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Vistein, Geri

Natural Resources

2006

MS

Hunting has increasingly been under attack in modem society, and in like manner the traditional way of conducting wildlife management has been challenged as well. This challenge has especially been heightened where hunting has been a traditional visitor activity in units managed by the National Park Service, Cape Cod National Seashore being one of them. Natural resource professionals at the Seashore have been in the midst of a controversy over hunting, which erupted in a federal court case in 2003, directing CCNS to discontinue its pheasant hunting program and reevaluate its hunting regulations. Due to the complexities and contentiousness of the conflict, an Environmental Impact Statement was initiated by the CCNS. To assess the social impacts of hunting at CCNS, a survey was mailed to the Seashore's summer and fall visitors, residents of the six towns on Cape Cod that include the Seashore within their borders, and local hunters. This research seeks to understand the nature of the conflict over hunting at CCNS, by approaching conflict from two different perspectives. First, goal interference theory has been the traditional way of looking at conflict in many wildlife controversies. This is the familiar face to face confrontation in which the behavior of one person interferes with the personal goals of another. To measure the extent of goal interference present at CCNS, the survey asked questions regarding interference in recreation goals experienced by hunters and non-hunters during the hunting season. Another perspective of this conflict may be understood by means of social identity. This theory is concerned with how groups evaluate themselves, as groups and individuals, in reference to other groups. As a result, differences among groups creates ingroups and out groups, that can be based on either trivial or important dimensions. To measure their propensity to differentiate groups, respondents were asked to evaluate different groups who use the Seashore for recreation. Respondents' ingroup/outgroup evaluations were then compared with their responses to hunting attitude statements. The results of this study indicate that polarized interpersonal confrontations among groups who use the Seashore for recreation is present. However, data from the social identity perspective indicate that on average, respondents tended to be moderate in their views of groups other than their own, and likewise moderate in their responses to pro- and anti-hunting statements. Natural resource professionals should understand that conflict can be far more multi-faceted than it appears. Social identity is a way of looking at conflict from a perspective beyond that of traditional goal interference. It involves dynamic group interactions that can allow for positive participation and discourse. From a societal perspective, this contribution of diverse groups may more readily lead to a consensus building process, effecting significantly positive outcomes for all.