Noatak National Preserve sport hunter perceptions and experiences

Noatak National Preserve

Caribou Hunting Study

North and West Alaska Cooperative Ecosystems Study Unit

A Cooperative research effort between

Western Arctic National Parklands

and

School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences

Department of Resources Management

323 O'Neill Bldg.

PO Box 757200

Fairbanks, AK 99775-7200

If you have any questions about this survey, contact

Dr. Peter Fix at (907) 474-6926; [email protected]

or Andrew Ackerman at (907) 455-0643; [email protected]

PRIVACY ACT and PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: The National Park Service is authorized by 16 U.S.C. 1a-7 to collect this information. This information will be used by park managers understand the impacts of crowding in the Noatak National Preserve. Your response to this request is voluntary and completely anonymous. No action may be taken against you for refusing to supply the information requested. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

BURDEN ESTIMATE STATEMENT: Public reporting for this form is estimated to average 20 minutes per response. Direct comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this questionnaire to: Andrew Ackerman, 4175 Geist Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99709; [email protected] or Peter Fix, 323 O’Neill, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775; or [email protected] (e-mail).

OMB Approval Number: 1024-0224

Expiration Date: 8-31-2014

NOTE TO REVIEWER – this question will only be on the mail-back version of the survey to determine respondents’ edibility. The survey administrator will require a verbal response for the on-site version.

You have received this survey because you are among a select group of hunters who were permitted to hunt in the Noatak National Preserve during the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons Before you get started please respond to one of the following statements in the box below.

 I did not hunt in the Noatak during the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons.

STOP. Do not complete this survey.

Please use the enclosed envelope or return

this survey to:

School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences

Department of Resources Management

323 O'Neill Bldg.

PO Box 757200

Fairbanks, AK 99775-7200

 Yes. I did hunt in the Noatak during the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons.

Please continue with the rest of this survey.

Please Note:

• The enclosed map shows the boundaries of the Noatak National Preserve, geographic features, and backcountry landing areas. Please use the enclosed map as reference for the questions.

• Several questions ask about characteristics and your evaluation of your hunting trip in Noatak National Preserve. Other than question 1, reference your most recent trip when answering these questions.

Section 1: Trip Characteristics

We are interested in knowing more about your hunting trip to the area. Please use the maps to answer the questions below.

TOPIC AREA 1: VISTITHIS4

1. From the list below, what years did you hunt in Noatak National Preserve (using the map please check all that apply)

 2010

 2011

 2012

 Prior to 2010 (please list years): ___________________________

TOPIC AREA 1: GR3

2. On your most recent trip to Noatak Preserve, including yourself and any guide(s), how many members were in your hunting party? (Include only those in your immediate group.)

_______ People in Group

TOPIC AREA 3:TRIPC3

3. On your most recent hunting trip, what was your departure location for the field in Alaska? (See attached map)

1. Departure location for the field:  Kotzebue  Bettles  Coldfoot  Other____________

2. How many days did you spend in Noatak National Preserve?

_______ Days in Noatak Preserve

3. How many total days in the field hunting? (include days in Preserve and any field days outside of the Preserve)

_______ Total Days in Field

TOPIC AREA 3: TRANS16

4. For your most recent hunting trip in Noatak, which of the following commercial support services did you use? (Check all that apply)

 Hunting Guide

 Air Transporter (big game)  Air Taxi

 Hunt logistics support service  Other services: ____________________

 Meat processing or storage service  Did not use any commercial support service(s)

TOPIC AREA 3: TRANS16

5. Select transportation you used during your most recent hunting trip to Noatak National Preserve (defined as time in the field and traveling to/from the Preserve)? (Check all that apply)

 Charter Airplane (big game air transporter or air taxi)

 Private plane

 ATV

 Motorized Boat

 Raft

 Kayak/Canoe

 Other:_________________

 Hiked in/out of the Preserve--did not use other transportation

TOPIC AREA 2: TPLAN1

6. From which of the following sources did you receive information about hunting and camping in Noatak National Preserve area? Please check all that apply. Then circle the one that was your primary information source (if any) of hunting in Noatak National Preserve.

