Assessing the Temporal Stability of Hunting Participation and the Structure and Intensity of Constraints: A Panel Study

Abstract

The intent of this panel study of Virginia hunters/non-hunters (N = 497) was to assess the temporal stability of: hunting participation; perceived constraint factor structure and intensity; and the interrelationship of participation and constraints. Findings suggest that participation/non-participation patterns were stable across time periods for the population, yet dynamic at the individual level. Antihunting Attitude and Preference to participate in other activities, Costs associated with hunting, Access and Opportunity to hunt, Work and Family Commitments and perceptions about hunting on Public Lands were viewed consistently as constraints by respondents. Although the structure of perceived constraints appeared stable, the intensity varied significantly over time and distinguished among participation groups. Given that most constraint research is psychologically grounded, it appears more appropriate to employ research designs (e.g., panel, repeated measures) that allow individual-level analyses. The Antihunting Attitude and Preference constraint, key to understanding behavioral response, deserves a more in-depth examination.

KEYWORDS:

• Constraints
• hunting
• participation
• non-participation
• panel design