Determinants of Support for Funding Options for Fish and Wildlife Conservation in Wisconsin

Abstract

ABSTRACTDeclining sales of hunting and angling licenses create budget challenges for state fish and wildlife management agencies. Using a mail survey, we obtained Wisconsin residents’ opinions regarding funding for fish and wildlife management including options to raise licenses fees or create new funding mechanisms. We used an adjacent category, ordered logit regression model to explain respondents’ support for the funding options contrasted against budget cuts. Our model revealed that respondents’ self‐interest and demographic variables influenced support for the revenue generating options. Most importantly, respondents’ perceived benefits of public lands and high interest in fish and wildlife consistently influenced their support for increased funding options relative to requiring the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to reduce its operating costs. Rural respondents, however, opposed all options associated with raising revenues to fund conservation efforts. We suggest that gaining the support of rural hunters and anglers for any of the funding options will be imperative for the long‐term sustainability of fish and wildlife conservation funding in Wisconsin. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.