Steve L. McMullin

Factors Affecting Decisions to Volunteer in Nongovernmental Organizations

In 1997, we surveyed members of the Appalachian Trail Conference to identify characteristics and assess motivations of the active and nonactive members in this organization. We investigated the effects of social networks, competing commitments, lifestyle changes, personal growth, and belief of the efficacy of one’s actions on decisions to become and remain active members. We found the determining factors in decisions regarding volunteer activity were competing commitments and efficacy. Active members indicated that the efficacy of their actions was most important in their decision to participate, whereas nonactive members cited the importance of competing commitments in their decision not to participate. Recruitment and retention of volunteers may be aided by increasing the awareness of volunteer programs, ensuring that programs provide results of which individuals are proud, requesting the participation of individuals on both local and national levels, and recognizing volunteers for their contributions.

Feeding wild American black bears in Virginia: a survey of Virginia bear hunters, 1998–99

Abstract Some bear hunters in Virginia, primarily houndsmen, feed American black bears (Ursus americanus) to attract them to hunting sites, but also because some hunters believe that supplemental food improves bear reproduction and survival. However, a regulation prohibiting unauthorized feeding of bears, deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) on national forest and state-owned lands in Virginia became effective 1 July 1999. We sent a survey to all members of the Virginia Bear Hunters Association (VBHA) (n = 459) to determine the amount of food provided to bears by hunters between 1 July 1998 and 30 June 1999. Survey response rate was 52%. One hundred thirteen of 238 (48%) survey respondents spent

Are We Preparing the Next Generation of Fisheries Professionals to Succeed in their Careers?: A Survey of AFS Members

18,378 on supplemental food during that time. One hundred twenty-eight respondents provided 2,942,394 kilograms of food to bears between 1 July 1998 and 30 June 1999. Whole-shelled corn, pastries, and rendered animal fat (grease) accounted for 58% of the total mass; however, whole-shelled corn, pastries, and bread were the 3 most common foods offered. July, August, and September were the months during which most respondents fed bears. Food supply can affect reproduction, survival, harvest rates, nuisance occurrences, population size, and distribution of bears. If supplemental feeding has an effect on bear population dynamics, changes in regulations regarding feeding may negatively impact black bear populations, as well as public relations and future cooperation between wildlife agencies and hunters.

Mail and Web-Based Survey Administration: A Case Study With Recreational Users of Virginia's Wildlife Management Areas

Natural resource professionals have frequently criticized universities for poorly preparing graduates to succeed in their jobs. We surveyed members of the American Fisheries Society to determine which job skills and knowledge of academic topics employers, students, and university faculty members deemed most important to early-career success of fisheries professionals. Respondents also rated proficiency of recently hired, entry-level professionals (employers) on how well their programs prepared them for career success (students and faculty) in those same job skills and academic topics. Critical thinking and written and oral communication skills topped the list of important skills and academic topics. Employers perceived recent entry-level hires to be less well-prepared to succeed in their careers than either university faculty or students. Entry-level hires with post-graduate degrees rated higher in proficiency for highly important skills and knowledge than those with bachelors degrees. We conclude that a...

Fish Disease and Biosecurity: Attitudes, Beliefs, and Perceptions of Managers and Owners of Commercial Finfish Recirculating Facilities in the United States and Canada

Web-based surveys cost less, obtain responses more quickly, and provide more efficient data management compared to mail surveys; however, the potential inability to reach a random, representative sample of the public raises concerns about the validity and reliability of Web-based surveys. We surveyed recreational users of Virginia wildlife management areas with either a Web-based or mail instrument, based on user preference for contact. Response rates for both modes were comparable, but Web-based surveys were more complete and returned more rapidly than were mail surveys. The Web-based option was selected more often by younger, urban participants, and respondents who had completed more education. Attitudes toward land management practices and wildlife value orientations did not differ between Web-based and mail respondents. Surveys administered using only Web-based questionnaires likely are susceptible to demographic bias problems, but survey mode appeared not to influence the validity and reliability of attitudinal information from recreational users.

