Management of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids is dependent upon landowner access to private property. When access is allowed, CWD management strategies such as targeted removals and recreational hunter harvest can decrease local prevalence, and surveillance strategies can improve knowledge. However, the decision to allow property access rests on the landowner’s acceptance of wildlife management actions. I distributed a survey to landowners in six U.S. states, which varied by region, state CWD prevalence, and county CWD prevalence. In Chapter 1, I assessed landowners’ acceptance of CWD management and research strategies on their private property and explored a range of attributes that may influence their decision. Results indicated that landowners were more supportive of targeted removals than recreational hunter harvest for managing CWD but were most likely to allow surveillance strategies overall. Additionally, management efforts led by government wildlife agents were more widely accepted than those involving recreational hunters. Acceptance of CWD management was influenced by a range of attributes, including demographics, geographic location, disease prevalence, risk perceptions, hunting status, trust in wildlife agencies, and property characteristics. In Chapter 2, I evaluated landowners’ preferences for targeted removal attributes and quantified their willingness to accept (WTA) financial incentives for deer removals. To do so, I employed a discrete choice experiment (CE) with three attributes: (i) removal restriction, (ii) implementing agency, and (iii) payment mechanism. Results indicated that many respondents were against targeted deer removals on their property and were unlikely to accept a feasible financial incentive to change their minds. However, among those willing to permit removals, targeting antlerless deer conducted by a state wildlife agent was preferred, suggesting it may be the most viable strategy to implement on private land. Various factors, including landowner demographics, geographic region, state and county-level CWD prevalence, and hunting status, influenced acceptance of targeted removals. This research will help improve property access by identifying landowners most likely to allow CWD management efforts and accept financial incentives, enabling managers to better prioritize resources and therefore reduce local CWD prevalence more effectively.
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