Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) poses significant ecological and economic challenges in Alberta, where private landowners play an important role in its management. This study examined private landowners’ preferences for providing hunting access as part of CWD management programs based on data from a survey of 415 Alberta landowners who own or operate at least 40 acres of land. A discrete choice experiment (DCE), analyzed through conditional logit and latent class models (LCMs), revealed substantial heterogeneity in landowner preferences. Three distinct landowner segments were identified, ranging from highly willing participants to those resistant, regardless of program design. For landowners conditionally willing to participate, key influences included expected deer population reduction, whether access was by family and friends vs. others, and whether they would be provided with additional hunting tags. These findings provide insights for designing targeted policies to enhance landowner engagement in CWD management and improve wildlife conservation efforts.
Status: Completed