Specialization, constraints in snow goose hunting and harvest

North American snow goose populations are over-abundant. To address this problem the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established conservation orders permitting hunters unlimited take during certain periods in winter and spring... [ view full abstract ]

North American snow goose populations are over-abundant. To address this problem the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established conservation orders permitting hunters unlimited take during certain periods in winter and spring using previously unlawful methods (i.e., use of electronic calls, unlimited shell capacity, and hunting after sunset). Success of this conservation order in achieving targeted reductions of snow goose populations is a function of hunters’ abilities to harvest geese. Understanding factors that determine hunters’ participation and harvest during the conservation order is needed. In this study we drew on recreation specialization and constraints theories to conceptualize and measure indicators of snow goose hunting participation and harvest. Data were drawn from a statewide assessment of snow goose hunter harvest in the state of Illinois, USA, conducted following the 2017 spring conservation order hunt (n=871). Data were limited to hunters who participated during the conservation order. Specifically, we hypothesized that snow goose hunting participation, operationalized as number of days hunted during the conservation order, is a function of hunters’ psychological involvement in waterfowl hunting, perceived skill as a snow goose hunter, and constraints to participation. In turn we hypothesized that successful snow goose harvest can be modeled as a function of number of days hunting snow geese, involvement, perceived skill, constraints to participation, and use of specialized equipment that facilitates harvest permitted during the conservation order. Following the specialization literature, involvement in waterfowl hunting and perceived skill were found to positively influence hunting participation. While constraints were found to have a negative effect. In turn hunting participation accounted for a substantial proportion of the variance in snow goose harvest. However, subjective skill, perceived constraints, and specialized equipment use all exerted independent effects on snow goose harvest, and accounted for meaningful amounts of variance. Opportunities for fostering participation, increasing harvest, and furthering snow goose conservation efforts are revealed.