Montana Hunters and Ranchers Agree on Problem Areas

See also below: What You Can Do

01/14/98 BOZEMAN -- Montana hunters and ranchers agree on two-of-three reasons for conflict between them and on two-of-three potential solutions.

They also agreed that hunter and rancher differences can’t be fixed by government, says Jim Knight, Montana State University - Bozeman Extension wildlife specialist.

Focusing on common concerns rather than differences may help improve both, he adds. His previous work showed that most hunters and ranchers have a sincere desire to improve relationships.

Knight and graduate student Erik Swensson surveyed 1,000 hunters and 1,000 ranchers. They randomly selected hunters from among Montana residents with deer, elk or antelope licenses. Ranchers were selected from names provided by county Extension agents who judged that the ranchers had attitudes typical of area ranchers.

Attempting to survey people with "typical" attitudes was important, because "researchers have found that meeting attendees tend to state more extreme views than the general population and other selection methods also have had potential biases," says Knight.

The top two conflicts as identified by both groups were:

• driving off roads and
• trespassing.

Both hunters and ranchers reported that access to private land for hunting had decreased in the past five years. However, hunters ranked "too little access to private land" as a major problem while ranchers did not see it as a problem at all. Instead, they ranked "too many hunters" as one of the problems leading to conflicts.

Though 57 percent of producers feel that they are represented by a producer group, most hunters did not feel represented by a group. Membership in an organization that members feel represents their views is a "vital link to establishing better communication," says Knight.

Past surveys also have tended to focus on either hunter or ranchers, but not both, he adds. By surveying both in a common way and asking for suggestions from both, Knight says he hoped to find solutions to problems.

Better communication and greater consideration and appreciation was ranked by both hunters and ranchers as steps toward solving their problems. However, the third ranking solution for hunters was to have better boundary identification. Ranchers thought stiffer penalties for violators would be more effective than better boundary identification.

Both groups also agreed that "abuse of land by ranchers" was "no problem." However, hunters thought damage to livestock and damage to roads were "no problem," while ranchers thought unclear property postings and too little access were "no problem."

A majority of both groups believe that hunting pressure has increased in the last five years (84 percent of hunters and 69 percent of ranchers) along with deer populations. Fifty percent of hunters and 68 percent of ranchers believe elk populations are up. There wasn’t agreement on the trend of antelope populations.

Ranchers tend to think that their contribution to feeding wildlife is not recognized, but about 73 percent of hunters rated private land and agriculture as having a positive or very positive effect on wildlife and its habitat.

Probably the most important results of the survey indicate that both hunters and ranchers would like to see better relationships between the two groups, says Knight.

What You Can Do to Improve Hunter/Rancher Interactions

Ranchers

• If you welcome hunters in some places but not others, get several inexpensive copies of a map of your area. Keep one "clean." Mark areas that you would particularly like hunted and those you want left alone. Make a new version each year if necessary. Give it to hunters who ask permission to hunt. Share such maps with neighbors to help ensure that hunters are where you want them to be.
• Use hunting as a wildlife population management tool. Tell hunters where to hunt and how to hunt your land most effectively.
• If population control is a wildlife management objective, consider allowing buck hunting only after a hunter has harvested an antlerless animal. If a hunter doesn’t have an antlerless permit this year, let them know they’ll need one next year to hunt your land.
• Advise your local Fish, Wildlife and Parks officers if you would like them to direct hunters to your land.

 

Hunters

• Respect land ownership. Ask permission to hunt.
• Gates are important. Leave them as you find them, either shut or open.
• Do not drive off-road unless told by the landowner that you may. Your tires may be spreading noxious weeds. Your catalytic converter may start a fire in a sensitive area.
• Stay in communication with other hunters so that issues of concern can be recognized.
• Acknowledge and appreciate the contribution of private land and agriculture to Montana’s wildlife.

If you read this, we need to know who you are! Please send your name, city/state/country and the name of the topic you read to Carol Flaherty, MSU Communications Services, Bozeman, MT 59717 or email to Knight and Carol Flaherty at: carolf@montana.edu.

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