2015 Louisiana Waterfowl Hunter Survey

[Lreynolds]

The 2015 Waterfowl Hunter Survey was launched earlier this week. We sent out 3,000 mail-in surveys to randomly selected hunters, 3,000 postcards to another random sample with a link to do the survey on-line, and we sent e-mails to another 20,000-plus waterfowl hunters who had e-mail addresses in the LDWF hunting-license database. We are strongly urging all hunters that receive those surveys to complete them according to the instructions received. Those surveys provide the most representative and scientifically-valid information.

We will send out a press release on Friday announcing the survey and post a banner link on the front page of the LDWF website so that all other hunters not selected for one of those 3 survey modes can participate in the survey.

Although the open-web survey is a biased sample because participants tend to be more avid, dedicated hunters that hunt more and kill more than average, our research from doing mail-out and open-web surveys concurrently has shown striking similarity in responses to 'attitude' or 'satisfaction' questions. Consequently, the open-web surveys have been incredibly valuable in increasing participation and information for evaluating support for potential management and regulatory actions.

We hope that all waterfowl hunters receiving a survey via USPS mail or e-mail will complete those surveys, and any hunter NOT selected for one of those surveys will go to the LDWF website and take the open-web survey.

Larry Reynolds
LDWF Waterfowl Study Leader