National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation

Every five years the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducts a survey to learn more about the number of participants in fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching (observing, photographing, and feeding wildlife), and the amount of time and money spent on these activities.

Here are the survey survey highlights:
Over 87 million U.S. residents 16 years old and older fished, hunted, or wildlife watched in 2006. During that year, 29.9 million people fished, 12.5 million hunted, and 71.1 million participated in at least one type of wildlife-watching activity including observing, feeding, or photographing wildlife.

Wildlife recreationists' avidity was reflected in their spending which totaled over $120 billion in 2006. This amounted to 1% of the United States GDP. Of the total amount spent, $37 billion was for trips, $64 billion for equipment, and $16 billion for other items.

Sportspersons spent a total of $75 billion in 2006—$41 billion on fishing, $23 billion on hunting, and $11 billion on items used for both hunting and fishing. Wildlife watchers spent $45 billion on trips, equipment, and other items.

There is no doubt that this type of outdoor recreation has a huge impact on our economy. More trends to come tomorrow.