Attribute-based analysis of hunters' lease preferences.

Area of Science:

• Wildlife Management
• Recreational Economics

Background:

• Effective management and marketing of fee-hunting leases are vital for landowner revenue maximization.
• Understanding hunter preferences for specific lease attributes is essential for achieving these financial goals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how hunter preferences for hunting leases are influenced by both lease-specific and hunter-specific attributes.
• To inform landowners on how to adjust policies and management practices to better meet hunter demands and increase profitability.

Main Methods:

• Attribute-based modeling was employed to analyze hunter preferences.
• A mail survey of licensed hunters in Mississippi provided the data.
• McFadden conditional logit regression was used for estimation.

Main Results:

• Lease attributes such as game diversity, location, size, duration, and rate significantly influence hunters' willingness to pay (WTP).
• WTP for lease attributes can vary up to $5.70 per acre.
• Hunter age and income were significant factors in lease purchase decisions.

Conclusions:

• Landowners can increase financial returns from fee-hunting by aligning lease attributes and wildlife management with hunter preferences.
• Adjusting hunting access policies based on identified hunter demands can optimize revenue.