Kentucky Residents’ Awareness Of And Opinions On Elk Restoration And Management Efforts
Residents of the U.S. state of Kentucky were surveyed about their experiences with and attitudes toward elk and other wildlife management issues. The survey was conducted to examine the effects of an elk restoration project that began in 1997.
Study Highlights from the Executive Summary:
- “A large majority of Kentucky residents (79%) support legal, regulated hunting in Kentucky, with most support being strong support”
- “The majority of Kentucky residents have never hunted.”
- “The majority of Kentucky residents (74%) support legal, regulated hunting of elk in Kentucky, with about half (51%) strongly supporting elk hunting; nonetheless, a substantial percentage (19%) oppose. “
- “The majority of Kentucky residents (68%) agree that opportunities for both elk watching and elk hunting in southeastern Kentucky are compatible, with 39% strongly agreeing.”
- “A large majority of Kentucky residents (78%) support having free-roaming, wild elk in southeastern Kentucky, with much of that support being strong support; only 8% oppose.”
- “Most commonly, Kentucky residents indicated they know nothing (47%) about elk in Kentucky; however, about a third (32%) said they know a little.”
- “About half of Kentucky residents (51%) are not aware that free-roaming, wild elk exist in the 16-county elk restoration zone in southeastern Kentucky.”
- “A large majority of Kentucky residents (75%) have never seen elk anywhere in Kentucky.”