James B. Armstrong

The Impact of an Environmental Education Program on Knowledge and Attitude

Abstract The authors evaluated the impact of the environmental education program NatureScope in regular classrooms where it was used as a curriculum supplement. Teachers used the materials in the classroom for 8 weeks. A pretest/posttest design produced few significant differences between groups exposed to the materials and the control groups.

Theory of reasoned action vs. theory of planned behavior: Testing the suitability and sufficiency of a popular behavior model using hunting intentions

Abstract The theory of reasoned action (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980) is being used increasingly in natural resources research related to human attitudes and behavior. We tested whether the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen 1985, 1991; Ajzen & Madden, 1986), an extension of the theory of reasoned action, was a better model for predicting behavioral intention related to behavior that is not entirely volitional, e.g. hunting. We also evaluated the overall sufficiency of the model in predicting hunting intention. Attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control items were administered via telephone to a proportional probability sample (n = 531) of Alabama adults. The model explained a statistically significant increase in variance in hunting intention over the theory of reasoned action; however, we questioned the practical significance of the difference. Although the model explained 38% of the variance in hunting intention, further analysis indicated the model in its basic form was not sufficient for pre...

Supply of Hunting Leases from Non-Industrial Private Forest Lands in Alabama

We used a two-step approach to jointly analyze participation of non-industrial private forest landowners in hunting leases and the determinants of hunting lease fees. Data for this study were obtained from a survey of landowners in Alabama (n = 227). The results show that land ownership type, tract size, and landowners’ place of residence, employment status, and concern for personal safety are determinants of participation in hunting leases. Factors influencing hunting lease fees include site-specific characteristics such as share of agricultural land relative to forest land, tract size, year-round water availability, type of access, and enhanced features such as streamside management zone, habitat improvement desirable to wildlife, and provision of services. The study has implications for landowners’ land use decisions and economic returns. This research is partially funded by Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Alabama Forestry Commission. We are thankful to Amy Griliot and two anonymous reviewers and the editor of this journal for comments that have led to a significant improvement to this article. All remaining errors belong to the authors.

Factors Associated with Declining Hunting License Sales in Alabama

This article documents the magnitude of and factors associated with declining hunting license sales in Alabama. Respondents were classified as active hunters, former hunters, or nonhunters. Active hunters were relatively satisfied with their recent hunting experiences and the wildlife management programs conducted by the state. In addition, they were supportive of a modest increase of hunting fees. Reasons given by former hunters for quitting the activity were lack of time, lack of public hunting areas, aging, and loss of interest. Nonhunters either did not have an interest in hunting or considered the killing of animals as cruel. Reasons for lack of participation by nonhunters do not indicate a high probability of recruiting hunters from the ranks of nonhunters. These results suggest that agencies and organizations that depend on hunters should put resources into keeping active hunters from becoming former hunters. Based on the results and comments from active and former hunters, it would seem that the best mechanisms for hunter retention are to provide opportunities for active hunters to participate in hunting and to keep hunting woven into the social fabric of community.

Mourning Dove Hunting in Alabama: Motivations, Satisfactions, and Sociocultural Influences

Knowledge of factors affecting participation in, and satisfactions gained from, hunting is important yet unstudied among mourning dove hunters. We tested the multiple-satisfactions model of hunting and investigated effects of motivational factors and sociocultural characteristics on development and maintenance of dove hunting behavior using a mail survey of hunters in Alabama. Most Alabama hunters appeared motivated by multiple, primarily nonsuccess-based, satisfactions. Dove hunters were more strongly motivated by nonsuccess-based satisfactions and less by obtaining a bag limit than were other types of hunters. Childhood socialization was important in developing hunting behavior among both dove and nondove hunters. Early initiation into hunting and family tradition and mentoring were particularly important in developing dove hunting behavior. Attrition from dove hunting was low (< 20%), and was positively associated with currently living in an urban area, but was unrelated to other sociocultural variables or to motivational factors. Management for multiple hunting satisfactions seems appropriate, given the importance of nonsuccess-based motivations and satisfactions. Lack of family tradition and mentoring may limit success of youth programs encouraging hunting.

