Seasonal and Regional Differences in Economic Benefits of Turkey Hunting

ABSTRACT Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris; hereafter, turkey) hunting is a popular outdoor recreation activity in many states, including Tennessee, USA. Despite its cultural and social significance, economic benefits associated with turkey hunting are largely unknown. Past economic studie...

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Main Authors: Binod P. Chapagain, Neelam C. Poudyal, Omkar Joshi, Cristina Watkins, Roger D. Applegate
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-06-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1093
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author Binod P. Chapagain
Neelam C. Poudyal
Omkar Joshi
Cristina Watkins
Roger D. Applegate
author_facet Binod P. Chapagain
Neelam C. Poudyal
Omkar Joshi
Cristina Watkins
Roger D. Applegate
author_sort Binod P. Chapagain
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris; hereafter, turkey) hunting is a popular outdoor recreation activity in many states, including Tennessee, USA. Despite its cultural and social significance, economic benefits associated with turkey hunting are largely unknown. Past economic studies either focused on other big game species or provided generic value for big game, and do not offer benefit estimates specific to turkey. We estimated a demand model for turkey hunting trips in Tennessee and quantified per‐trip and statewide aggregate value of turkey hunting. We compared the net economic value of turkey hunting trips between hunting seasons (autumn and spring) and wildlife management regions that differ in many aspects including turkey population, hunting regulations, etc. Per person per trip value of turkey hunting ranged between US$34 and US$90 depending on the modeling assumption regarding hunters’ opportunity cost of time. Moreover, estimated value differed among regions and between hunting seasons, with the value of a turkey‐hunting trip in the spring season being twice that of the autumn season. Many states in southern United States, including Tennessee, have recently experienced declines in turkey populations and are in need of economic justifications for investment in research and management. Our results are useful to wildlife agencies in characterizing economic benefits of turkey hunting and evaluating the welfare implications of regulations (e.g., closure, reduction in season length) restricting or expanding hunting opportunities. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-5957d42ccbbf441cacf0e1923f52c1d92025-08-20T02:36:22ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402020-06-0144227128010.1002/wsb.1093Seasonal and Regional Differences in Economic Benefits of Turkey HuntingBinod P. Chapagain0Neelam C. Poudyal1Omkar Joshi2Cristina Watkins3Roger D. Applegate4Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management Oklahoma State University 008C Agricultural Hall Stillwater OK 74078 USADepartment of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries University of Tennessee 274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building Knoxville TN 37996 USADepartment of Natural Resource Ecology and Management Oklahoma State University 008C Agricultural Hall Stillwater OK 74078 USADepartment of Forestry Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee 274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building Knoxville TN 37996 USATennessee Wildlife Resource Agency P.O. Box 40747 Nashville TN 37204 USAABSTRACT Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris; hereafter, turkey) hunting is a popular outdoor recreation activity in many states, including Tennessee, USA. Despite its cultural and social significance, economic benefits associated with turkey hunting are largely unknown. Past economic studies either focused on other big game species or provided generic value for big game, and do not offer benefit estimates specific to turkey. We estimated a demand model for turkey hunting trips in Tennessee and quantified per‐trip and statewide aggregate value of turkey hunting. We compared the net economic value of turkey hunting trips between hunting seasons (autumn and spring) and wildlife management regions that differ in many aspects including turkey population, hunting regulations, etc. Per person per trip value of turkey hunting ranged between US$34 and US$90 depending on the modeling assumption regarding hunters’ opportunity cost of time. Moreover, estimated value differed among regions and between hunting seasons, with the value of a turkey‐hunting trip in the spring season being twice that of the autumn season. Many states in southern United States, including Tennessee, have recently experienced declines in turkey populations and are in need of economic justifications for investment in research and management. Our results are useful to wildlife agencies in characterizing economic benefits of turkey hunting and evaluating the welfare implications of regulations (e.g., closure, reduction in season length) restricting or expanding hunting opportunities. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1093eastern wild turkeyeconomic valueMeleagris gallopavo silvestrisnonmarket valuationregional variationseasonal difference
spellingShingle Binod P. Chapagain
Neelam C. Poudyal
Omkar Joshi
Cristina Watkins
Roger D. Applegate
Seasonal and Regional Differences in Economic Benefits of Turkey Hunting
Wildlife Society Bulletin
eastern wild turkey
economic value
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
nonmarket valuation
regional variation
seasonal difference
title Seasonal and Regional Differences in Economic Benefits of Turkey Hunting
title_full Seasonal and Regional Differences in Economic Benefits of Turkey Hunting
title_fullStr Seasonal and Regional Differences in Economic Benefits of Turkey Hunting
title_full_unstemmed Seasonal and Regional Differences in Economic Benefits of Turkey Hunting
title_short Seasonal and Regional Differences in Economic Benefits of Turkey Hunting
title_sort seasonal and regional differences in economic benefits of turkey hunting
topic eastern wild turkey
economic value
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
nonmarket valuation
regional variation
seasonal difference
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.1093
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AT cristinawatkins seasonalandregionaldifferencesineconomicbenefitsofturkeyhunting
AT rogerdapplegate seasonalandregionaldifferencesineconomicbenefitsofturkeyhunting