Objective A statewide bowfishing survey of Montana fishing licensees (bowfishers and nonbowfishers, including nonresidents) was conducted to obtain information on values, attitudes, perspectives, and preferences about the sport.Methods The survey, consisting of 45 questions, was administered to a random sample of 4,291 bowfishers and nonbowfishers among Montana licensees drawn from the state's Automated Licensing System: 3,538 (82.5%) were Montana residents, and 753 (17.5%) were nonresidents from neighboring states.Results Among respondents, 11.5% had bowfished in Montana, whereas 88.5% had not. Of those who had bowfished in Montana, 91% were male and 9% were female. The most commonly bowfished waters were Canyon Ferry Reservoir and other reservoirs in the Central District of the state. Eighteen percent of bowfishers rated themselves as advanced, 45% as intermediate, and 37% as beginners. Of the three species groups that bowfishers typically targeted, 97% said Common Carp Cyprinus carpio, 12% said buffalofishes, and 4% said gars. Of the species most often shot, 94% said Common Carp, 4% said buffalofishes, and 1% said gars. None of these species were highly regarded as food. Both bowfishers and nonbowfishers prioritized more intrinsic aspects of their fishing activities (e.g., being outside, spending time with friends) over actual or quantifiable fishing achievements. The ability to shoot fish was also a key factor in satisfaction, however. Respondents overwhelmingly trusted the state management agency to manage bowfishing for native nongame fishes but in general did not support curtailing current opportunities for bowfishing take with regulations.Conclusions Bowfishing in Montana is less popular, with fewer species taken, both native nongame and invasive, than in many other states in the central and lower Mississippi River basin. Management concerns are also fewer than elsewhere and center around (1) potential unlimited take of long-lived buffalofishes Ictiobus spp. (Catostomidae) and possibly other suckers in mixed intentional and unintentional (misidentification) take with Common Carp; and (2) potential unlimited take of Shortnose Gar Lepisosteus platostomus, a rare, localized species in Montana. More information on the fish life histories will aid in sustainable management of bowfishing, provide conservation benefits for native nongame species, and improve the credibility of the sport with nonbowfisher licensees and the general public. This paper surveys Montana anglers regarding their perspectives on the sport of bowfishing. Results are used to assess the status of the sport in Montana and to recommend management actions.

Little guidance is available to assist wetland managers in developing climate adaptation plans. To facilitate development of recommendations for adaptation strategies, it is essential to first determine if or how wetland managers are addressing these challenges. We used an online survey to solicit feedback from wetland managers and biologists in the Southern Great Plains of North America to gain information on perceptions of wetland managers regarding climate change; assess how the effects of climate change are being addressed through management; and identify barriers to implementing climate change adaptation. The majority of wetland managers (63%) agreed they are currently experiencing effects of climate change in wetlands, and most respondents (76%) reported that changes in the timing of water availability throughout the year was the most likely impact. Managers reported using a diversity of approaches in managing for changing precipitation, with management of native and invasive plant species being the two most common practices. Lack of funding and personnel were the most commonly identified factors limiting manager’s response to changing precipitation patterns. In addition, >50% of managers indicated uncertainty about the effects of climate change on wetlands as a barrier to management, which may relate to limited access to peer-reviewed science. While most of the management practices reported were short-term measures and may not reflect long-term adaptation for climate change, the fact that many managers are considering climate change in their management suggests that there is considerable opportunities to continue developing capacity for climate change adaptation in the region.

Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) provide several benefits to the recreation community that cannot be quantified with market-based approaches. Given the importance of recreational access to rural communities, this study analyzed the economic significance of WMAs in Oklahoma by estimating the net economic benefits provided to visitors by accessing WMAs and the economic contribution of WMAs to the state economy. To accomplish the study objectives, surveys were sent to a stratified sample of resident and non-resident Oklahoma hunting and fishing license or conservation passport holders during the 2020–2021 hunting season. Study results, based on travel cost analysis, showed that the net benefit of access to WMAs in the state varies between approximately $16–$28 per trip, depending on the modeling assumptions. A statewide input-output analysis showed that WMA-related spending, directly and indirectly, created a total of 7699 jobs that provided a labor income of $292.9 million and contributed a total of $35.60 million in state and local taxes and $30.74 million in federal taxes in Oklahoma in 2020. Findings are helpful in demonstrating the public value of WMAs and comparing the cost of WMA management against the benefit to the user community and Oklahoma's economy.