Effects of Natural Barriers and Habitat on the Western Spread of Raccoon Rabies in Alabama

Abstract Although domestic animal transmission of rabies has largely been mitigated, the disease remains a concern in both Europe and North America where wildlife transmission has caused epizootics. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) rabies was established in Alabama, USA, in 1975, primarily in the southeastern corner of the state. However, with the exception of isolated events, rabies has not continued to spread westward across the Alabama River. We monitored movements of 100 radiocollared raccoons on 2 sites within hardwood and agriculture habitats in a rabies enzootic area east of the Alabama River, in managed pine habitat area west of the river where rabies sporadically occurs, and in a mixed pine hardwood area outside of the known rabies enzootic area to determine if raccoon movements and habitat use in certain habitat types and the presence of a river may serve as natural barriers preventing the western spread of rabies in Alabama. We also examined raccoon contact rates to determine if they influence disease transmission through static and dynamic interactions. Raccoons in mixed pine–hardwood forest habitats had smaller home ranges and less overlap of ranges compared to the other 3 habitats. However, static interactions between habitats in the use of overlap areas did not differ (F11,129 = 1.63, P = 0.09). Rabies antibody titers were highest in the managed pine habitat (28%) even prior to oral vaccine bait distributions in spring of 2004 and 2005. Biomarker data from radiocollared and additional raccoons captured after the bait distribution west of the Alabama River demonstrated a low efficacy of the vaccine reaching the small southern raccoons. The combination of the river as a partial barrier, the high percentage of pine forested habitat west of the river, and limited spatial movements of raccoons within these forested habitats appears to have reduced the likelihood of rabies establishing west of the river. Understanding different host–habitat–disease systems is important for successful management of diseases. Based on our results, we recommend that the oral vaccine program continue to use the Alabama River as a partial barrier and baiting be concentrated in the fragmented bottomland hardwood forests and around larger bodies of water where raccoon densities are highest. Success of baiting strategies designed to take advantage of northern raccoon dynamics and habitat use may not be applicable to southern populations.

Economic Impact of Wildlife-Associated Recreation Expenditures in the Southeast United States: A General Equilibrium Analysis

The economic impact of wildlife-associated recreation in the Southeast United States was evaluated using a general equilibrium model. Exogenous demand shocks to the regional economy were based on estimates of expenditures by wildlife recreationists on hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching activities. Counterfactual simulations were carried out, making alternative assumptions about labor and capital mobility and their supply. Without wildlife-associated recreation expenditures, regional employment would have been smaller by up to 783 thousand jobs, and value added would have been

A comparison of deer hunters with disabilities and nondisabled hunters in Alabama: motivations and satisfactions in deer hunting

22 to

The Effects of Order of Test Administration on Environmental Attitudes.

48 billion less. These findings underscore the significance of regional factor market conditions in economic impact and general equilibrium analysis.

Assessment of Population Structure of Coyotes in East-Central Alabama using Microsatellite DNA

Abstract Approximately 20% of the United States population suffers from some form of disability. In the United States, leisure activities such as hunting are becoming more accessible to persons with disabilities, though little research has been published on this topic. Research has been conducted in South Dakota to categorize deer (Odocoileus spp.) hunters based on their motivation for hunting and to collect information about hunter satisfaction. This information has proven valuable to the state management agency, facilitating changes in management that increased satisfaction of the majority of hunters. We conducted a study in Alabama, which included both hunters with disabilities and nondisabled hunters, to determine whether motivations and satisfactions differed between groups. Hunter groups displayed some statistical differences, but practical differences were not found. This suggested that management agencies need not differentiate between groups when making decisions related to the motivations and satisfactions of these constituents.