IOWA ANGLERS’ PARTICIPATION IN AND ATTITUDES TOWARD FISHING AND THE IOWA DNR Conducted for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources by Responsive Management 2019 IOWA ANGLERS’ PARTICIPATION IN AND ATTITUDES TOWARD FISHING AND THE IOWA DNR 2019 Responsive Management National Office Mark Damian Duda, Executive Director Martin Jones, Senior Research Associate Tom Beppler, Senior Research Associate Steven J. Bissell, Ph.D., Qualitative Research Associate Amanda Center, Research Associate Andrea Criscione, Senior Research Associate Patrick Doherty, Research Associate Gregory L. Hughes, P.E., Research Associate Caroline Gerken, Survey Center Manager Alison Lanier, Business Manager 130 Franklin Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540/432-1888 E-mail:
[email protected] www.responsivemanagement.com Acknowledgments Responsive Management would like to thank Jeff Kopaska, George D. Scholten, and David Arentson of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for their input, support, and guidance on this project. Iowa Anglers’ Participation in and Attitudes Toward Fishing and the Iowa DNR i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY This study was conducted for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (the Department) to assess anglers’ fishing preferences and behaviors, as well as their attitudes toward the Department’s management of fishing and fisheries in the state. The study entailed a scientific multi-modal survey of anglers who had fished in Iowa within the 3 years previous to the survey. The database of licensed Iowa anglers from which the survey sample was pulled was provided by the Department. In instances where a telephone number was not available, a postcard was sent inviting the angler to participate in the survey by telephone or online.