An important segment of outdoor recreational activity in
eastern Oregon is based on the harvest of deer. The deer population
can be altered in two ways. Rangeland, which provides feed and
cover for deer, can be improved through public or private investments
or hunting regulations can be changed. This study dealt with
the economic impact that changes in deer population through changes
in range forage and/or deer hunting regulations might have upon a
rural community.
A computer simulation model of important components and
interactions of the bio-economic system was developed. The biological
components consist of a deer population, a cattle population,
and a range resource. The economic component consists of economic
activities within a rural community. It is based on an input-output
model with trading patterns among sectors assumed to remain relatively
constant. The model can be characterized as a density dependent
system with deer and cattle interrelated through the use
of available forage.
The model can be used for a comparison of two different sets
of natural resource management strategies. A set of natural
resource management strategies consists of deer hunting patterns,
cattle sales patterns, and expected range forage production. The
benefits and/or costs resulting from this comparison are divided into
rancher benefits, resident benefits, and hunter benefits. Resident
benefits are separated into resident income and local government
revenue.
Experiments using the model indicated that the amount and distribution
of benefits from changes in range forage availability were
dependent upon the relative levels of production in each of the range
forage categories. Deer hunting regulations also affected the amount
and distribution of benefits. For the alternatives considered, hunter
benefits were affected most and rancher income was affected least by
changes in range forage production. Conclusions from the study indicated
that information on forage availability as well as the relationship
between the use of a range area by either deer or cattle and
forage availability would substantially increase accuracy in
measurement of the magnitude and distribution of benefits and costs
to a community from changes in natural resource management
strategies. / Graduation date: 1974
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/26627 |
| Date | 02 November 1973 |
| Creators | Haroldsen, Ancel D. |
| Contributors | Stoevener, Herbert H. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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