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2022 Berggren Plan Web

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45 APPENDIX C. RESEARCH & PRIORITY INFORMATION NEEDS The following items are tactics identified in the plan involving research or informational needs� Estimates of costs and duration of tactics are provided but final figures will likely vary� Results from ongoing studies, input from stakeholders, and availability of funds will help determine priorities over the duration of the plan� BIOLOGICAL/ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH STUDIES • Compile research findings across the pheasant range relating to the effects of hunting and/or hunting regulations on pheasant populations, and propose regulation and/or policy changes if deemed necessary (§B�8) less than $10,000; ongoing • Begin research to help determine the minimum habitat threshold necessary to support pheasant populations in landscapes dominated by row crop agriculture (i�e�, eastern Nebraska) and further refine decision support tools capable of identifying areas where additional habitat management activities are likely to yield the greatest results (§B�1) $800,000; five years • Begin to develop Upland Gamebird Science Literacy website to share information regarding pheasant habitat needs, the wildlife and economic benefits of pheasant habitat conservation, etc� (§B�11) $30,000-$50,000; one to three years • Assess alternative survey methods for estimating pheasant abundance to ensure we are using the most reliable and cost-effective approach� (§E�1) less than $10,000; less than one year HUMAN DIMENSIONS/SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH STUDIES • Continue to monitor hunter participation, harvest success, and satisfaction at pheasant release sites to help improve future efforts (§B�6) less than $10,000; ongoing • Continue human dimensions research to increase our understanding of how hunter expectations are formed and how they influence hunter satisfaction (§E�1) $50,000-$100,000; one year • Begin periodic surveys of OFW participants (landowners) and user (hunters/anglers) to determine their preferences and satisfaction levels and propose modifications to the program, if deemed necessary (§C�3) less than $10,000; repeated every three to five years • Begin to utilize the permit system and other resources (e�g�, list of recent Hunter Ed graduates) to [1] more effectively track trends in hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation over time; and [2] help identify youth, novice and lapsed upland bird hunters and use this to direct future outreach and associated R3 efforts (§D�1) less than $10,000; ongoing • Assess the effectiveness of our current suite of programs in moving potential hunters through to the adoption phase, and propose improvements based on the results� (§D�1) less than $10,000; less than one year ECONOMIC RESEARCH: FEASIBILITY AND COST-BENEFITS STUDIES • Continue to analyze the costs and benefits of lands offered to us for sale, and acquire lands in accordance with the agency's budget constraints and acquisition priorities outlined in the NGPC's Land Strategies Plan, with added consideration of properties near urban population centers with the provision of additional pheasant hunting opportunity (§B�5) less than $10,000; less than one year • Begin to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pheasant releases and quantify their relative contribution to R3 efforts (hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation) (§B�6) $30,000; three years • Begin to develop the Upland Gamebird Science Literacy website to help communicate the state of the science regarding the impact of predators on upland gamebird populations and the cost-effectiveness of predator control programs, including South Dakota's predator bounty program (§B�9) $30,000-$50,000; one to three years (repeated above) • Assess the efficacy of the NGPC's existing financial incentives offered to private landowners (i�e�, sign-up incentives, management incentives, etc�) and differing regional approaches/payment rates, as they relate to landowner participation in the Conservation Reserve Program (§B�2) less than $15,000; one to two years • Assess the feasibility of pursuing conservation and/or public access easements in lieu of acquisitions to conserve habitat and hunting opportunities� (§B�5) less than $10,000; less than one year • Assess the estimated number and spatial distribution of pheasant hunting acres needed to satisfy a target level of demand, and determine the most cost-efficient blend of acquisitions, easements, and access arrangements necessary to meet that demand� (§B�5) $100,000-$150,000; two years

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