In response to lacking information on bowfishing, bowfishers, and management planning nationwide, a survey was sent to 15,000 licensed Oklahoma anglers (bowfishers and non-bowfishers) in 2021. Respondents (n = 1,346) were mainly male (73%) and white (74%), had an annual/5-year license (46%) or a lifetime license (39%), and had an average age of 48 (1,182 respondents provided demographics). Questions to bowfishers gauged the importance of bowfishing compared to other fishing activities; trip frequency and motivation; where, when, and which species were targeted; the utilization of fish taken; and attitudes regarding bowfishing regulations. An estimated 24% of licensed anglers had bowfished before. Bowfishing participation in the previous year had more than doubled (4% in 2018 to 9.1% in 2020). Most (57%) had bowfished for 3 years or less; 49% identified as beginners, 43% identified as intermediate, and 8% identified as advanced. Overall, most bowfishing occurred by day (54%), in early summer (May-July), from shore (49%), and in rivers and streams (67%) or reservoirs (53%). Bowfishers sought carps (85%), gars (74%), and buffalofishes (32%). Bowfishers typically used shot fish for fertilizer or buried them (48%), used them for animal consumption (35%) or human consumption (32%), or returned them to the water (20%). Compared to non-bowfishers, bowfishers reported a wider diversity of acceptable outcomes for fish species taken with any fishing method, particularly the nongame fishes. Most bowfishers (86%) and non-bowfishers (94%) trusted the state management agency to appropriately manage native, nongame fishes. Bowfishers were mixed on their support for or opposition to having bowfishing regulations for these species. Some respondents noted that regulations would result in them bowfishing less (23%) or quitting bowfishing completely (6%). Thirty-two percent of non-bowfishers expressed interest in bowfishing in the future. The results of this survey will be used in Oklahoma and elsewhere to aid in designing sustainable bowfisheries that serve the broader public interest while conserving native, nongame species.

Fishing in Oklahoma's rivers and streams provides a unique experience for anglers in the state. Despite its popularity, information on total demand and economic benefits associated with stream fishing is limited in the state. Research on the role of site quality indicators, such as fish size and quantity, on recreational fishing has shown mixed results. Whether fish size or quantity plays an important role in determining fishing demand and economic value may have important management implications. We estimated the demand and economic value of fishing under varying scenarios by using anglers' responses to hypothetical behavioral questions related to fishing in Ozark Highland streams and rivers in Oklahoma. We asked how intended number of trips might change in the future given hypothetical increases in catch rates of fish, catch rates of trophy-sized fish, and catch rates of preferred fish species, in combination with anglers' trip-related data. Under current conditions, we estimated consumer surplus per person per trip to be $55 and aggregate value across all stream anglers in Oklahoma to be $68.51 million. Changes in marginal benefits varied among hypothetical scenarios of fish size and abundance but was maximized with a 25% increase in catch rates of trophy-sized fish. The study findings contribute to the understanding of the economic benefit of fishing in streams and suggest that fish size, rather than fish quantity, is more important to stream anglers in the area.

Policies that mandate environmental flows (e-flows) can be powerful tools for freshwater conservation, but implementation of these policies faces many hurdles. To better understand these challenges, we explored two key questions: (1) What additional data are needed to implement e-flows? and (2) What are the major socio-political barriers to implementing e-flows? We surveyed water and natural resource decision makers in the semi-arid Red River basin, Texas-Oklahoma, USA, and used social network analysis to analyze their communication patterns. Most respondents agreed that e-flows can provide important benefits and identified the same data needs. However, respondents sharply in their beliefs on other issues, and a clustering analysis revealed two distinct groups of decision makers. One cluster of decision makers tended to be bearish, or pessimistic, and believed that: current flow conditions are not adequate, there are many serious socio-political barriers to implementation, water conflicts will likely increase in the future, and climate change is likely to exacerbate these issues. The other cluster of respondents was bullish, or optimistic: they foresaw fewer future water conflicts and fewer socio-political barriers to implementation. Despite these differences, both clusters largely identified the same data needs and barriers to e-flows implementation. Our social network analysis revealed that the frequency of communication between clusters was not significantly different than the frequency of communication within clusters. Overall, our results suggest that the different perspectives of decision-makers could complicate efforts to implement e-flows and proactively plan for climate change. However, there are opportunities for collaboration on addressing common data needs and barriers to implementation. Overall, our study provides a key socio-environmental perspective on e-flows implementation from a semi-arid and socio-politically complex river basin and contextualizes the many challenges facing e-flows implementation in river basins globally.