Administered using both wireless and landline telephone interviews, the University of Montana released the results of its most recent poll of 500 registered voters in the state of Montana. What they found was that Montana residents believe strongly in the economic benefits and enhanced quality of life federal public lands afford the people of the Big Sky state.
“We found that support for national parks and conservation is about as popular and bipartisan an issue as you can find these days,” UM geography professor Rick Graetz said. “There’s agreement in the state, on all sectors of politics.”
When it came to asking whether or not residents felt public lands had a positive impact on job creation, 77 percent indicated that they believed they do, an increase in 24 percent when Montanans were faced with the same question in 2014. The poll also indicated that 55 percent of respondents opposed the idea of the state taking over public lands, while 41 percent supported it.
When asked what kinds of outdoor recreation they enjoyed, only 4 percent of respondents indicated hunting or fishing, while a whopping 64 percent stated they enjoyed hiking, followed by camping at 61 percent.
H/T: The Missoulian
