Responsive Management
Colorado Wildlife Law Enforcement Study
Conducted for the Colorado Division of Wildlife
Responsive Management
April 2000
Responsive Management
Methodology
• Telephone Survey
• Randomly selected:– Colorado Residents (N=405)
– Resident Licensed Hunters (N=210)
– Resident Licensed Anglers (N=205)
• Sampling Error at 95% Confidence Intervals– Colorado Residents (+/- 5%)
– Resident Licensed Hunters (+/- 7%)
– Resident Licensed Anglers (+/- 7%)
• Those interviewed closely matched the geographic and demographic distribution of Colorado’s population
Responsive Management
Q6. Would you say you know a great deal, a moderate amount, a little or nothing about the Colorado Division of Wildlife's law enforcement efforts?
18
37
38
7
1
14
36
41
9
1
8
27
44
20
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
A great deal
A moderateamount
A little
Nothing
Don't know
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q8. In general, would you rate the Division of Wildlife's overall law enforcement efforts as excellent, good, fair
or poor?
16
60
15
5
5
14
54
18
3
11
9
51
13
3
24
0 20 40 60 80 100
Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Don't know
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q12. In your opinion, in Colorado, should law enforcement efforts by the Colorado Division of
Wildlife be increased, stay the same or be decreased?
40
54
2
4
50
42
4
3
52
34
2
12
0 20 40 60 80 100
Increased
Stay the same
Decreased
Don't know
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q13. What is your opinion on the penalties for violating hunting laws in Colorado? Would you say they are…?
6
57
31
7
4
53
32
11
4
42
28
26
0 20 40 60 80 100
Too high
Appropriate
Too low
Don't know / Noopinion
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q14. What is your opinion on the penalties for violating fishing laws in Colorado? Would you say they are...?
4
51
17
27
6
62
20
12
6
50
16
28
0 20 40 60 80 100
Too high
Appropriate
Too low
Don't know / Noopinion
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q15. What is your opinion on the penalties for violating laws that protect threatened and endangered wildlife
and animals that are not hunted or fished in Colorado? Would you say they are...?
6
46
32
15
6
47
31
16
4
35
39
22
0 20 40 60 80 100
Too high
Appropriate
Too low
Don't know / Noopinion
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q20. Now I'd like to know your general impression of these Wildlife Officers. Do you agree or disagree that Colorado Division of Wildlife Officers perform their
duties in a professional manner?
61
30
6
3
1
62
24
8
2
3
51
26
22
1
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neutral / Don'tknow
Somewhatdisagree
Strongly disagree
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q21. Overall, do you feel the job of a Colorado Wildlife Officer is very safe, moderately safe, moderately
dangerous or very dangerous?
9
38
1
45
7
7
36
3
41
13
6
37
7
44
6
0 20 40 60 80 100
Very safe
Moderately safe
Neutral / Don'tknow
Moderatelydangerous
Very dangerous
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q31. Within the past five years, in Colorado, have you ever…?
(Percent of Colorado Residents)
49
28
19
18
18
11
0 20 40 60 80 100
None of these
Had your hunting/fishing license checked by aW.O.
Contacted a W.O. to get info about ahunting/fishing law or regulation
Contacted a W.O. about where to fish/huntor access to public/private land
Contacted a W.O. to get any other type ofinformation from them
Been contacted by a W.O. because theywanted info from you
Percent (n=405)
Responsive Management
Q31 (continued). Within the past five years, in Colorado, have you ever…?
(Percent of Colorado Residents)
7
3
3
3
2
0 20 40 60 80 100
Contacted a W.O. to help you with a problemwhile in the field
Don't know
Wanted to or actually filed a complaint abouta W.O.
Had any other contact with a Colorado W.O.not mentioned
Been issued a warning/citation for violating afishing/hunting law
Percent (n=405)
Responsive Management
Q36. In general, do you think there are too many, about the right amount or too few Wildlife Officers patrolling
and providing services to hunters in Colorado?(Percent of Colorado hunters that have hunted in the
past five years)
3
36
58
4
0 20 40 60 80 100
Too many
About the rightamount
Too few
Don't know
Percent (n=207)
Responsive Management
Q38. Within the past five years, in Colorado, have you ever…?
(Percent of Colorado hunters that have hunted in the past five years)
63
30
30
29
28
0 20 40 60 80 100
Had your hunting license checked by aW.O.
