Licensed Antelope Hunters Opinions on and Attitudes Toward Antelope Hunting and Management

Licensed Motorboat Operators’ and Registered Personal Watercraft Users’ Opinions on and Attitudes Toward Motorized Boating in Wyoming

Conducted for

Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Responsive Management

Wyoming Motorized Boating Survey

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This study was conducted for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to assess 1999 licensed boat operators’ and registered personal watercraft users’ opinions on and attitudes toward motorized boating in Wyoming. The survey was developed cooperatively between the Department and Responsive Management.

Motorboat Use and Location

Fifty-five percent (55%) of boaters used their motorboats more than 10 times during 1999, in comparison to 67% of personal watercraft users.
In order of use, boaters reported Glendo Reservoir (23%), Boysen Reservoir (17%), Flaming Gorge Reservoir (13%), Pathfinder Reservoir (13%), and Keyhole Reservoir (13%) as the top three Wyoming lakes or rivers on which they used their motorboat most often.
In order of use, personal watercraft users reported Glendo Reservoir (23%), Flaming Gorge Reservoir (20%), and Alcova Reservoir (15%) as the top three Wyoming lakes or rivers on which they used their motor boat most often.

Factors in Selecting Where to Boat

Respondents reported the factors that were most important to them in deciding where to use their motorboats. These were “top of mind” responses.

For boaters, being close to home (37%) and hearing that there was good fishing (36%) were the two main factors in deciding where to use their motorboats in Wyoming.
In comparison, personal watercraft users placed being close to home (56%) as the main factor, while only 11% reported that they selected where to boat because they thought there were few boaters using the area.

Then respondents were asked a series a questions in which they had to rate the importance of a number of factors that influenced their decision about where to use their motorboats most often in Wyoming.

For boaters, the factors that were important in selecting the area where they used their motorboats most often included having the area close to home (87%), having visited the area before (82%), hearing that the fishing was good (79%), having free public motorboat access to the water (72%), liking the area’s boating regulations (68%), and liking the area’s fishing regulations (64%).
For personal watercraft users, the factors that were important in selecting the area where they used their motorboats most often included having the area close to home (94%), having visited the area before (87%), having free public motorboat access to the water (80%), liking the area’s boating regulations (74%), and knowing that few other boaters would be using the area (59%).
For boaters, the least important factor was knowing that few other boaters would be using the area (44%). While for personal watercraft users, the least important factors were liking the area’s fishing regulations (61%) and hearing that the fishing was good (56%).

Importance of Various Aspects of Boating Facilities

Three facilities were equally important to boaters in selecting the area where they used their motorboats most often in Wyoming during 1999. These included having plenty of boat ramps, parking for vehicles and trailers, and a good road leading to the area (each 80%). Other important facilities included having plenty of restroom facilities in convenient locations (74%), signs clearly spelling out area regulations and providing other useful information (65%), garbage facilities (64%), and docks (61%).
Two facilities were equally important to personal watercraft users in selecting the area where they used their motorboats most often in Wyoming during 1999. These included having had plenty of parking for vehicles and trailers (81%), and having a good road leading to the area (81%). Other important facilities included having plenty of restroom facilities in convenient locations (78%), boat ramps (76%), garbage facilities (75%), signs clearly spelling out area regulations and providing other useful information (63%), and docks (56%).
For boaters and personal watercraft users, the factors that were either very unimportant or somewhat unimportant when selecting areas to use their boat included having plenty of fish cleaning stations (respectively, 56% and 66%), having a sanitary pump available (respectively, 57% and 55%), and having facilities and structures that are handicapped accessible (respectively, 46% and 53%).

