License sales for the 2002 Wisconsin gun deer hunting season declined approximately 11% following the discovery of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the state. This article examines the extent to which CWD influenced 2001 Wisconsin deer hunters who did not participate in the 2002 season. The article also compares 2002 hunters against those who dropped out in 2002 relative to their perceptions of risks associated with CWD and their trust in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Data were obtained from a survey of 2001 resident Wisconsin deer hunters (n = 1,373, response rate = 67%). A cluster analysis of 14 possible reasons for not hunting indicated that about half (estimate = 52% ± 5%) of the 2001 Wisconsin hunters that did not participate in the 2002 season did not hunt because of Downloaded by [University of Sussex Library] at 16:13 04 February 2015 194 Jerry J. Vaske et al. CWD (e.g., not enough time, conflicting responsibilities). Individuals who dropped out for non-CWD reasons gave responses on perceived CWD risk and trust in WDNR that were statistically equivalent to those of 2002 gun hunters. Non-hunters who did not participate due to CWD were less likely to believe the information provided by the WDNR and were less trusting of this agency compared to those who hunted. These findings reinforce the role of social trust in fostering a positive relationship with an agency's stakeholders. CWD. The remaining non-hunters dropped out of gun deer hunting for a variety of reasons unrelated to

Public opinion plays an important part in the successful development of a fisheries management plan. We used a mail questionnaire to survey 1,400 anglers who fish for muskellunge Esox masquinongy in Wisconsin. The survey included defined groups of muskellunge anglers separated by muskellunge club affiliation and geographic location and general anglers selected from a random sample of angler license sales. The survey questions were designed to obtain opinions regarding muskellunge fishery and trophy management in Wisconsin in terms of angling behaviors, regulation options, and perceived problems. All anglers generally preferred fishing with artificial lures and practiced the voluntary live release of legal-length muskellunge. Muskellunge anglers considered a trophy muskellunge to be at least 40 in long, with a preferred length of 50 in or longer. Muskellunge anglers also supported regulations for muskellunge that were based on a water's biological potential, along with increased restrictions on regulations such as minimum length limits. General anglers were less supportive of restrictive regulations and were more likely to keep a legal muskellunge for consumptive purposes. The greatest perceived problems with muskellunge fishing were Native American spearing and conflicts with users of speedboats and jet skis. Opinion surveys such as this can help in formulating management strategies that satisfy most anglers within biological limits.

Eight years after undertaking an unprecedented attempt to eradicate chronic wasting disease (CWD) from its free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population, Wisconsin wildlife managers are rethinking their strategies in the face of public opposition to their efforts. This article draws on a dozen surveys of hunters and landowners to identify six psychological bases that created deer hunter opposition to the Wisconsin plan. These include opposition to the population goal, conflicts with traditions, conflicts with consumption norms, the uncertainty of the plan's efficacy, and perceived lack of credibility in the agency. We argue that these six clusters of attitudinal beliefs made it unlikely that hunter support could have been cultivated regardless of the scope or pace of the CWD eradication effort. Our findings call into question the use of recreational hunting as a viable tool for bringing about severe deer population reductions for disease management.

Attempts to eradicate chronic wasting disease from free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianusj in Wisconsin depend on gaining compliance of hunters to harvest deer at rates unprecedented in modem wildlife management. A mail questionnaire and hunter diaries were used to assess hunters' attitudes, effort, and harvest behavior in response to disease management strategies that have Included an extended hunting season, removal of seasonal bag limits, and implementation of incentives. Logistic and linear regressions were used to test the Influences of attitudinal variables and attributes of hunting experiences on the number of deer harvested. Hunting efficiency (i.e., converting chances among deer seen), number of deer seen, and willingness to harvest antlerless deer predicted harvest levels better than hunting effort (I.e., time afield) did. Individual differences among hunters' desire for venison also emerged as an Important predictor ofthe number of deer harvested.

Current literature suggests that seeing and bagging game, among other experiences, play a major role in overall satisfaction for hunters. In addition, research highlights relationships that harvest expectations may have with harvest success and in explaining satisfaction. We add to the multiple satisfactions concept that, despite other derived benefits, harvest success may be fundamental to sustain participation and duck (Anatidae) hunters themselves are agents of their own success. We used data from mail surveys conducted between 2007-2015 of Wisconsin, USA, waterfowl hunters to investigate the role of duck hunter behavior and expectations in explaining differences in season satisfaction ratings. We found that duck hunters who spent more days afield, scouted prior to hunting, were mobile during the season, and utilized public lands harvested substantially more ducks than those who did not put effort into these behaviors. Furthermore, we find evidence in support of previous work that by examining the effect of harvest success through the lens of harvest expectations, it better describes satisfaction than either measure did alone among this population of duck hunters. Based on past experiences, duck hunters may develop unrealistic expectations that doom them to dissatisfactory harvests. These results provide assistance to managers and conservationists in helping hunters understand and set realistic harvest expectations, achieve their harvest goals, and continue to be active hunters.Ó 2019 The Wildlife Society.