Experience‐based setting management: Implications for market segmentation of hunters

Abstract

Experience‐based setting management seeks to provide rewarding psychological experiences to recreation participants by managing the physical environments in which recreation occurs. This approach has value to private landowners who provide outdoor recreation opportunities, because it improves their ability to target and attract specific segments of the hunting population. In this study, 4 market segments of hunter were identified: outdoor enthusiasts, high‐challenge harvesters, low‐challenge harvesters, and nonharvesters. They differed significantly in the setting characteristics (accessibility, amount of regimentation, use density, presence of nonrecreational uses, and degree of site management) that enhanced their hunting enjoyment. Such differences may help agencies justify development of different service and marketing strategies to respond to client needs and preferences.

Keywords:

• experience preference
• human dimensions
• hunting
• market segmentation
• Recreation Opportunity Spectrum
• recreation setting