Understanding Cultural Perceptions of Nature and Related Constraints to Hunting Participation Among African American Hunters
Decreasing hunting participation is a concern for wildlife managers in the United States as hunter numbers have significantly declined. The deterioration of this base not only decreases funding for preserving natural areas but limits economic resources for communities. The objective of this research was to identify values of nature as well as related constraints to hunting participation for African American hunters in the U.S. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty African American hunters. Findings highlight a range of symbolic and emotional attachments to nature as well as motivations for participating in nature-based activities, including self-transcendence, wellness benefits, accumulation of outdoor knowledge, and alternative forms of stewardship. Additional themes underscored sociocultural perceptions of hunting and involved viewing hunting as a white activity, historical discrimination outdoors, generational disconnect, and complex relationships with firearms. Constraints to participation in hunting were documented on all three levels of the hierarchical model of constraints to leisure.