Ratings of Boating Facilities

Seventy-three percent (73%) of boaters and 78% of personal watercraft users rated the Department provided facilities as excellent or good.
Seventy-eight percent (78%) of boaters and 83% of personal watercraft users had neither visited nor heard about any boating areas in Wyoming that did not have adequate services or facilities.
Of the 21% (n=166) of boaters who had seen or heard of boating areas that did not have adequate services or facilities, the boating area most often reported included Pathfinder Reservoir (15%). For the 16% (n=31) of personal watercraft users who had seen or heard of boating areas that did not have adequate services or facilities, the areas most often reported included Pathfinder Reservoir (13%), Seminole Reservoir (13%), Keyhole Reservoir (10%), and Hawk Springs Reservoir (10%).
Of the 21% (n=166) of boaters who had seen or heard of boating areas that did not have adequate services or facilities, they would like to see better or more boat ramps (45%), mooring or dock facilities (31%), restrooms (25%), fish cleaning stations (20%), and camping areas (16%). For the 16% (n=31) of personal watercraft users who had seen or heard of boating areas that did not have adequate services or facilities, they would like to see better or more boat ramps (26%), camping areas (26%), restrooms (23%), parking areas (13%), mooring or dock facilities (13%), free public access (13%), fish cleaning stations (10%), and more roads/road access (10%).

Law Enforcement Issues Related to Boating

Most boaters (81%) and personal watercraft users (88%) agreed that the Wyoming Game and Fish Department maintains a sufficient law enforcement presence.
Within the past two years, 59% of boaters had personal contact with a Wyoming Game and Fish Department law enforcement officer while boating, 41% did not. Within the past two years, 61% of personal watercraft users had personal contact with a Wyoming Game and Fish Department law enforcement officer while boating, 39% did not.

Ninety-five percent (95%) of boaters and 88% of personal watercraft users who had contact with law enforcement officers while boating agreed that the officers were professional. Most respondents “strongly agreed.”
Ninety-four percent (94%) of boaters and 90% of personal watercraft users who had contact with law enforcement officers while boating agreed that the officers were courteous. Most respondents “strongly agreed.”
Ninety-five percent (95%) of boaters and 95% of personal watercraft users who had contact with law enforcement officers while boating agreed that the officers were knowledgeable. Most respondents “strongly agreed.”

Boater Behavior and Safety

Boaters reported “rarely” (42%) or “sometimes” (34%) seeing other boaters, excluding personal watercraft, operating their motorboats in an unsafe manner. Personal watercraft users reported “rarely” (44%) or “sometimes” (33%) seeing other boaters, excluding personal watercraft, operating their motorboats in an unsafe manner.

Boaters reported seeing other boaters operating personal watercrafts in an unsafe manner “always” (29%) or “sometimes” (40%) while they were motorboating on a Wyoming public waterway. Personal watercraft users reported seeing other boaters operating personal watercrafts in an unsafe manner “sometimes” (41%) or “rarely” (37%) while they were motorboating on a Wyoming public waterway.
Smaller percentages of boaters reported “rarely” (19%) seeing other boaters operating personal watercrafts in an unsafe manner. Smaller percentages of personal watercraft users reported “always” (16%) seeing other boaters operating personal watercrafts in an unsafe manner.

Boaters reported reckless/careless operation (45%) and use of alcohol (39%) as the main reasons why people have boating accidents. Personal watercraft users reported reckless/careless operation (50%) and use of alcohol (34%) as the main reasons why people have boating accidents.

Minors and Personal Watercraft Supervision

Most boaters (83%) and personal watercraft users (70%) disagreed that individuals between the ages of 12 and 16 should be allowed to operate a personal watercraft on Wyoming's public waters without adult supervision. Most of this was “strong” disagreement. Twenty-seven percent (27%) of personal watercraft users agreed.
Fifty-three percent (53%) of boaters and 63% of personal watercraft users agreed that individuals between the ages of 12 and 16 should be allowed to operate a personal watercraft on Wyoming's public waters without adult supervision if they have successfully completed a certified safety course. Most agreement was “moderate” for boaters but “strong” for personal watercraft users.

Mandatory Boater Education

Fifty percent (50%) of boaters and 54% of personal watercraft users support efforts to develop a mandatory statewide boater education course in Wyoming for all motorboat operators. Forty-four percent (44%) of boaters and 45% of personal watercraft users oppose such efforts.

