Hunters' demand for species variety

An alternative approach to quality in wildlife-associated recreation is presented. This approach takes a broader view of hunters' behavior than the traditional focus on individual species, and it postulates that the pursuit of diverse species is an important qualitative dimension of hunting activity. The additional dimension suggests that individuals consider more complex interactions between species than has been previously evaluated. The empirical results indicate that hunting is generally consistent with the principles of household production theory and that species variety is a normal good sought by hunters. The price elasticity results for each species group suggest that increases in the cost of hunting particular groups would tend to reduce the number of species hunted within that group and to change the mix of species pursued in other groups. The results also suggest that segments of the hunter population have different preferences for species variety.