Use characteristics, visitor preferences, and conflict between horse users and hikers in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area: 1990-1991 visitor survey data

The Charles C. Deam Wilderness area is located on the Hoosier National Forest in Indiana. There has been historic use of this area by both hikers and horse riders, however there was substantial concern about the interaction and conflict between these two groups in this wilderness area. Between the summers of 1990 and 1991 a mailback questionnaire was sent to people visiting the Charles C. Deam Wilderness are for recreational purposes to investigate visitor use characterstics and preferences about their wilderness experience. Data include visitor activity, visitor characteristics, interaction with other groups, opinions regarding management policies, current wilderness conditions, preferred wilderness conditions, items influencing visitor quality, as well as user perception of similarities and differences between hikers and horse users.
The purpose of this research was to learn enough about horse users and hikers including their interactions, and perceptions of each other to recommend some potential management solutions for mitigating conflict. Potential management solutions include separation of uses physically, separating uses temporally, using persuasive communication to change inappropriate or unacceptable behaviors, using information to help visitors avoid conflicting situations, and using information to change expectations about interactions with other groups.

The goal was to establish baseline information on who the visitors are, their use patterns, and perceptions of appropriate social conditions.