Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
Award Date
2024
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department / School
Natural Resource Management
First Advisor
Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek
Abstract
Despite national declines in hunting and fishing, women are making inroads in historically male-dominated sports. To further encourage women’s participation, states established programs to recruit, retain, and reactivate [R3] hunters and anglers. Women are participating in these programs and other recreational groups to access opportunities to learn skills and grow their networks. Yet, very little is known about what programs are offered for women, what aspects of programs are most effective to support women’s retention in these activities, and what women’s hunting and fishing groups are available across the landscape. To address these questions, I collected qualitative data from participant observation at nine group events and 11 focus group discussions with 72 participants in the Mountain-Prairie Region. I transcribed and coded each transcript using thematic analysis to identify key aspects of R3 programs could retain female participants. Women are looking for women’s-only events that offer hands-on opportunities, and smaller groups because they offer more intimate settings where women feel comfortable to ask questions. To improve programs so that women are retained, states and groups should provide women-centric classroom and hands-on adult education, create a sense of community, and consider event planning and logistics. Additionally, women are looking for more programs to help them continue to build skills and confidence to participate independently in hunting and fishing after taking a course. However, many women have struggled to identify programs beyond state-sponsored programs. To address this gap, I developed an interactive social systems map that visually depicts women’s outdoor groups across the Mountain-Prairie Region. I built a database and used a combination of internet searches and snowball sampling with women’s hunting and fishing group leaders (n=22) to identify 50 groups throughout the Mountain-Prairie Region. An array of groups offer a diversity of programs across the region with programmatic innovations to meet evolving needs of women. Programs range from non-profits and for-profit organizations to state and federal agencies, that host programs focused around fishing, hunting/shooting, other outdoor recreation, and survival. Many program leaders also mentioned the challenge of finding women’s gear, so a separate section of companies offering women’s gear was added (n=15). Social systems mapping women’s groups helps assess the availability of women’s outdoor programs in the region and allows program leaders to connect and collaborate so they can discuss how to offer more impactful programs for women. This research suggests that program leaders need to incorporate effective aspects of programming and offer a map or online platform of relevant resources for women to further boost community building, skill development, and confidence to increase retention of women in hunting and fishing.
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Recommended Citation
Isensee, Shelby, "Increasing Retention of Women in Hunting and Fishing" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1346.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd2/1346
This dataset contains information from a diverse range of women’s organizations and groups offering programs throughout the Mountain-Prairie Region in the United States (United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 2024). To compile the dataset, I initially used snowball sampling within my personal network of eight contacts and then expanded to online searches through websites and social media to identify additional groups (Noy, 2008). As groups were identified, I built a centralized database detailing the organization’s name, organization type, mission statement, social media presence, programming focus, and year established. Through online searches, I identified 31 groups and reached saturation when no new groups emerged. Next, I conducted 22 one-on-one semi-structured interviews with program leaders of women’s organizations to confirm details, identify missing information, and discover additional groups (Edwards & Holland, 2013). I identified 15 additional groups through participation in relevant programs and conferences. The importance and utility of this dataset are described in the thesis Increasing Retention of Women in Hunting and Fishing, completed in the Natural Resource Management Department at South Dakota State University (Isensee, 2024).
Included in
Leisure Studies Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Women's Studies Commons
Rights Statement