Contacted a W.O. to get info about ahunting law or regulation
Contacted a W.O. to get any other type ofinformation from them
Contacted a W.O. about where to hunt oraccess to public/private land
Been contacted by a W.O. because theywanted info from you
Percent (n=207)
Responsive Management
Q38 (continued). Within the past five years, in Colorado, have you ever…?
(Percent of Colorado hunters that have hunted in the past five years)
18
15
6
6
4
0 20 40 60 80 100
None of these
Contacted a W.O. to help you with aproblem while in the field
Been issued a warning/citation forviolating a hunting law
Had any other contact with a ColoradoW.O. not mentioned
Wanted to or actually filed a complaintabout a W.O.
Percent (n=207)
Responsive Management
Q40. Within the past five years, while you were hunting in Colorado, do you think you've been contacted by a
Colorado Wildlife Officer…?(Percent of Colorado hunters that have hunted in the
past five years)
3
64
29
4
0 20 40 60 80 100
Too much
About the rightamount
Not enough
Don't know
Percent (n=207)
Responsive Management
Q44. In general, do you think there are too many, about the right amount or too few Wildlife Officers patrolling
and providing services to anglers in Colorado?(Percent of Colorado anglers that have fished in the
past five years)
1
32
62
5
0 20 40 60 80 100
Too many
About the rightamount
Too few
Don't know
Percent (n=198)
Responsive Management
Q46. Within the past five years, in Colorado, have you ever…?
(Percent of Colorado anglers that have fished in the past five years)
56
26
24
24
22
0 20 40 60 80 100
Had your fishing license checked by aW.O.
Contacted a W.O. about where to fish oraccess to public/private land
None of these
Contacted a W.O. to get any other typeof information from them
Contacted a W.O. to get info about afishing law or regulation
Percent (n=198)
Responsive Management
Q46 (continued). Within the past five years, in Colorado, have you ever…?
(Percent of Colorado anglers that have fished in the past five years)
18
14
6
2
2
2
0 20 40 60 80 100
Been contacted by a W.O. because theywanted info from you
Contacted a W.O. to help you with aproblem while in the field
Wanted to or actually filed a complaintabout a W.O.
Been issued a warning/citation forviolating a fishing law
Had any other contact with a ColoradoW.O. not mentioned
Don't know
Percent (n=198)
Responsive Management
Q48. Within the past five years, while you were fishing in Colorado, do you think you've been contacted by a
Colorado Wildlife Officer…?(Percent of Colorado anglers that have fished in the
past five years)
1
52
41
7
0 20 40 60 80 100
Too much
About the rightamount
Not enough
Don't know
Percent (n=198)
Responsive Management
Q49. Would you agree or disagree that the Wildlife Officers you came in contact with were professional?(Percent of respondents that have had contact with a
Wildlife Officer in the past five years)
76
19
3
1
1
74
20
2
1
3
83
13
3
0
2
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neutral / Don'tknow
Somewhat agree
Strongly agree
Percent
Hunters(n=177)
Anglers(n=167)
General Pop.(n=213)
Responsive Management
Q50. Would you agree or disagree that the Wildlife Officers you came in contact with were courteous?
(Percent of respondents that have had contact with a Wildlife Officer in the past five years)
79
16
3
1
1
77
18
1
1
4
86
10
2
1
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neutral / Don'tknow
Somewhatdisagree
Strongly disagree
Percent
Hunters(n=177)
Anglers(n=167)
General Pop.(n=213)
Responsive Management
Q51. Would you agree or disagree that the Wildlife Officers you came in contact with were knowledgeable?
(Percent of respondents that have had contact with a Wildlife Officer in the past five years)
74
21
2
0
3
74
20
4
2
1
83
12
4
1
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neutral / Don'tknow
Somewhatdisagree
Strongly disagree
Percent
Hunters(n=177)
Anglers(n=167)
General Pop.(n=213)
Responsive Management
Q55-65a. Percent of Colorado hunters that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the Division's
Wildlife Officers to enforce laws...
93
91
84
81
80
78
0 20 40 60 80 100
That require people to have licenses whilehunting/fishing
That protect fish and wildlife from beingtaken illegally
That protect threatened and endangeredwildlife
Regarding the illegal use of equipment tohunt or fish
That prohibit the illegal sale of wildlife orwildlife parts
That prohibit people from having loadedfirearms in vehicles
Percent (n=207)
Responsive Management
Q55-65a (continued). Percent of Colorado hunters that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the
Division's Wildlife Officers to enforce laws...
