Effects of shotgun shell limits on the quality hunting experience

This thesis explored the effects of shotgun shell limits on the quality hunting experience that is offered in the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Sacramento Complex) hunting areas. The researcher wanted to find out if a set daily shotgun shell limit would improve the quality hunting experience. Absent peer-reviewed scholarly literature, the research was grounded in Comprehensive Conservation Plans from different wildlife refuges in California. A total of 205 questionnaires were collected from participants at the Sacramento, Delevan, and Colusa refuges. Data were collected on Saturdays and Sundays from the hours of 10 am to 3 pm during the 2015-16 waterfowl hunting season using a 16-question questionnaire. The research method was face-to-face interviews with participants. Collected data showed that high shooting or “skyscraping” was the number one issue that participants reported while hunting on one of the Sacramento Complex refuges. The top characteristic that participants reported for a quality hunting experience was the presence of waterfowl. Participants did not think that a set daily shell limit was ideal for the best quality hunting experience. The majority of participants preferred the current 25 shotgun shell possession limit. The researcher discovered that the majority of participants recognize the need for some type of shotgun shell restriction for the best quality hunting experience. The findings from this research can help guide professionals in the field to ensure that they are providing a high quality hunting program. This research will act as a guide to refuge managers when issues of shotgun shell limits or other quality hunting factors are brought to their attention from the hunting public.