability of CRP lands an important factor in the quality of deer hunting in the county you hunt most
often? Circle one:
Not at all
Important

Slightly
Important

Important

Very
Important

Extremely
Important

II. YOUR DEER HUNTING EXPERIENCE
Please tell us what factors influence your decisions on how often you hunt deer.

Please circle one number for each item

Would the following factors increase the
amount of deer hunting you do in a season?
No
Change

Not
Likely

Likely

Very
Likely

1. More free time

1

2

3

4

2. Higher deer populations/success rates

1

2

3

4

3. More areas to hunt & greater access

1

2

3

4

4. Less hunters & fewer crowds

1

2

3

4

5. Lower cost

1

2

3

4

6. Longer hunting seasons

1

2

3

4

7. Other reason (Please list)______________

1

2

3

4

3

PLEASE USE MAP FOR FOLLOWING QUESTIONS REGARDING HUNTING LOCATION.

4

III. YOUR TYPICAL DEER HUNTING TRIP IN SOUTH DAKOTA
A typical hunting trip is a trip to go deer hunting where you go most often.
1. In which county and deer hunting unit did you most frequently hunt deer in during the 2014 season? (See map)
County Name_________________
In answering these next few questions, please answer with deer hunting trips to this county in mind.
2. How many trips did you take to this county to hunt deer? _____ # of trips
3. About how many days did you spend deer hunting on a typical trip? _____# of days per trip
4. What method of take did you use most frequently during the deer hunting season (check one)?
Rifle/Shotgun _______

Bow ______

Muzzeloader _______

5. How many deer did you harvest in this county during the 2014 season (please note 0’s if appropriate)?
# of White-tail Deer ______

# of Mule Deer ______

6. What is your one-way travel time from your home on a typical hunting trip?
7. What is your one-way travel distance from your home on a typical hunting trip?
8. On a typical trip to this county, how many hunters were in your party?

______ # of hours
______ # of miles

_______ # of hunters.

The number of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program has been declining in South Dakota since
2007. CRP declined by nearly 500,000 from 2007 to 2012; a 28 percent decline. Additional CRP acres are set to
expire in the next few years, and if not re-enrolled, could be converted back to crop production.
9. If CRP acres were to decline by an additional 50% in the county you hunt most frequently, would you expect the
number of hunting trips you take over the course of the season to this county to change in some way? Check
one:
____No Change in number of Trips
____Yes, Fewer Trips  _____# of fewer deer hunting trips each season
____Yes, More Trips  _____# of additional deer hunting trips each season

5

IV. SEASONAL DEER HUNTING EXPENDITURES IN SOUTH DAKOTA
To understand the economic impact that hunting has on the state, it is important we have an idea of what you spent
on deer hunting during the 2014 hunting season in the state of South Dakota ONLY.
Please estimate the expenditures you made for only for yourself, not for others.
$ Spent in the
County Where
you Hunted
Most
Frequently

$ Spent in
Rest of State
of South
Dakota

1. Gasoline/travel costs
2. Restaurants/Bars/Taverns
3. Grocery stores/liquor stores
4. Rental Car
5. Lodging
6. Access/leasing fees
7. Ammunition
8. Guns/Bows used for Deer Hunting (please circle which
one or both if applicable)
9. Hunting License
10. Taxidermy
11. Repairs to equipment
12. Special clothing used for deer hunting
13. Non-clothing gear used for deer hunting (stands, weapons,
arrows, etc.)
14. Other? Please List:
_______________________________________________

15. Were there any other items purchased out of state specifically for deer hunting in South Dakota?
(such as catalog, internet, out of state travel en route, etc.)
Yes $______ Please list item___________________________________________
Yes $______ Please list item____________________________________________
Yes $______ Please list item____________________________________________
No

6

V. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Please tell us a little something about yourself. These last few questions will help us in evaluating how well our
sample represents hunters in the state. Your answers will be kept strictly confidential and will only be used for
the analysis of this study. Statistics will only be reported as an average of overall responses, and you will not
be identified in any way.
1. Are you?

□

Male

□

Female

2.

In what year were you born? _______

3.

Are you employed?

□ Yes (Go to #3a.)

3a. Do you work part time or full time?

□ No (Skip to #3d.)
□ Full-time

□ Part-time

3b. Do you take time off from work to participate in hunting?

□ Yes

□ No

3c. How many weeks of paid vacation do you receive each year? # _____ of weeks (Go to #4.)

□ Yes □ No

3d. Are you retired?

4. What is the zip code in which you live? ____________ County Name _______________
5. Are you a member of a hunting or sportsman's organization?
6. Are you a member at a Private Hunting Club?

□ Yes

□ Yes
□ No
□ No

6a. If you belong to a hunting club(s) or sportsman’s organization(s) what is the sum of your annual dues?
$_____________ Annually
7. Your highest level of formal education completed? (Please circle one)
High School
Or Less
8.

Associates
Degree

College (B.S./B.A)
or Technical School

Graduate or
Professional School

Was your own income from all sources (before taxes) last year?

□
□
□

less than $19,999
$40,000-$59,999
$100,000-$149,999

□
□
□

$20,000-$29,999
$60,000-$79,999
$150,000-$299,999

□
□
□

$30,000-$39,999
$80,000-$99,999
more than $300,000

Thank you for completing the survey!
If you have any comments please write them on the back of the survey.
Please return in the postage paid return envelope we provided.

7

COMMENTS?

Please feel free to write any comments you have about wildlife management in SD. When
you are finished, please place the survey in the stamped return envelope and mail it back to
us.

ID-SD-DEER#

8