In 2001, 39 percent of all U.S. residents 16 years old and older
participated in activities such as hunting, fishing and birdwatching
according to the comprehensive "2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation."
"This National Survey is created in a partnership effort with the U.S. Bureau of Census, and State fish and wildlife agencies, and has become one of the most important sources of information on fish and wildlife recreation in the United States," said Service Director Steve Williams. "It is a useful tool that quantifies the human economic impact generated by wildlife-based recreation. Federal, State, and private organizations use this detailed information to manage wildlife, market products, and look for trends." The 2001 Survey is the tenth in a series that began in 1955.
The Survey reports that more than 34 million Americans fished, 13 million hunted and 66 million observed wildlife. These recreationists spent more than $108 billion pursuing their activities. This expenditure accounted for 1.1% of the gross domestic product. Of the total amount spent, $28.1
billion was trip-related, $64.5 billion was spent on equipment and $15.8 billion was spent on other items.
America's 34 million anglers spent $35.6 billion in pursuit of their hobby. More than 28 million people went freshwater fishing, while nine million people went saltwater fishing. The Great Lakes, one of the most widely fished freshwater areas, attracted two million anglers.
Meanwhile, 13 million Americans age 16 or older hunted. They spent more than $20 billion on their activities and equipment. Nearly 11 million hunters sought big game such as deer and elk on l53 million days. Roughly five million hunters pursued small game, including squirrels and rabbits, on 60 million days. Three million migratory bird hunters spent 29 million days hunting for birds such as doves and ducks. And one million hunters
spent l9 million days hunting other animals such as raccoons and
woodchucks.
More than 66 million adults participated in feeding, observing, and
photographing wildlife and spent $38.4 billion. Nearly 22 million people, or 33 percent of this total, took outings of one mile or more away from home to participate in these activities. Nearly 63 million, or 95 percent, enjoyed wildlife-related activities around their homes. Some 54 million enthusiasts fed birds and other wildlife around the home, while more than 42 million observed wildlife and 14 million photographed wildlife around the home. Almost l3 million people maintained plants or natural areas for
the benefit of wildlife around the home, and 11 million visited public parks or natural areas to enjoy wildlife within a mile of home.
A comparison of estimates from the 1991, 1996 and 2001 Surveys reveals that millions of Americans continue to enjoy wildlife-related recreation. In 1991, there were 35.6 million anglers and 14.1 million hunters. In 1996, 35.2 million fished and 14.0 hunted. And in 2001, there were 34.1 million anglers and 13.0 million hunters.
While the number of hunters and anglers has decreased slightly since 1991, expenditures by these sportspersons increased from $53 billion (in 2001 dollars) in 1991 to $70 billion in 2001.
Participation in wildlife watching seems to be on the rebound. It
decreased from 76 .1 million in 1991 to 62.9 million in 1996, but it again increased to 66.1 million in 2001. Expenditures for wildlife watching increased by 21 percent from 1991 to 1996 and 10 percent from 1996 to 2001.
The $110 billion figure reported in the preliminary findings last Spring has changed to $108 billion.
The U.S. Bureau of Census interviewed 80,000 households in the United States to determine participants in wildlife-associated activities. From this initial phase, 30,000 sportsmen and sportswomen and 15,000 wildlife watchers were selected for detailed interviews about their participation and expenditures in 2001.
Posted: 10-2-2002
