Billions and Billions Spent
On Wildlife-Related Recreation
Hunting, fishing, bird watching, and other wildlife-related recreation continued to be a powerful economic engine in 1996, with participants spending $96.9 billion in pursuit of these pastimes and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs, according to preliminary data from the nation's most comprehensive survey on this subject, conducted every five years by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
This represents more than a 59 percent increase in expenditures since 1991, when the Service last conducted its National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Related Recreation, and accounts for about 1.3 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, which measures the size of the economy.
"The survey confirms again that it is impossible to separate the well-being of our nation's wildlife and wildlife habitat from the health of our economy," said Acting Service Director John Rogers. "Our fish and wildlife are not just a priceless treasure we hand down from one generation to another, they are the source of jobs and growth for both the national and local economy from coast to coast."
The survey, which is conducted for the Service by the U.S. Census Bureau, showed that the number of hunters and anglers 16 years and older stayed relatively constant during the past five years. There were 35.2 million anglers in 1996 compared with 35.6 million in 1991. Likewise, there were 14 million hunters compared with 14.1 million in 1991. Overall, the number of anglers and hunters fell slightly to 39.7 million from 40 million in 1991.
Total expenditures by anglers and hunters rose 69 percent during the five-year period to $67.9 billion. Spending by anglers rose 47 percent to $36.2 billion from $24.6 billion in 1991 while hunters spent $17.7 billion, up 75 percent from $10.1 billion in 1991.
Meanwhile, the number of bird watchers, wildlife photographers, and other nonconsumptive participants 16 years and older dropped 17 percent during the five-year period to 63 million from 76 million in 1991. Even so, their expenditures rose 39 percent to $29 billion.
Twenty-four million Americans took trips for the specific purpose of observing, photographing, or feeding wildlife in 1996 while 61 million enjoyed nonconsumptive wildlife-related recreation around their homes.
In all, 18 percent of the population 16 and older fished during 1996, 7 percent hunted, and 31 percent participated in nonconsumptive wildlife-related recreation, the study showed.
"Millions of Americans have made hunting, fishing, birdwatching, and other wildlife-related recreation an important part of their lives," Rogers said. "This year's survey confirms that Americans have a national love affair with wild places and wild creatures."
As part of the survey, the Census Bureau initially screened 80,000 households. From this, the bureau chose 28,000 sportsmen and sportswomen and 14,400 nonconsumptive participants 16 years and older for detailed surveys throughout the year.
More complete preliminary data will be available this summer followed by a final national report in November. State-by-state reports will be released from November through March 1998.
