The UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education makes impactful contributions to the agricultural and natural resource sectors on a regular basis. These contributions are made through researchers’ commitment to social science inquiry and understanding public perceptions on important issues related to agriculture and natural resources. Learn more about the impact the PIE Center’s research and educational programs are having on Florida in our most recent Impact Report.
When two agricultural and natural resources organizations wanted to learn more about their audiences in order to better address their audiences’ needs, they knew just where to go: the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education (PIE Center).
The Wild Turkey Management Program, a division of the FWC, ensures a healthy and sustainable wild turkey population in Florida while promoting the responsible use of resources. The program wanted to better communicate to its audience of turkey hunters but needed information about the program’s target audience.
“We’re fortunate in Florida because wild turkeys occur in all 67 counties and are ourishing,” said program coordinator Roger Shields. “But we are also really interested in the opinions of our hunters, and it had been a while since we gathered this broad-based type of information. By getting a better understanding of Florida turkey hunters’ opinions and attitudes, we can continue our science-based work to manage wild turkeys while providing sustainable hunting opportunities.”
The PIE Center’s researchers used innovative methods to collect valuable information on what turkey hunters thought about mentoring other hunters, hunting regulations, and methods of communication.
“Our program conducts an annual turkey harvest survey, and our response has been decreasing over the past few years. (Joy) Rumble suggested methods that resulted in double the response rate I was expecting,” Shields said.
Assistant professor of agricultural education and communication Joy Rumble was the lead researcher for the project and worked closely with Shields.
“Doing research that is of value and can be used by an organization is important to me,” Rumble said.
The survey findings are informing many decisions the FWC is making regarding the wild turkey management program, and the FWC is using these findings as they update their wild turkey strategic management plan.
“The findings provided our team with specific information that we need to be responsive to,” Shields said. “Now that we have a better understanding of our audience, we want to better market our program to those individuals.”
In addition to providing the FWC program with the opinions of the survey respondents, the PIE Center also helped guide Shields and his team through the research process and provided the information in a useful way.
“Joy was so accommodating and was sure to provide the information we needed,” Shields said. “The guidance offered by the PIE Center was extremely helpful. We will be able to use this information throughout the next decade.”
As leaders in Florida work to ensure the conservation of the state’s precious resources, the PIE Center is proving to be an invaluable asset. This value is evident through the PIE Center’s partnership with FWC, as well as its partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Don’t Pack a Pest program.
To learn more about the PIE Center’s partnership with the Don’t Pack a Pest Program, download the full impact report.