 Internet hunting forum/blog  Magazine  AK Dept. of Fish & Game

 Friends and/or family  Commercial outfitter  National Park Service

 Alaskan Guide  Transporter service  Other_____________________

TOPIC AREA 1: KNOW9

7. During the planning for your trip, or during your trip, were you informed of the following topics related to the Noatak area?

• Check “yes” or “no” below. If “yes,” please check the box next to source(s) of the information

(KEY: NPS = National Park Service; ADF&G = Alaska Department of Fish and Game)

Information Topic:	Received info?		If yes, what was the primary source of information? (Check all that apply)
Minimum impact camping and waste disposal in the field	 Yes	 No	 NPS  ADF&G  Guide or Transporter  Other _____________________
Regulations regarding hunter salvage of meat	 Yes	 No	 NPS  ADF&G  Guide or Transporter  Other _____________________
Challenges when caring for meat in backcountry and/or in Kotzebue	 Yes	 No	 NPS  ADF&G  Guide or Transporter  Other _____________________

Cultural sensitivity to traditional ways of life related to hunting caribou in this area of Alaska	 Yes	 No	 NPS  ADF&G  Guide or Transporter  Other _____________________
Land management/ownership /boundaries in the Noatak region	 Yes	 No	 NPS  ADF&G  Guide or Transporter  Other _____________________
Limits on the use of motorized equipment on federal park and preserve lands	 Yes	 No	 NPS  ADF&G  Guide or Transporter  Other _____________________
Permitted uses of national preserve lands and wildlife by local subsistence communities in Alaska	 Yes	 No	 NPS  ADF&G  Guide or Transporter  Other _____________________
Best options for communicating to nearest villages or getting emergency services while in the field	 Yes	 No	 NPS  ADF&G  Guide or Transporter  Other _____________________
Current federal and state policies concerning landing along the Noatak River and in portions of western Noatak Preserve when big game hunting	 Yes	 No	 NPS  ADF&G  Guide or Transporter  Other _____________________

TOPIC AREA 2: TPLAN15

8. Please check all of the reasons you wanted to hunt big game in Noatak National Preserve over other areas of Alaska. Then rate the level of influence those reasons had on your final decision to hunt here. (Circle the number that best represents the amount of influence the reason had on your final decision to hunt in the area)

		Minor influence	Major influence
	Availability of big game vs. other areas	1	2
	Knowledge that the area is managed as federal preserve	1	2
	More remote and wild setting than other areas	1	2
	Reputation of guides, transporters, or outfitters in area	1	2
	Opportunity to hunt specific caribou herd not available in other areas	1	2
	Opportunity to harvest more animals (high bag limit)	1	2
	Affordability of hunt over other areas of Alaska	1	2
	High quality and openness of the area over others in Alaska	1	2
	Ease of access to big game	1	2
	Opportunity to experience solitude and quiet while hunting	1	2
	Other: ________________________________	1	2

TOPIC AREA 4: PREF1

9. We are interested in learning about the importance you place on a variety of different reasons for taking this trip that are not directly related to harvesting game. Please rate the importance you placed on each of the following reasons for taking this trip.

Potential reasons for your Noatak hunting trip	Importance Scale
	Not at all important		Low importance		Slightly important		Neutral		Moderately important		Very important		Extremely important
To test my skills & abilities	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
To be with friends	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
To be with family To explore & learn about a new area	1 1	2 2		3 3		4 4		5 5		6 6		7 7
Get exercise	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
Teach hunting skills to others	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
To get away from usual demands of busy life	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
To be close to nature	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
To experience the thrill of a big game hunt	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
To use new hunting/camping equipment	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
To visit a national park or preserve	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
To fly in an Alaskan bush plane	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
To experience solitude and quiet	1	2		3		4		5		6		7
To learn about native Alaskan lifestyles	1	2		3		4		5		6		7

TOPIC AREA: PREF1

10. Please circle the number on the scale that best represents to you the importance of this hunt for the purpose of providing meat for consumption versus a big game trophy.

