Measuring the economic value of deer hunting: comparing estimates from survey and harvest check-in data

• Published in: Human dimensions of wildlife 2024-11, Vol.29 (6), p.545-561
• Main Authors: Boehm, Luke, Chakraborti, Lopamudra, Melstrom, Richard T., Piccolo, Nicolina, Reeling, Carson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Applications programs; discrete choice model; Economics; Estimates; habitat conservation; Hunting; Mobile computing; nonmarket valuation; Polls & surveys; Surveys; Trip estimation; Wildlife
• ISSN: 1087-1209; 1533-158X
• DOI: 10.1080/10871209.2023.2283070

Economists typically estimate the economic value of wildlife-associated recreation by applying valuation methods to individual data collected from mail and internet surveys, however, surveys are limited to what respondents choose to report as well as who chooses to respond. Government records and mobile applications that track recreational activity can also provide data for economic valuation if activities can be linked back to individual decision-makers. One particularly intriguing source of government information is harvest check-in data, which tracks hunting success. In this paper, we examine the comparability of economic values based on surveys and harvest check-in data using a site choice model. While we find evidence the datasets yield different models, large and substantial differences are the exception rather than the rule, especially once we accurately account for individual trip costs. Our findings support the conclusion that data generated through surveys and harvest records are capable of producing similar valuation estimates.