VISITOR PERCEPTIONS ABOUT CATTLE GRAZING ON NATIONAL FOREST LAND

Visitors to the Big Cimarron Watershed in the Uncompahgre National For est, Colorado, had varying attitudes about cattle grazing, Without cui ng, 9% of all visitors listed livestock as a source of interference, L ocal and rural Colorado residents tended to be more agreeable to lives tock presence than other visitors in 1992; however, significant differ ences could not be detected the following year, No relationship existe d between the prevalence of a perceived grazing-recreation conflict an d visitors' home community size, nor the size of the community where t hey grew up, Visitors in dispersed campsites tended to be more critica l of grazing than those in developed campgrounds. When given a choice, the number of visitors indicating that range livestock added to their stay (34%) was no different than the number stating a negative relati onship (33%). Understanding visitor characteristics during range allot ment planning may help lessen conflicts between livestock grazing and recreational usage by aiding in plan development and the design of eff ective interpretive programs.