How Many Americans Consider Themselves to be Conservationists?
Mark Damian Duda
Aldo Leopold begins his landmark book A Sand County Almanac with the following: “There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot. These essays are the delights and dilemmas of one who cannot.”
The observation raises the question: how many Americans are like Leopold and cannot live without wild things? A more direct inquiry along these lines might be: how many Americans consider themselves to be conservationists?
New nationwide survey data from Responsive Management and the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports (CAHSS) provides an answer—and Leopold might be encouraged by the results. Today, well over half of all American adults (62%) say they consider themselves to be conservationists. Meanwhile, almost a quarter (23%) do not, while 15% are unsure.
By itself, the term “conservationist” is subjective and somewhat open to interpretation (and the survey question acknowledged as much). For example, some people may think of “conservation” in terms of environmentalism and sustainability, while others may think of the perpetuation of healthy fish and wildlife populations for future generations. In any case, Leopold would likely approve of the fact that a large majority of U.S. residents are enjoined by their support for the protection and preservation of natural resources, no matter the specifics.
Leopold might also be interested to know how self-identification as a conservationist varies by different segments of the population.
A demographic analysis of the survey question found that the groups most likely to consider themselves conservationists include those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, males, rural residents, and residents of the Midwest Region.
On the other hand, the groups least likely to self-identify as conservationists include Black or African American residents, females, those between the ages of 18 and 34, and residents of the South Region.
The conservationist survey finding is from Responsive Management and the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports’ 2025 report, Americans’ Attitudes Toward Hunting and Sport Shooting, which is available via the CAHSS website.
For more information about Responsive Management’s latest research studies, please contact ma...@responsivemanagement.com.
Mark Damian Duda
Executive Director
Responsive Management
Certified Wildlife Biologist ®
PO Box 1828
Harrisonburg, VA 22801