Most Americans Approve of Hunting

Ducks Unlimited
Thursday, 31 January 2002

New Ducks Unlimited Study Examines American Attitudes and Participation in Hunting

A large majority (67 percent) of Americans approve of hunting, even though only seven percent of Americans hunt each year.

These are some of the results of a new Ducks Unlimited study on attitudes and participation in hunting and conservation. Ducks Unlimited, the world's largest wetlands and waterfowl conservation organization, commissioned the study. Responsive Management, a research firm that specializes in public attitudes toward natural resources and the outdoors, conducted the study.

In a nationwide telephone survey of the general population, Americans were asked if they had hunted in the last 12 months. Ten percent said they had hunted for big game, 9 percent said they had hunted for small game, and four percent said they had hunted for waterfowl.

Thirty-five percent of respondents said they strongly approved of legal hunting, and 32 percent said they moderately approved. Ten percent said they moderately disapproved of legal hunting, 14 percent said they strongly disapproved, 5 percent neither approved nor disapproved, and 3 percent didn't know.

Asked if any other members of their family hunted, 43 percent said yes and 57 percent said no. Other family members most often identified as hunters were: brother, husband, son, dad, and uncle.

"From the perspective of Ducks Unlimited, these numbers are encouraging," said Don Young, Executive Vice President of Ducks Unlimited. "Hunters have always been this nation's most dedicated conservationists and the backbone of habitat restoration and protection efforts. Ducks Unlimited was founded by a group of concerned waterfowl hunters 65 years ago, and today a majority of DU members are hunters. Naturally, hunters have a closer relationship to the land and the wild creatures that inhabit our wetlands, forests, grasslands, and other wild places."

"We hope that North America's hunters are encouraged by this information as well," said Young. "With anti-hunting messages in the media and elsewhere, it sometimes seems as if most of the general public frowns on hunters. This survey proves that that is definitely not the case."

The survey results are based on a random sample of 1,000 adult Americans (18 years and older) with a sampling error of +/- 3%.

For more information, or to contact Ducks Unlimited, see their website at: www.ducks.org