Six out of 10 license holders surveyed by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation agency said they participated in one or more hunting seasons during 2017.
Hunting participation has shown a declining trend since 1991, when 78 percent said they hunted.
Conservation commissioners reviewed last year's Game Harvest Survey of active hunters as part of their regular December meeting.
Corey Jager, survey coordinator, said the annual survey is a long-term evaluation tool with more than 30 years of data collected. It is used to monitor upland game harvest and hunters' opinions to help biologists and wildlife managers make informed decisions.
Among the findings:
• Thirty-six percent of active hunters said they used public land during 2017.
• More than three out of four favor land purchases by the department for public hunting access.
• Responses indicated 27.4 percent of active hunters participated in feral swine hunts in 2017, up from 23.8 percent in 2016.
• Deer hunters rated as the most important reasons for participation being outdoors in nature, getting away to relax and spending time with family or friends.
Sports on 01/08/2019