Hunting for trophy is extremely important	Trophy is very important	Trophy is moderately important	Trophy and meat are equally important	Meat is moderately important	Meat is very important	Hunting for meat is extremely important
1	2	3	4	5	6	7

11. Please circle the number on the scale that best represents to you the importance of being able to hunt at any location within Noatak Preserve versus being able to hunt at your desired time of year.

Location of hunt is extremely important	Location is very important	Location is moderately important	Location and timing is equally important	Timing is moderately important	Timing is very important	Timing is extremely important
1	2	3	4	5	6	7

12. Please list any other important reasons you had for taking this trip when you did:

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Section 2: Location of Hunt

This section asks questions about the location of your hunt within the Noatak National Preserve. Use the enclosed maps and a pencil to answer these questions. We will first ask you:

• to identify one of four general areas in the preserve,

• to identify more precisely where you hunted and camped,

• about the big game you saw at that location.

We realize the area is large and your trip may have been years ago, but please answer to the best of your ability.

TOPIC AREA 3: ITIN1

13. a. In which of the 4 zones shown on the Noatak area map did you hunt during your most recent trip?

(Please check all that apply)

 Area 1: Noatak River-North

 Area 2: Noatak River-South

 Area 3: Noatak River-Upper (east)

 Area 4: Noatak Far East

b. In which zones, as shown on the map, did you hunt on prior years trips to Noatak National Preserve?

If your most recent trip was your only time hunting in Noatak then Skip to Question 14. If you have hunted more than once in Noatak, check all zones you hunted in prior to your most recent trip.(

 Area 1: Noatak River-North

 Area 2: Noatak River-South

 Area 3: Noatak River-Upper (east)

 Area 4: Noatak Far East

14. On the enclosed map please mark using a visible dot (•) and use the label abbreviations listed below to point out the following locations:

1. Your airplane drop-off – label as DO next to a point

2. Your airplane pick-up – label as PU next to a point

3. Your base camp (if applicable) – label as BC next to a point

4. Any backcountry camps (if applicable) – label as BY1, BY2, BY3, etc. in chronological order next to the points

5. Location of each instanceAny location that you had the “opportunityto harvest ” caribou or other big game. Label the first harvest opportunity area as H1 on the map at the point where it occurred. The “opportunity to Harvestharvest” opportunities are is considered asas a times that you were within firing range:

• and you scoped but passed on the opportunity to shoot,

• shot but missed, or you

• successfully shot and killed the animal, or

• some combination of the three.

Note: Because caribou often travel in a herd, iIf multiple scopes or shots were taken at the samea herd, this is still just one harvest opportunity and you should not label as multiple onesopportunities.

However, if you stayed in the same general location for at least three hours and scoped or shot at multiple herds or individual animals separated in time, please indicate each of these unique opportunities by labeling the same dot with multiple harvest opportunity labels (i.e. H2, H3, H4, etc.)

• If you do not recall your exact location, please mark and label a dot to the best of your ability where you hunted, but also make note on the map “general area of hunt.”

TOPIC AREA1: ITIN7

15. For those locations you just identified as an opportunity to harvest an animal, please provide the following information regarding big game seen, the type of game harvested, and number of other hunters firing on game in the same area.

