The Game Animal Council offers opportunities for better game management, but that requires information about hunters’ activities and preferences. Lincoln University, which has a long history of research into game animals and hunting in New Zealand, is undertaking independent research into New Zealand game hunting to help understand:
- Why people hunt,
- Who the recreational hunters are,
- How many people hunt for each species,
- How many game animals recreational hunters kill each year,
- What hunters want.
Results
We have finished collecting data on hunting activity (view the results page). Tahr hunters have been helping us to understand their preferences when choosing between different hunting opportunities. We will be doing the same with Sika hunters soon.
Some survey findings have been reported in several magazines
- NZ Hunter (The Hunting Experience: Sept/Oct 2011)
- Rod & Rifle (Who are the Hunters?: Nov/Dec 2011)
- Hooked on Boars (Are Pig Hunters a Unique Breed?: Oct/Nov 2011)
- NZ Outdorrs and Hunting (Are these the Good Old Days?: 2012)
Hunters helping out
The first part of this research programme has obtained anonymous information from 1300 hunters that describes hunter demographics, trip frequency and motivations. Hunters who provided email addresses were part of an ongoing study. Each month for a year they have provided information on their hunting activity and spending on hunting related items. Data collection for this phase finished mid 2012. With hunters’ help we have built up an excellent picture of pig, deer, chamois and tahr hunting throughout the year. The research is now investigating hunter preferences for individual species.
Thanks again to all the hunters assisting with this research!
Other species
Several hunters have questioned why the research is limited to deer, pigs, tahr and chamois. Some are keen to report kills of other species. Exclusion of other species does not mean that hunting them is not an important recreational activity. Indeed, it’s likely that more effort goes into hunting birds, small game and other species than the species we are studying. Other species may also have more important conservation implications in some areas. This research is funded solely by Lincoln University. That means it is not influenced by any sponsors, it also means there is only so much we can do. The species included are those proposed for potential management on public lands under the Game Animal Council, so there is an opportunity for research results to help with management in the future.
Want more information?
If you have questions about this research you are welcome to contact the researcher...
Contact: Geoff Kerr
Email: Geoff.Kerr@lincoln.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 325 2811 extn. 8688