Most boaters (57%) support efforts to develop a mandatory statewide boater education course in Wyoming only for personal watercraft operators. Thirty seven percent (37%) oppose. Slightly more personal watercraft users (52%) oppose rather than support (46%) such a course.

Personal Flotation Device Legislation and Use

Seventy-four percent (74%) of boaters and 80% of personal watercraft users support a change in legislation requiring boat occupants aged 12 years and younger to use a personal flotation device at all times. In comparison, 24% of boaters and 18% of personal watercraft users oppose such legislation.
In comparison to 60% of personal watercraft users who used their PFDs at all times, only 29% of boaters used their PFDs at all times.
Smaller percentages of boaters reported using their PFD only when the conditions were bad (21%), only for certain activities (14%), only when the boat is moving (13%), and only for certain activities in bad conditions (11%). A smaller percentage of personal watercraft users reported using their PFD only for certain activities (13%).

Improvements in Boater Safety

Twenty-seven percent (27%) of boaters and 23% of personal watercraft users don’t know what actions the Wyoming Game and Fish Department could take to make Wyoming's public waters safer for all boaters, while 19% of boaters and 22% of personal watercraft users don’t think the Department should take any actions.
Smaller percentages of boaters recommended that the Department regulate jetskier speed and use areas (13%) and increase Game and Fish presence (12%). Personal watercraft users also recommended an increase in Game and Fish presence (14%).

Most boaters (56%) and personal watercraft users (53%) reported that the minimum age should be 16 to operate a motor-powered watercraft in Wyoming. Thirteen percent (13%) of boaters reported age 18. Seventeen percent (17%) of personal watercraft users reported age 12 and 11% reported age 14.

Boating Participation

Boaters were equally likely to report that their boating activity in Wyoming had stayed the same (44%) as increased (40%) over the past five years.
Personal watercraft users were slightly more likely to report that their boating activity in Wyoming had stayed about the same (49%) over the past five years, while 39% reported it had increased. Sixteen percent (16%) of boaters and 13% of personal watercraft users reported it had decreased.

Forty-four percent (44%) of boaters and 48% of personal watercraft users reported being too busy as the main reason for a decrease in their boating activity. Smaller percentages of boaters also reported a change in family composition (12%) and being too old to boat (10%). Personal watercraft users also reported no longer being interested in boating (16%) and that launch facilities were too crowded (12%).

Interference from Other Recreationists While Boating

Forty-four percent (44%) of boaters and 31% of personal watercraft users did experience interference by other recreationists that took away from their enjoyment.
Boaters most often experienced interference from jet skiers (82%) and other boaters excluding jet skiers (25%). While most personal watercraft users experienced interference from other boaters excluding jet skiers (53%), jet skiers (33%), and campers (15%).

Motorboat Registration Process

Most boaters and personal watercraft users described the process of registering their motorboat in Wyoming as excellent or good (each 92%).

Boaters equally preferred one year (46%) and three year (49%) motorboat registration timeframes. Similarly, personal watercraft users equally preferred one year (51%) and three year (46%) motorboat registration timeframes.
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of boaters and 61% of personal watercraft users would be unlikely to purchase their boat registration over the Internet with a credit card. Most would be “very unlikely.” In comparison, 30% of boaters and 37% of personal watercraft users would be likely.

Participation in Other Activities While Motorboating

Boaters participated in fishing (89%) more than any other activity. Smaller percentages also participated in water skiing/tubing (36%) and day cruising (21%).
In comparison, personal watercraft users participated in water skiing/tubing (55%), jet skiing (48%), fishing (42%), and day cruising (28%).

Boating Location

Seventy-one percent (71%) of boaters and 70% of personal watercraft users did not use their motorboat on a lake, river or seashore in another state, a Mexican state, or a Canadian province.
Smaller percentages of boaters (28%) and personal watercraft users (30%) did use their motorboat on a lake, river or seashore in another state. Boaters most often used their motorboats in the states of Montana (27%), Utah (21%), and Nebraska (10%). Personal watercraft users most often used their motorboats in the states of Utah (25%), Nebraska (15%), South Dakota (15%), and Montana (10%).
The 2% (n=17) of boaters, who used their motorboat in a Canadian province, did so mostly in Saskatchewan (53%), Ontario (18%), and British Columbia (12%).