Hunting Area	# of caribou or game (1, 2-20, 21-100, 100-499, >500)	Total #animals fired upon	If you encountered large herds (>100) of caribou, did you: a) shoot at lead animals; or b) let the first few pass. Put “N/A” large herds were not seen	Name and # of animals harvested at this location	# of other hunters firing on animals in same area
Example (Hx)	100-499	4	Shot at lead animals	Caribou (1) Wolf (1)	1
Hunting area 1 (H1)
Hunting area 2 (H2)
Hunting area 3 (H3)
Hunting area 4 (H4)
Hunting area 5 (H5)

Section 3: Evaluation of Trip Experience

TOPIC AREA 5: CROWD17 / CROWD4

16. We would like to know about the types and amounts of encounters with other people or vehicles you had during your time in the field. Please tell us, to the best of your recollection, how many other groups of hunters, non-hunting visitors, or motorized sounds you encountered or heard in the Noatak backcountry on this trip, and how the amount compared to your expectations. In the case where you encountered guided parties, include the guides in the total number of encounters with people that you had.

Please only indicate how many encounters you had while inside the preserve on this trip – i.e., do not include time in the air traveling to/from the Kotzebue airport in this question.

Note the following terms used in this section:

• Motorized equipment: an encounter includes those instances when you saw and heard the motorized vehicle as well as situations when you only heard it

• Non-local hunter: people residing outside of the immediate region of the Noatak River watershed or the Kotzebue Sound

• Locals: people who reside in the immediate area (Noatak, Kotzebue, etc.)

		This level of encounters was…
Type of encounter:	Number of people/sounds encountered:	Fewer than I expected	About what I expected	More than I expected
Non-local hunters with guides	_____ or  don’t know	1	2	3
Independent, non-local hunters or non-hunting visitor	_____ or  don’t know	1	2	3
Local hunters and trappers	_____ or  don’t know	1	2	3
Propeller airplanes	_____ or  don’t know	1	2	3
ATVs	_____ or  don’t know	1	2	3
Motorized boats	_____ or  don’t know	1	2	3
Helicopters	_____ or  don’t know	1	2	3
Commercial or military jets	_____ or  don’t know	1	2	3

TOPIC AREA 5: CROWDATT11

17. Did the number of encounters with the following groups or vehicle types detract from, improve or not influence your visit? (try to make your assessment independent of any specific interactions you may have had with those encountered as the next question [18] specifically addresses those issues)

Type of encounter	Greatly detracted	Slightly detracted	Had no influence	Slightly improved	Greatly improved
Guided non-local hunters	1	2	3	4	5
Independent non-local hunters	1	2	3	4	5
Local hunters & trappers	1	2	3	4	5
Propeller airplanes	1	2	3	4	5
ATVs	1	2	3	4	5
Motorized boats	1	2	3	4	5
Helicopters	1	2	3	4	5
Commercial or military jets:	1	2	3	4	5

TOPIC AREA 5: CROWDATT11

18. Independent of the number of encounters did the actions or characteristics of the following encounters detract from, improve, or not influence your visit?

Type of encounter	Did not encounter	Greatly detracted	Slightly detracted	Had no influence	Slightly improved	Greatly improved
Guided non-local hunters	0	1	2	3	4	5
Independent non-local hunters	0	1	2	3	4	5
Local hunters and trappers	0	1	2	3	4	5
Propeller airplanes	0	1	2	3	4	5
ATVs	0	1	2	3	4	5
Motorized boats	0	1	2	3	4	5

TOPIC AREA 6: EVALSERV9

19. Was there a situation that made you feel unsafe while in the area?  Yes  No

If yes, please explain:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TOPIC AREA 6: OPMG7

20. Please circle the number corresponding to your assessment of the potential situation described by each statement below with regards to big game hunts in Noatak National Preserve or in the surrounding area before, during, and after the hunt.

