Bubolz, Thomas A. (author), Dahlgren, Robert B. (author), and Dahlgren: Iowa cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Iowa State University, Ames, IA; Bubolz: Department of Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1985-08
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 90 Document Number: C06481
James F. Evans Collection, Adult Iowans who were members of national conservation-oriented organizations were far more politically active on hunting issues than were nonmembers. Further, only those members who read these organizations' publications were politically active. Among background variables, education and income were not associated with political activity, but males were more active than females; persons raised in small- and medium-sized town were more active than those raised on a farm or in a city; persons under 30 were the most active organization members; and persons who currently hunt were most politically active with hunting issues. Members of antihunting organizations were nearly as active as members of prohunting groups. Publications of national conservation-oriented organizations afford natural resource managers the opportunity to convey information to the group of politically active persons most likely to use such information to the manager's advantage. Finally, professional conservationists interested in promoting prohunting causes should be aware that organization members who are against hunting are as likely to be actively pursuing their beliefs as are their counterparts who are for hunting. (original)