Deer hunters' disease risk sensitivity over time

Risk sensitivity is a predisposition to rate all risks as large. Miller and Shelby (2009) examined hunters' risk sensitivity relative to chronic wasting disease (CWD), Mad cow, E. coli, Salmonella, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus (WNV). This article replicated their analysis and compared risk sensitivity over time. Data from Illinois hunters in 2004 (n = 1,879) and 2012 (n = 3,391) showed the no risk cluster reported the lowest risks across all six diseases, the moderate risk segment always had the highest risks, and the slight risk group was in between. Perceived risks declined over time for CWD, Mad cow, WNV, and Lyme disease. For E. coli and Salmonella, risks increased. Collectively, however, these hunters became slightly more risk sensitive, as the proportion in the most risk sensitive group (moderate risk) increased (19% in 2004, 26% in 2012) while the least risk sensitive group (no risk) decreased (24%, 20%).