Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Recreation Surve

OMB #0596-xxxx.Expires xx/xx/xxxx

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Image © 1993 by Dixon J. Jones

Visitor Recreation Survey

2015

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0596-xxxx. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 18 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute

790 E. Beckwith Ave.

Missoula, Montana 59801

(406) 542-4197

OMB #0596-xxxx Exp. Xx/xx/201x

Thank you for your time. Please answer every question about this visit. If you traveled to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Arctic Refuge) more than once in 2015, fill out this survey based on your most recent visit. Your answers are voluntary and will remain anonymous. It is important that the person who was sent this survey answer the questions.

SECTION A: Details about your visit

A1. How did you access the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Arctic Refuge) on this visit? (Please check only one.)

 Fly-in by chartered plane

 Fly-in by private plane

 Hike in from Dalton Highway

 Hike in from a local village

 Access by raft/kayak/canoe

 Other (Specify.) ____________________________

A2. At what place in Arctic Refuge, or within which drainage, did you start your trip?

(Specify.) ___________________________________________

or

• Don’t know / don’t remember

A3. At what place in Arctic Refuge, or within which drainage, did you end your trip?

(Specify.) ___________________________________________

or

 Don’t know / don’t remember

A4. What was your primary purpose, or main reason for visiting Arctic Refuge? (Please check only one.)

 Backpacking  Learning about the place

 Rafting  Working in my job

 Hunting  Viewing wildlife

 Photography  Fishing

 Day hiking  Relaxing

• Pack rafting  Other (Specify.) __________

• Viewing the scenery

 Visiting the designated wilderness area

A5. What specific activities did you do in Arctic Refuge during this visit? (Please check all that apply.)

 Backpacking  Pack rafting

 Day hiking  Rafting

 Hunting  Observing wildlife

 Camping  Birding

 Mountain climbing  Photography

 Fishing  Other (Specify.) _____________

A6. How was your visit to Arctic Refuge organized? (Please check only one.)

 Used the services of a commercial guide (not an air taxi)

 Used the services of a commercial outfitter (not an air taxi)

 Group trip sponsored by a club / organization

 Self-organized without help from guide, outfitter, or club

 Other (Specify.) __________________________________________

A7. Were you working as a guide on this trip? (Check one.)

 Yes  No

A8. How many people were in your group, including yourself? ______ people

A9. How many nights did you spend in Arctic Refuge? ______ nights(s)

A10. During this visit, how many different places did you camp in Arctic Refuge? ____________ place(s)

A11. How often did you do the following while camping? If you did not camp in Arctic Refuge during this visit, skip to Question A12. (Circle one response for each item.)

Never Sometimes Usually Always

Camp on sand, gravel, or rock 0 1 2 3 0

Camp on tundra vegetation 0 1 2 3

Use a campfire 0 1 2 3

Use bear-resistant food container(s) 0 1 2 3

Bury your solid human waste 0 1 2 3 2 1 0

Carry out your solid human waste 0 1 2 3 2 1 0

A12. There are different sources of information that people can use to learn about Arctic Refuge before they plan a visit and make travel arrangements. Some of these are listed below.

• Check the box in column 1 if you knew about this source of information before your visit.

• Check the box in column 2 if you used this source of information to help plan your visit.

• Check the box in column 3 if you found this source of information to be helpful.

• Check the box in column 4 if this source of information influenced your decision to visit Arctic Refuge.

	1 Check if you were aware of this	2 Check if you used this	3 Check if you found this to be helpful	4 Check if this influenced your decision to visit
Arctic Interagency Visitor Center (Coldfoot, AK)				
Alaska Public Lands Information Center				
Information from commercial guides or outfitters				
The refuge’s website				
Personal contact with refuge staff (e.g., telephone, email)				
The refuge’s brochures or other printed information				
Magazines, newspaper, or other media descriptions of the refuge				
Other Internet source (Specify.) _________________				

SECTION B: Experiences and opportunities

B1. Visitors to Arctic Refuge may have a variety of preferences when it comes to having a quality outdoor experience; some possible preferences are listed below. During this visit, how important was it for you to experience the following? (Circle one response for each item.)

Not at all Slightly Moderately Very

Important Important Important Important

Adventure 0 1 2 3

Personal growth 0 1 2 3

Natural sounds (e.g., wind, water) 0 1 2 3

See or hear wildlife 0 1 2 3

Learn about the people who live here 0 1 2 3

Self-reliance 0 1 2 3

Learn about the refuge’s environments 0 1 2 3

Solitude 0 1 2 3

Natural conditions unaltered by developments 0 1 2 3

Develop outdoor skills 0 1 2 3

Enjoy being with others in my group 0 1 2 3

Challenge 0 1 2 3

Witness the refuge’s scenery 0 1 2 3

Explore a remote place 0 1 2 3

Other (Specify.) _____________________ 0 1 2 3

B2. Did you meet a ranger, law enforcement officer, or other refuge staff during this visit to Arctic Refuge? (Please check one.)

