Deer hunters’ disease risk sensitivity over time

Jerry J. Vaske, Craig A. Miller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Risk sensitivity is a predisposition to rate all risks as large. Miller and Shelby (2009) examined hunters’ risk sensitivity relative to chronic wasting disease (CWD), Mad cow, E. coli, Salmonella, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus (WNV). This article replicated their analysis and compared risk sensitivity over time. Data from Illinois hunters in 2004 (n = 1,879) and 2012 (n = 3,391) showed the “no risk” cluster reported the lowest risks across all six diseases, the “moderate risk” segment always had the highest risks, and the “slight risk” group was in between. Perceived risks declined over time for CWD, Mad cow, WNV, and Lyme disease. For E. coli and Salmonella, risks increased. Collectively, however, these hunters became slightly more risk sensitive, as the proportion in the most risk sensitive group (“moderate risk”) increased (19% in 2004, 26% in 2012) while the least risk sensitive group (“no risk”) decreased (24%, 20%).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)217-230
Number of pages14
JournalHuman Dimensions of Wildlife
Volume24
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 4 2019

Keywords

  • Hunters
  • disease
  • perceived risk
  • risk sensitivity
  • wildlife

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nature and Landscape Conservation
  • Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

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