Situation/Issue	Not at all a problem	Slight problem	Moderate problem	Extreme problem	Not sure
Direct conflicts in the backcountry between local and non-local hunters during hunting season	1	2	3	4	5
Inadequate service provided to non-locals	1	2	3	4	5
Non-local hunters not salvaging all big game meat they harvest	1	2	3	4	5
Lack of meat processing/storage facilities in Kotzebue resulting in loss of meat	1	2	3	4	5
Competition among hunters for prime basecamp or backcountry campsites	1	2	3	4	5
Non-local hunter behavior(s) around caribou cause herds to change migration patterns away from traditional hunting areas	1	2	3	4	5
Competition for hunting locations between guided hunter groups	1	2	3	4	5
Non-local hunters flaunt expensive hunting equipment in local community	1	2	3	4	5
Competition among hunters for the best “trophy” game	1	2	3	4	5
Non-locals donate poor quality meat to local community members	1	2	3	4	5
Too few opportunities or limited area in preserve for hunting best “trophy” animal	1	2	3	4	5
Inadequate safety procedures or unresponsiveness from commercial transporters	1	2	3	4	5
Inadequate trip preparedness training offered by National Park Service in Kotzebue	1	2	3	4	5
Inadequate safety procedures utilized by guides	1	2	3	4	5
Lack of meat shipping facilities in Kotzebue	1	2	3	4	5
Use of native land/property/shelters by non-local hunters without getting prior permission	1	2	3	4	5
Lack of timely response to hunter emergency requests by air transporters	1	2	3	4	5
Lack of timely or adequate response to hunter emergency requests by the local emergency (EMS) responders or NPS in Kotzebue	1	2	3	4	5
Locals harvest more meat than they need or waste meat	1	2	3	4	5
The presence of trash or human waste around guided hunt/transporter base camps	1	2	3	4	5
NPS employees not having adequate knowledge of local conditions and resources	1	2	3	4	5
State of AK employees not having adequate knowledge of local conditions and resources	1	2	3	4	5
The presence of trash or human waste around local hunting cabins or camps in the preserve

TOPIC AREA 6: EVALSERV2 / EVALSERV3

21. Please provide any other factors that influenced the quality or enjoyment of your trip.

Positive factors Negative factors

____________________________________ ________________________________________

____________________________________ ________________________________________

____________________________________ ________________________________________

TOPIC AREA 1: KNOW 9

22. Please read the following statements related to hunting in Noatak National Preserve and indicate whether you feel the statement is true or false.

Statement	The statement is:
When departing your camp, it is OK to leave behind biodegradable food or packaging items.	 True	 False
While in Noatak National Preserve, if a faint trail is present you should walk in that trail to concentrate impacts.	 True	 False
Camps should be located in durable areas such as gravel bars.	 True	 False
It is legal to transport caribou antlers before removing the meat from the field.	 True	 False
In Game Management Unit 23, meat can be “deboned” before transporting.	 True	 False
ADF&G only requires the “four quarters” to be salvaged.	 True	 False
Native Corporations and their members do not own land inside of Noatak National Preserve.	 True	 False
Local, federally qualified subsistence hunters have certain legal protections in state and federal law to hunt big game that are different from non-local hunters on preserve lands.	 True	 False
Local communities adjacent to Noatak National Preserve rely on fall caribou to feed family and/or community members throughout the rest of the year.	 True	 False
The Unit 23 Noatak Controlled Use Area along the Noatak River was put in place to provide hunters with greater levels of solitude and quiet and restricts the use of aircraft for purposes of all non-local big game hunts in this area between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30 each year.	 True	 False
Avoiding shooting caribou near river drainages is consistent with local hunting traditions.	 True	 False
The Noatak Special Commercial Use Area (i.e., delayed entry area) runs from the northern boundary to the southern boundary of the preserve and runs east-west from the Kugururok River and Maiyumerak Mountains to the western boundary of the preserve.	 True	 False
State of Alaska licensed big game transporter pilots are required to pass a test on proper flying and hunting behavior in Unit 23 and to hold a card stating so.	 True	 False
The Noatak Special Commercial Use Area applies only to non-local caribou hunts prior to September 15th and was put in place to reduce alleged disturbances by transporter aircraft and clients to local subsistence hunters.	 True	 False

Section 4: Potential Management Options

TOPIC AREA 6: OPMMGT11

Currently there exists within Noatak National Preserve a ten mile-wide buffer area of the Noatak River that extends approximately 80 river miles from the western boundary of the Noatak National Preserve to the intersection with Sapun Creek. This is known as the Unit 23 ADF&G Controlled Use Area. The area is restricted to commercial transporter landings for big game hunts from August 15 until September 30. Also, in 2012 and 2013 commercial transporters were required to delay entry of caribou non-local hunters into the all areas of the preserve that lie west of the Kugururok River and Maiyumerak Mountains until after September 15^th, unless authorized by the superintendent to provide services before September 15^th.