 No

 Yes  If yes, how did you feel about that experience?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B3. Visitors to Arctic Refuge may seek a variety of opportunities; some are listed below. How important is it to you that managers at Arctic Refuge maintain the following opportunities for visitors? (Circle one response for each item.)

Not at all Slightly Moderately Very

Important Important Important Important

Backpacking 0 1 2 3

Photography 0 1 2 3

Hunting 0 1 2 3

A chance to watch wildlife 0 1 2 3

Camping 0 1 2 3

Fishing 0 1 2 3

Guided recreation or small-scale tourism 0 1 2 3

River recreation (i.e., paddling sports) 0 1 2 3

Day hiking 0 1 2 3

Other (Specify.) _____________________

___________________________________ 0 1 2 3

B4. If your visit included hunting, rate the following on the amount of influence each had on your decision to hunt in Arctic Refuge. If you did not hunt during this visit, skip to question C1. (Circle one response for each item.)

No Slight Moderate High

Influence Influence Influence Influence

Expect to encounter fewer hunters 0 1 2 3

Bring meat home for the table 0 1 2 3

Hunt a species not available at home 0 1 2 3

Participate in a general season hunt

with no drawing or registration 0 1 2 3

Higher hunter success rate

than other areas 0 1 2 3

Hunt in a designated wilderness area 0 1 2 3

Hunt a trophy animal 0 1 2 3

Other (Specify.) _________________

_____________________________ 0 1 2 3

SECTION C. Conditions and encounters

C1. The following questions ask about various types of human encounters that you may have observed or experienced during this visit to Arctic Refuge.

• Write your best estimate of the amount that you saw in column 1.

• Check the box in column 2 if this amount was more that you expected.

• In column 3, estimate the amount you can accept or tolerate before your visit is compromised; if it does not matter to you, place an X in column 3.

• If you had no expectations, check the box in column 4.

	1 Amount you saw on this visit	2 Check if you saw more than expected	3 Amount you can accept or tolerate	4 Check if you did not know what to expect
Total number of other groups	______		______	
Groups at your access point	______		______	
Groups at your departure point	______		______	
Groups between your access and departure points	______		______	
Groups of seven or more	______		______	
Airplanes landing at access or departure points	______		______	
Contacts by refuge staff or enforcement officer	______		______	
Helicopters seen or heard	______		______	
Other signs (Specify.) _________________ _________________	______		______	

C2. The following questions ask about various signs, or evidence of previous visitors that you may have observed or encountered during this visit to Arctic Refuge.

• Write your best estimate of the amount that you saw in column 1.

• Check the box in column 2 if this amount was more that you expected.

• In column 3, estimate the amount you can accept or tolerate before your visit is compromised; if it does not matter to you, place an X in column 3.

• If you had no expectations, check the box in column 4.

	Amount you saw on this visit	Check if you saw more than expected	Amount you can accept or tolerate	Check if you did not know what to expect
Previously used campsites	______		______	
Evidence of a campfire or fire ring	______		______	
Trash or litter	______		______	
Widening or erosion of hiking trail	______		______	
Toilet paper or baby wipes	______		______	
Human body waste (i.e., feces)	______		______	
Other signs of visitors (Specify.) _________________ _________________	______		______	

C3. Did you feel that crowding was a problem at any of the specific places you visited during this trip to Arctic Refuge? (Please check one response.)

• No

 Yes  If yes, please note the places you felt were crowded. (A simple description of the place will be enough—something like “around the landing strip where I put in” or “in the camping area where I took out”.) If you know it, please provide the name of the place, area, or trail.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

C4. During this visit, did you have a wildlife encounter you considered threatening, or too close for comfort (e.g., being approached by a bear or other animal)? (Check one.)

 No

Yes  If yes, where did it occur and what happened?

_____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

C5. If you answered Yes in question C4, did you inform a refuge staff member or other official about this wildlife encounter? (Check one.)

 Yes  No

SECTION D. Opinions about management

D1. Please tell us how you personally feel about the following management options for Arctic Refuge. (Circle one response for each item.)