Effects of Hydroelectric Operations on the Kokanee Population in the Flathead River System, Montana

Abstract In recirculation finfish facilities in the United States and Canada, biosecurity utilization is neither consistent nor uniform. Seeking reasons for this situation, we examined the beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes of managers and owners of such facilities about fish disease and biosecurity utilization. A questionnaire was mailed in the fall of 2001 to the managers and owners of 152 finfish-rearing recirculation facilities in the United States and Canada to gather information on their attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions regarding fish disease and biosecurity. The response rate to the survey was 86%. This paper reports on a subset of the overall responses, the responses of managers and owners who identified their facility as a business operation. Although respondents had a positive attitude towards biosecurity utilization, they had different beliefs about which disease types were of greatest concern for their farm. Respondents also had differing perceptions on the risk of disease transmission ass...

Dispelling Assumptions about Stocked-Trout Fisheries and Angler Satisfaction

Abstract Kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) were introduced into Flathead Lake in 1916 and developed both lakeshore and inlet river system spawning populations. River system spawning, including that in the main stem of the Flathead River and in McDonald Creek, was a major source of kokanee recruitment in the 1960s and 1970s. Changes in the operation of Hungry Horse Dam on the South Fork of the Flathead River in the early 1970s, coupled with angler harvest, resulted in a rapid 90% decline of main-stem kokanee spawning escapement in the late 1970s. Strong relationships existed between kokanee year-class strength and river flow conditions during 1966-1984 (r = -0.93). Hungry Horse Dam operations caused dewatering of kokanee spawning beds and high winter incubation mortality. This resulted in a rapid decline of the spawning ran. Management of flow levels in the Flathead River is critical to the recovery of the kokanee run. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks recommended a stable flow release of 3,500...

Second Vice President

AbstractWe investigated three assumptions about stocked-trout fisheries: (1) stocking densities (trout/km or trout/ha) correlate with angler catch rates, (2) catch rates decline with time after stocking, and (3) angler satisfaction correlates with catch rates. We interviewed 5,689 anglers on 14 put-and-take trout waters in Virginia from October 2013 to May 2014 and from October 2014 to May 2015 to assess their fishing effort for stocked trout, catch, and level of satisfaction with their fishing experience that day. Stocking density did not affect the stocked-trout catch rate on streams or lakes, and catch rates remained relatively constant from the day after stocking up to 1 month after stocking. The type of water body affected both angler effort and catch rate. We found that catch rates above thresholds (0.46 trout/angler-hour on lakes; 1.21 trout/angler-hour on streams) had minor effects on angler satisfaction, but below those threshold values, satisfaction increased greatly with increasing catch rates ...

Characterizing the Human Dimensions of a Hidden Fishery: Riverine Trotline Fishers

Information has been obtained by Standard & Poors DRI from sources believed to be reliable. However, because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by our sources Standard & Poors DRI does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information.

An assessment of biosecurity utilization in the recirculation sector of finfish aquaculture in the United States and Canada

Hidden fisheries include catfish harvesters who use trotlines and are seldom surveyed. We examined trotline fishers to describe fishing habits and techniques, trotline fishing knowledge, recreational motivations, and opinions of the fishery, regulations, and conflicts with other river users. Trotline fishers on the New River, Virginia, were secretive and solitary, and some were socioeconomically disadvantaged. They placed high importance on catch- and harvest-related factors, in contrast to many other angler groups who use highly specialized methods. They relied on harvesting catfish for varying degrees of sustenance to their diet or income. Trotline fishing appears to be part of a larger “way of life” for some rural individuals, who may also hunt, trap, and garden as part of activities to supplement their diet or income. New River trotline fishers strongly believed that participation in trotline fishing had declined significantly in the New River Valley due to improving socioeconomic status of the region...