74
74
68
61
57
0 20 40 60 80 100
That prohibit private landowners fromblocking access to public lands
Regarding illegal guide and outfittingactivities
That prohibit trespassing on privateproperty
That protect non-game wildlife
That prohibit private ownership of wildanimals
Percent (n=207)
Responsive Management
Q55-65b. Percent of Colorado anglers that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the Division's
Wildlife Officers to enforce laws...
92
88
84
83
81
79
0 20 40 60 80 100
That require people to have licenses whilehunting/fishing
That protect fish and wildlife from beingtaken illegally
That protect threatened and endangeredwildlife
That prohibit the illegal sale of wildlife orwildlife parts
That prohibit people from having loadedfirearms in vehicles
Regarding the illegal use of equipment tohunt or fish
Percent (n=205)
Responsive Management
Q55-65b (continued). Percent of Colorado anglers that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the
Division's Wildlife Officers to enforce laws...
75
69
66
59
54
0 20 40 60 80 100
Regarding illegal guide and outfittingactivities
That prohibit private landowners fromblocking access to public lands
That prohibit trespassing on privateproperty
That protect non-game wildlife
That prohibit private ownership of wildanimals
Percent (n=205)
Responsive Management
Q55-65c. Percent of Colorado residents that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the Division's
Wildlife Officers to enforce laws...
91
90
90
90
82
76
0 20 40 60 80 100
That require people to have licenses whilehunting/fishing
That protect threatened and endangeredwildlife
That prohibit the illegal sale of wildlife orwildlife parts
That protect fish and wildlife from beingtaken illegally
Regarding the illegal use of equipment tohunt or fish
That prohibit people from having loadedfirearms in vehicles
Percent (n=405)
Responsive Management
Q55-65c (continued). Percent of Colorado residents that feel it is an important (extremely and very) duty for the Division's Wildlife Officers to enforce laws...
70
68
65
65
60
0 20 40 60 80 100
Regarding illegal guide and outfittingactivities
That protect non-game wildlife
That prohibit trespassing on privateproperty
That prohibit private landowners fromblocking access to public lands
That prohibit private ownership of wildanimals
Percent (n=405)
Responsive Management
Q67. Do you agree or disagree that a lot of people violate hunting laws?
35
31
3
18
13
36
28
8
17
11
41
26
14
12
7
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neutral/Don'tknow
Somewhatdisagree
Strongly disagree
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q69c. Which hunting laws do you think are violated most often?
(Percent of Colorado residents that agree that a lot of people violate hunting laws)
56
24
21
14
5
0 20 40 60 80 100
Harvest-relatedissues
Hunter behavior-related issues
Licensing-relatedissues
Don't know
Methods/firearmsissues
Percent (n=272)
Responsive Management
Q71. When a person violates a hunting law, do you think it is because the person does not know what the
law is or do you feel the person knows the law but violates it anyway?
21
73
3
3
3
15
77
2
6
6
12
78
3
7
7
0 20 40 60 80 100
Does not know thelaw
Knows butviolates anyway
Other
Don't know
Don't know
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q73. Do you think that people who violate hunting laws are almost always caught, sometimes caught or hardly
ever caught?
5
44
50
1
2
32
61
5
2
35
58
5
0 20 40 60 80 100
Almost always
Sometimes
Hardly ever
Don't know
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q74. Do you agree or disagree that a lot of people violate fishing laws?
30
28
21
15
7
41
29
7
18
6
38
34
13
11
5
0 20 40 60 80 100
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Neutral/Don'tknow
Somewhatdisagree
Strongly disagree
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q76c. Which fishing laws do you think are violated most often?
(Percent of Colorado residents that agree that a lot of people violate fishing laws)
54
37
10
10
7
0 20 40 60 80 100
Harvest-relatedissues
Licensing-relatedissues
Angler behavior-related issues
Don't know
Methods-relatedissues
Percent (n=290)
Responsive Management
Q78. When a person violates a fishing law, do you think it is because the person does not know what the law is or do you feel the person knows the law but violates it
anyway?22
68
2
8
19
74
2
5
17
75
2
6
0 20 40 60 80 100
Does not know thelaw
Knows butviolates anyway
Other
Don't know
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q82a. In the past two years, have you ever seen what you felt was a violation of a hunting, fishing, or other
type of wildlife law or regulation in Colorado?(Percent of Colorado hunters)
51
42
13
1
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
No, I haven't seen a violation
Yes, a violation of a hunting law/regulation
Yes, a violation of a fishing law/regulation
Yes, a violation of other type of wildlifelaw/regulation
Don't know
Percent (n=210)
Responsive Management
Q82b. In the past two years, have you ever seen what you felt was a violation of a hunting, fishing, or other
type of wildlife law or regulation in Colorado?(Percent of Colorado anglers)
53
30
27
2
0 20 40 60 80 100
No, I haven't seen aviolation
Yes, a violation of ahunting
law/regulation
Yes, a violation of afishing
law/regulation
Yes, a violation ofother type of wildlife
law/regulation
Percent (n=205)
Responsive Management
Q82c. In the past two years, have you ever seen what you felt was a violation of a hunting, fishing, or other
type of wildlife law or regulation in Colorado?(Percent of Colorado residents)
73
16
14
2
2
0 20 40 60 80 100
No, I haven't seen a violation
Yes, a violation of a fishing law/regulation
Yes, a violation of a hunting law/regulation
Yes, a violation of other type of wildlifelaw/regulation
Don't know
Percent (n=405)
Responsive Management
Q93. Before this survey had you ever heard of Operation Game Thief?