Strongly Strongly

oppose Oppose Neutral Support support

Limits on campfires where wood

growth is slow and its sustainability

is a concern -2 -1 0 1 2

Require use of bear-resistant food

containers throughout the refuge -2 -1 0 1 2

Require visitors to do a pre-trip

orientation about low impact practices -2 -1 0 1 2

Use of helicopters by the agency

for management purposes -2 -1 0 1 2

Limits on where aircraft may

land in the refuge -2 -1 0 1 2

Require visitors to contact the refuge

before visiting to obtain a free permit -2 -1 0 1 2

Establish a system to reduce the

number of encounters between groups -2 -1 0 1 2

Provide more information about

planning a visit to the refuge -2 -1 0 1 2

Provide more information about travel

within the refuge -2 -1 0 1 2

Temporarily close areas to restore

damaged resources -2 -1 0 1 2

Establish trails -2 -1 0 1 2

Provide more information

about local history / culture -2 -1 0 1 2

Use remote cameras or other devices

to monitor patterns of visitor use -2 -1 0 1 2

Require camping on gravel or other

durable surfaces when available -2 -1 0 1 2

Install directional signs -2 -1 0 1 2

Strongly Strongly

D1. (continued) oppose Oppose Neutral Support support

Harden camp sites at heavily

used locations -2 -1 0 1 2

Require visitors to pay a permit fee

that is invested in visitor services -2 -1 0 1 2

Provide more information on

low impact camping / hiking practices -2 -1 0 1 2

Construct bridges for safe river crossings -2 -1 0 1 2

Construct public-use cabins -2 -1 0 1 2

Increase the number of ranger contacts

with visitors on the refuge to provide

education -2 -1 0 1 2

Ask visitors to voluntarily contact the refuge

before visiting to obtain a free permit -2 -1 0 1 2

Provide rustic outhouses at heavily

used locations -2 -1 0 1 2

D2. Do you support group size limits for Arctic Refuge? (Check the appropriate

response.)

 No

 Yes  If you support a group size limit, what is the maximum number of people that should be permitted in any one party? (Please enter a maximum party size for each type of activity.)

River float trips: _____ people

Backpacking trips: _____ people

Pack rafting trips: _____ people

Base camping (at one location): _____ people

Hunting trips: _____ people

Day hikes: _____ people

D3. If visitor use needs to be limited in some areas of Arctic Refuge, now or in the future, who do you think should have preference? (Please check only one.)

Clients of commercial guides or outfitters

Do-it-yourself individuals/groups (self-guided)

Everyone should have equal opportunity

I don’t know

SECTION E. About you

E1. How many times, including this trip, have you visited the Arctic Refuge in your lifetime?

__________ trips

E2. How many trips, of any type, including this trip, are you taking to the Arctic Refuge this year?

__________ trips

E3. Of these, how many times, including this trip, have or will you utilize(d) the services of an outfitter or guide?

__________ outfitted or guided trips

E4. Do you think you will take another trip to Arctic Refuge after this year, but within the next five years? (Check one number.)

 Yes

 No  If no, please indicate why not (Check all that apply):

 Too expensive  Too difficult to get here

 Once-in-a-lifetime trip  Want to see other places

 Too physically challenging  My advanced age

 Other (Specify.) ____________

_____________________________

E5. If you answered “Yes” to question E4, do you think you would utilize the services of an outfitter or guide on your next visit? (Check one and provide an explanation.)

 Yes

 No

 Please indicate why or why not: ____________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

E6. Please tell us your age on your most recent birthday?

__________ years

E7. Are you? (Please check one.)

Female Male

E8. Please tell us how many years of school you have completed. (Circle one number.)

Elementary school Secondary/trade College/trade Graduate/other

Less than 8 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 More than 16

E9. Please tell us your occupation or type of job.

____________________________________________________________

E10. What is the 5-digit zip code for your current residence?

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Or, if not within the United States, name the city and country:

____________________________________________________________

E11. Please tell us when you visited Arctic Refuge on this trip.

Date(s) ___________________, 2013

SECTION F. Final thoughts

F1. What should managers at Arctic Refuge do, or avoid doing, to enhance or protect the kinds of experiences you desire at this refuge? (Please write your response on this page and go to the last question, F2, on the next page.)

F2. What else would you like to tell us about your experiences at Arctic Refuge, or about the future of this place? (Please continue writing on the back of this booklet if needed.)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING!

You may view the results of this study at

http://arctic.fws.gov/index.htm

The study results will be available in spring 2016



Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Agriculture, Clearance Officer, OIRM, Room 404-W, Washington, DC 20250; and to the Office of Management and Budget, OIRA (OMB #0596-xxxx, Exp. 00/00/xxxx), Washington, DC 20503.

Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute

790 E. Beckwith Ave.

Missoula, Montana 59801

(406) 542-4197