The objectives of the study were to estimate the demand for deer hunting, and to use this value in evaluating range improvement activities for livestock and deer. The State was divided into eight hunting areas. Demand estimates were based on average variable trip expenditures and the number of trips taken per hunting population for each area. Consumer surplus was used to derive valuation estimates which range from $24,000 to $275,000 and a total value for the State of slightly over $1,000,000. The values were converted to values per deer-day use for each area and used to evaluate five range management practices. Three of these practices were designed to increase the carrying capacity of livestock and the cost of taking the land out of deer habitat was found. Two areas were improved for deer use and the benefit-cost ratio using the discounted deer values was found to be greater than one. These range management evaluations depended upon the deer population in the winter range actually increasing. There is yet no evidence of the overall increased number and hence the positive benefit-cost ratio in this case would provide tentative estimates of potential benefits.
|