73
26
1
52
48
0
29
70
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yes
No
Don't know
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q97. Have you ever tried to report a violation to Operation Game Thief in Colorado by calling the
hotline?
3
1
97
0
5
1
93
2
1
0
98
1
0 20 40 60 80 100
Yes
Tried butcouldn't get
through
No
Don't know
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Q99. If you were to see someone violating a hunting, fishing or other type of wildlife law, do you think you would be likely or unlikely to report it to Operation
Game Thief?49
30
8
8
5
55
25
7
7
6
53
28
7
6
7
0 20 40 60 80 100
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Neutral/Don'tknow
Somewhatunlikely
Very unlikely
Percent
Hunters(n=210)
Anglers(n=205)
General Pop.(n=405)
Responsive Management
Major Findings1. Colorado hunters, anglers and residents felt that the
Division was doing a good to excellent job enforcing the wildlife laws of the state.
2. Colorado Wildlife Officers performed their duties in a professional manner.
3. Penalties for breaking wildlife laws in Colorado were about right to too low.
4. Colorado residents wanted more law enforcement efforts overall.
5. Colorado hunters, anglers and residents who had contact with an Officer, stated that the Officer they came in contact with was professional, courteous, knowledgeable and fair.
Responsive Management
On the other hand…1. Colorado hunters, anglers and residents stated that there
were a lot of wildlife laws being broken and that these laws were being broken consciously.
2. Most of the people who felt there were a lot of laws being violated believed that the law being broken most often was harvest-related.
3. Overall, Colorado hunters, anglers and residents believed that violators of wildlife laws were seldom or never caught.
4. Although many hunters and anglers had heard of Operation Game Thief (OGT), and many hunters and anglers had observed a wildlife violation, few of them had ever called OGT to report a violation.
Responsive Management
Percent of state residents that agree that wildlife law enforcement officers in their states are professional.
83
18
63
67
37
13
76
31
26
48
0 20 40 60 80 100
Colorado(n=213)
Mid-Atlanticstate (n=472)
Mid-Atlanticstate (n=103)
Rocky Mountainstate (n=263)
Southwesternstate (n=604)
Percent
Stronglyagree
Somewhatagree
96
94
94
93
85
Responsive Management
Percent of state hunters that agree that wildlife law enforcement officers in their states are professional.
76
70
75
19
25
17
0 20 40 60 80 100
Colorado(n=177)
Mid-Atlanticstate (n=71)
Mid-Atlanticstate (n=330)
Percent
Stronglyagree
Somewhatagree
95
95
92
Responsive Management
Percent of state anglers that agree that wildlife law enforcement officers in their states are professional.
73
82
74
27
14
20
0 20 40 60 80 100
Mid-Atlanticstate (n=44)
Mid-Atlanticstate (n=429)
Colorado(n=167)
Percent
Stronglyagree
Somewhatagree
100
96
94
Responsive Management
Percent of hunters that agree that a lot of hunters violate hunting laws.
35
23
31
26
0 20 40 60 80 100
Colorado(n=210)
Nationwide(n=376)
Percent
Stronglyagree
Somewhatagree
66
49
Responsive Management
Percent of residents that agree that a lot of anglers violate fishing laws.
38
17
34
23
0 20 40 60 80 100
Colorado(n=405)
Nationwide(n=2085)
Percent
Stronglyagree
Somewhatagree
72
40
Responsive Management
Percent of anglers that agree that a lot of anglers violate fishing laws.
41
18
29
24
0 20 40 60 80 100
Colorado(n=205)
Nationwide(n=942)
Percent
Stronglyagree
Somewhatagree
70
42