Accounts of Wildlife Law Violators: Motivations and Rationalizations

Abstract

The illegal taking of wildlife resources has generated concern among natural resource scholars in recent years. This article explores some of the motivations and rationalizations associated with illegal hunting and fishing in Kentucky. Using qualitative data from mail surveys as well as in-depth interviews with 24 conservation officers and 33 wildlife law violators, several motivations and rationalizations for unlawful hunting and fishing were identified. Empirical verification of some of the 10 motivational categories of poaching identified by Muth and Bowe (1998) is provided, and the use of other rationalizations as a mechanism for engaging in these activities is examined. Motivations and rationalizations were categorized as ignorance/ forgetfulness/carelessness, recreational satisfactions, trophy poaching, poaching as a traditional right of use, and money profit. Responses by conservation officers indicated that individuals no longer hunt or fish illegally for household consumption because of the variety of social welfare programs that are now available to disadvantaged citizens.

Keywords:

• conservation officers
• crime
• fishing
• hunting
• poaching