Five hundred and thirty-two hunters from 58 hunting areas throughout Tennessee completed questionnaires probing their views on quality dove hunting. Three types of hunting areas were examined: private areas which charged a fee; state-leased areas, no fee; and state-owned management areas which charged a fee. There was no significant difference in the criteria for determining hunt quality between types of hunting areas. Hunters' opinions were related to the number ofshells fired, the number of doves killed, and the number of hours hunted. Hunters' opinions became more favorable with an increase in the number of doves seen, shells expended, doves killed, and hours hunted. Crowded conditions resulted in decreased satisfaction. Hunters within 22 m of each other felt crowded and had a poorer opinion. A spacing of39 m between hunters was favorable. Hunters thought paying a fee was fair. Hunters on state-leased fields where no fee was charged thought $2.25 would be a reasonable fee. Those hunting on private fee fields where the average charge was $5.32 considered $4.05, on the average, a fair price. The most frequent complaints of landowners were littering, too many hunters, objecting neighbors, and uncontrolled driving and parking on their farms.
