Mapping the non-traditional path to hunting

Rooted in traditional rural American culture, hunting is an activity that is disproportionately practiced by white males who are often introduced to the activity during their youth through immediate family members, typically... [ view full abstract ]

Rooted in traditional rural American culture, hunting is an activity that is disproportionately practiced by white males who are often introduced to the activity during their youth through immediate family members, typically the father or another male figure. Yet recent anecdotal evidence suggests that proportionately more hunting participants do not have these socio-demographic attributes and may be entering the activity through “non-traditional” pathways. It is surmised that these individuals may lessen concerns about decreasing hunter numbers in the United States, but empirical evidence for this conclusion is limited. In this study, we identify and describe “non-traditional path hunters” (NTPHs) in New York State based on social support, hunting behavior, motivations, and constraints. We define NTPHs as adults 18 years of age or older who recently passed a Sportsman Education course (i.e., in 2014), have limited or no experience with hunting prior to taking the course or constitute predominantly under-represented segments of the hunting community including: suburban-urban residents, women, and racial/ethnic minorities. The web-based survey instrument was distributed via personalized email to 3,605 individuals meeting these criteria. The final response rate was 42% after subtracting undeliverable emails. A nonrespondent follow-up was conducted. Findings indicate that most NTPHs became interested in hunting through friends and non-blood relatives but they share many of the same hunting motivations as traditional-path hunters. Respondents also identified many of the same structural constraints to their future hunting participation as traditional path hunters, including firearm laws, hunting regulations, and access issues. As such, NTPHs in New York may not represent a “new” segment of hunters, and it is unlikely that they will be the antidote to decreasing hunter numbers in the state. Implications of these findings on hunter recruitment and retention will be discussed.