Introduction of Parasites and Non-Native Species to Wyoming Waters

Seventy percent (70%) of boaters and 66% of personal watercraft users agreed that it is possible for anglers to introduce parasites and non-native species to Wyoming waters by failing to properly rinse their boat's hull or cleaning out live storage tanks. In comparison, 16% of boaters and 25% of personal watercraft users did not know.

Length of Motorboat

Referring to the motorboat respondents used most often, most boaters used boats that were 19-26 feet in length (34%), 17-18 feet (28%), and 15-16 feet (23%).

Personal Watercraft Ownership

Most boaters (93%) do not own a personal watercraft, while most personal watercraft users (95%) do.

Satisfaction with Boating Experiences

Ninety-seven percent (97%) of boaters and 96% of personal watercraft users were satisfied with their boating experiences in Wyoming over the past five years. Most were “very satisfied.”

Department Ratings

Boaters rated the Department's efforts to provide boating access to Wyoming's waterways as excellent (25%) or good (57%).
Personal watercraft users rated the Department's efforts to provide boating access to Wyoming's waterways as excellent (36%) or good (50%).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY

RESULTS

Motorboat Use and Location

Factors in Selecting Where to Boat

Importance of Various Aspects of Boating Facilities

Ratings of Boating Facilities

Law Enforcement Issues Related to Boating

Boater Behavior and Safety

Minors and Personal Watercraft Supervision

Mandatory Boater Education

Personal Flotation Device Legislation and Use

Improvements in Boater Safety

Boating Participation

Interference from Other Recreationists While Boating

Motorboat Registration Process

Participation in Other Activities While Motorboating

Boating Location

Introduction of Parasites and Non-Native Species to Wyoming Waters

Length of Motorboat

Personal Watercraft Ownership

Satisfaction with Boating Experiences

Department Ratings

Demographics

Wyoming Motorized Boating Survey

INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY

This study was conducted for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to assess 1999 licensed boat operators’ and registered personal watercraft users’ opinions on, and attitudes toward motorized boating in Wyoming. The survey was developed cooperatively between the Department and Responsive Management.

Telephones were the preferred medium to conduct this survey as most potential respondents had access to a phone. In addition, a central polling site allowed for rigorous quality control over the interviewers and data collection. Responsive Management maintains its own telephone interviewing facility in-house and emphasizes the importance of highly trained telephone interviewers working under close supervision of professional staff. Interviewers with experience conducting computer-assisted telephone interviews on the subject of natural resources and outdoor recreation for state fish and wildlife agencies and natural resource organizations staff this facility. Interviewers were trained according to standards established by the Council of American Survey Research Organizations. Professional staff conducted project briefings with the interviewers. Interviewers were briefed and instructed on study goals and objectives, type of study, handling of survey questions, interview length, termination points, qualifiers for participation, reading of interviewer instructions, reading of survey, skip patterns, and probing and clarifying techniques necessary for specific questions on the survey instrument. Staff randomly monitored interviewers to evaluate the performance of each interviewer.

Interviews were conducted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., local time. A multiple callback design was used to maintain the representativeness of the sample, avoid bias toward people easy-to-reach by telephone and provided an equal opportunity for all to participate. Subsequent calls were placed at different times of the day and on different days of the week.

The software used for data collection was Questionnaire Programming Language (QPL) version 4.1 (National Technical Information Services, 1999). QPL is a comprehensive system for computer-assisted telephone interviewing. The survey data was entered into the computer as the interviews were being conducted, eliminating manual data entry after the completion of the interviews. The survey instrument was programmed so that QPL branched, coded, and substituted phrases in the survey based upon previous responses to ensure the integrity and consistency of data collection.