David O. Watson

Past Experience and Behavioral Choice Among Wilderness Users

Introduction Research in recreation choice behavior has provided insight into the experiences people seek from recreation, setting attributes that are important to recreation experiences, and factors that influence choice behavior (Stankey & McCool, 1985). In wilderness recreation, understanding the factors that influence site choice is important in redistributing use, in maintaining the isolation and solitude characteristics of the wilderness experience, and reducing user conflicts and congestion (Lucas, 1990). The amount of experience in a recreational activity or setting has been cited as one factor influencing site choice (e.g, Bryan, 1977; Virden & Schreyer, 1988; Williams & Huffman, 1986). Bryans (1977) theory of recreation specialization, of which past experience is one component, suggests that as individuals gain experience in an activity they progress through stages of development accompanied by changes in setting preferences, social group affiliation, and attitudes. This developmental approach assumes that individuals choose recreational settings that are consistent with their preferences and attitudes. However, constraints such as site availability, distance to substitute sites, costs, social pressures, and socioeconomic factors may intervene and limit the congruency between individual preference and actual site choice (Kuentzel & Heberlein, 1992; Watson, Roggenbuck, & Williams, 1991). While studies have examined the association between past experience and preferred recreational settings, little research examines whether differences in preferences translate into different recreation site choices (Kuentzel & Heberlein, 1992) and how site choice changes with experience. This paper extends the literature by assessing the influence of past experience on actual site choice. Specifically, we use a conceptual model of recreation choice behavior to examine the association between recreation site choice behavior, past experience, setting preferences, social factors, and constraints among wilderness users. Past Experience and Setting Preferences A common tenet in recreation site choice is that individuals engage in recreational activities at sites where the preferred combination of physical, social, and managerial settings are available to produce satisfying experiences (Driver & Brown, 1978). However, several factors can affect preferences or intervene to affect site choice. One factor associated with setting preferences is the amount of experience an individual has in an activity or setting. Experience has been included as a component in various concepts including recreation specialization (e.g., Bryan, 1977), experience use history (e.g., Schreyer, Lime, & Williams, 1984), and indices of past experience (e.g., Hammitt & McDonald, 1983; Watson & Niccollucci, 1992). Bryan (1977) proposed the concept of recreation specialization to explain differences in observed behaviors among anglers. Specialization is usually considered as a multidimensional construct with behavioral and affective aspects of which past experience is a strong component. Bryan hypothesized that the amount of experience with and commitment to an activity follows a sequence with some individuals progressing through sequential stages of development. As individuals progress along this continuum they become specialized in their behaviors and their attitudes and preferences change. Thus, more experienced users prefer more natural types of conditions and less management intervention. In his study of anglers, Bryan observed that as participants became specialized they joined a leisure social world of fellow anglers who held similar beliefs and attitudes and engaged in similar behaviors. Furthermore, attitudes shifted from a consumptive orientation to preservation and the setting of the activity became more important. He concluded that anglers at different stages of specialization choose different settings in which to fish and that these settings can be predicted by knowing the level of specialization. …

Modeling Recreation Demand in a Poisson System of Equations: An Analysis of the Impact of International Exchange Rates

We extend count data travel cost modeling by developing a utility theoretic system of semilogarithmic recreation demand equations. The restrictions required to make the system utility theoretic are applied during estimation. The model is applied to individual wilderness recreation trips in a system of four Canadian wilderness parks. The resulting demand system is used to examine the impacts of changing U.S.-Canadian currency exchange rates on participation and welfare of U.S. recreationists. Copyright 1998, Oxford University Press.

Measuring Community Forest-Sector Dependence: Does Method Matter?

This study compares four community forest-sector dependence indices available to identify the degree of forest-sector dependence: proportions of employment and income earned in the sector, and economic base calculations that use employment and total income measures. For all four approaches, we use the most recent census data for all census subdivisions in Canada. The findings suggest that the choice of methodology matters in terms of the communities that each index identifies as dependent (based on size, region, and sector differences). The choice of methodology thus has important implications for those studying the well-being of resource-dependent places, as any conclusions drawn about the relationship between forest reliance and well-being are to a degree method dependent.

Public Acceptance of Access Restrictions to Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) Country

Variation in attitudes and preferences among communities has been cited as a primary consideration for the development of grizzly bear management plans in North America. We undertook a study in 2004 to determine if there were differences among two rural populations and an urban population on the issue of grizzly bear management in Alberta, Canada. Results from a mail survey showed that there was a greater diversity of views and potential for conflict between the two rural groups than between the rural groups and the urban group. We used a cognitive hierarchy of knowledge, attitudes, and normative beliefs as a theoretical foundation and analyzed the effects of social influences (including residency) and demographics. A structural equation analysis showed that being an off-road vehicle user had a greater influence on acceptance of access restrictions than residency or cognitive and demographic factors.

Women Hunters in Alberta, Canada:Girl Power or Guys in Disguise?

Women hunters represent a small but increasingly important constituent for wildlife management agencies. This study examines women hunters in Alberta, Canada, to provide insight into womens involvement in hunting. An automated licensing system was used to track the license-purchasing behavior of women hunters over an 8-year period. Results show that a core group of women exhibit commitment to hunting by purchasing big game licenses and that a previously unidentified segment are exclusive lottery-draw applicants.We suggest that this latter group may enter the licensing system to facilitate increased hunting opportunities for their male counterparts (e.g., spouse, common law partner, or other male household member). These results have implications for the role of women as hunters and for the role that women play in the recruitment and retention of hunters. Wildlife management agencies designing hunter programs for women should be cognizant of potential sub-groups of women hunters.

Some Aspects of the Anatomy of Alberta's Hunting Decline: 1990-1997

There is concern in Alberta about the decline in the numbers of recreational hunters. In this article information from the agencys computerized licensing system is examined to shed some light on this decline. This information is useful because from 1990 to the present the agency required hunters to purchase a lifetime identity number. Tracking the activity of every licensed individual provides useful information about participation. Although the set of individual specific characteristics in the database is limited (address, gender, and age), a number of interesting patterns emerged. This approach provides direction for primary data collection efforts directed at further understanding the decline. This study highlights the utility of the Alberta licensing approach.