Below are three scenarios of training.

Please read each scenario and indicate if you would be willing to attend the training to be allowed to land and hunt in the delayed entry area before September 15.

Scenario 1

Hunters can land and hunt caribou in the delayed entry area of the Preserve before September 15 if they first watch a 15 minute video at the ranger station about cultural sensitivity and subsistence hunting in Alaska. Hunters would be issued a card indicating they watched the video and would be required to show it to rangers if asked.

Assuming you were to hunt in Noatak Preserve again, would you prefer to: (check only one response).

 Watch the video so you could land in the delayed entry area before September 15

Choose not to watch the video and hunt outside of the delayed entry area

Hunt after September 15 to avoid any restrictions on access to areas of the preserve

Scenario 2

Hunters can land and hunt caribou in the delayed entry area of the Preserve before September 15 if they first attend a 15 minute NPS ranger talk about cultural sensitivity. They would be issued a card indicating they attended the talk and would be required to show it to NPS rangers if asked.

Assuming you were to hunt in Noatak Preserve again, would you prefer to: (check only one response)

 Attend the talk so you could land in the delayed entry area before September 15

 Choose not to attend the talk and hunt outside of the delayed entry area

 Hunt after September 15 to avoid any restrictions on access to areas of the preserve

Scenario 3

Hunters can land and hunt caribou in the delayed entry area of the Preserve before September 15 if they first attend either watch the 15 minute video or attend the 15 minute NPS ranger talk about cultural sensitivity. They would need to then pass a 10 question test about cultural sensitivity (they would be allowed to retake the test if they do not pass the first time). They would be issued a card indicating they passed the test and would be required to show it to NPS rangers if asked.

Assuming you were to hunt in Noatak Preserve again, would you prefer to: (check only one response).

 Watch the video/attend the talk and take the test so you could land in the delayed entry area before September 15

 Choose not to watch the video/attend the talk and take the test and hunt outside of the delayed entry area

 Hunt after September 15 to avoid any restrictions on access to areas of the preserve

TOPIC AREA 6: OPMMGT11

23. Conflicts between non-local and local hunters in the Noatak National Preserve have been identified by managers as a situation to be addressed. The actions listed below have been identified as possible solutions to this conflict.

Please circle the number corresponding to how unacceptable or acceptable you feel the action would be if taken to address conflict between non-locals and locals. (Note some actions are currently in place.)

Action	Strongly unacceptable	Somewhat unacceptable	Neither	Somewhat acceptable	Strongly acceptable
Designate a selection of approved landing areas within the preserve but don’t limit the number of flights or clients allowed	1	2	3	4	5
Limit the number of clients that transporters may take into Noatak Preserve during certain weeks of the fall season but not where they land	1	2	3	4	5
Limit the number of flights transporters may take into Noatak Preserve during certain weeks of the fall season but not where they land	1	2	3	4	5
Restrict transporter services to certain zones of Noatak Preserve	1	2	3	4	5
Establishing a minimum distance between camps	1	2	3	4	5
Establish preferred times of day and best flying practices to reduce fly-overs of subsistence hunting camps and the Noatak River	1	2	3	4	5
Place the burden of reducing issues entirely on the hunters by making it mandatory that they become familiar with information on sensitive local hunting locations, times and hunting customs within the Preserve prior to being transported into the preserve	1	2	3	4	5

Section 5: Comments and Suggestions

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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