The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) released the preliminary findings for the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation that shows that 38 percent of Americans 16 years and older participated in wildlife recreation in that year. These 90 million Americans spent $145 billion dollars on equipment, trip-related expenses, land ownership/leasing and conservation. The numbers of hunters and anglers were both up, 9 percent and 11 percent respectively, from the past survey in 2006 reports the Wildlife Management Institute; the number of wildlife viewers did not change from 2006 but increased 9 percent from 2001. The survey shows that outdoor recreation and wildlife related activities are an important part of the nation's economy representing 1 percent of the gross domestic product.

"Wildlife-associated recreation not only sustains our spirit and connects us to each other and the natural world, but also provides significant financial support for wildlife conservation in our nation's economy," wrote FWS Director, Dan Ashe in the opening of the report. "This spending supports thousands of jobs in industries and businesses connected to fishing, hunting and the observance of wildlife."

There are 37 million sportsmen and women 16 years and older in America and both hunting and fishing saw increases in participation (13.7 million hunters and 33 million anglers). This is notable given the declines seen in these pastimes in the two preceding surveys. Big game hunters increased by 6 percent since 2001 while migratory bird hunting increased by 13 percent since 2006. The number of anglers fishing the Great Lakes saw the largest increase in participation, 17 percent, while saltwater fishing saw a 15 percent increase and non-Great Lakes freshwater angling participation increased by 8 percent.

Overall spending by sportsmen and women was $90 billion in 2011. Spending by hunters increased by 27 percent in the last ten years while spending by anglers declined by 7 percent during the same time period. The overall spending by sportsmen and women is significant, including equipment expenditures ($8.2 billion for hunters, $6.2 billion for anglers), special equipment purchases ($25 billion towards boats, RV's, ATV's and other such vehicles) and trip-related expenses totaling over $32 billion. About two-thirds of all wildlife-related recreation expenditures have been for hunting and/or fishing in 2006 (63%) and 2011 (62%).

"To put it in perspective, the 37 million sportsmen in this country is equivalent to the population of the state of California, and the $90 billion they spent in 2011 is the same as the global sales of Apple's iPad? and iPhone? in the same year," commented Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. "Hunting and fishing have been, and clearly continue to be, important elements of our country's outdoor heritage and they are critically important to our nation's economy - particularly the small local economies that support quality hunting and fishing opportunities."

"Our industry has continued to have strong returns, even during this lagging economy, and the reason is the commitment of hunters and shooters to their outdoor activities," said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. "With National Hunting and Fishing Day taking place on September 22, this new information should make the millions going afield this fall proud."

Much of the equipment expenditures for hunting and fishing are particularly relevant because of the excise taxes on this equipment that is dedicated for conservation and management of fish and wildlife species. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs, celebrating their 75^th Anniversary this year, have directed $12 billion of these user pays/public benefits conservation dollars. But sportsmen also purchase licenses and stamps for hunting and fishing and support conservation organizations through membership dues and donations. Adding all of these conservation funding sources together, sportsmen and women put $3 billion toward the nation's fish and wildlife resources in 2011, that's more than $95 every second.

"This is the 75th anniversary of our nation's system of conservation funding ? a model that is envied throughout the world ? that directs excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment toward state-based conservation. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs have resulted in robust fish and wildlife populations and quality habitat that is the legacy of the industry and sportsmen and women," said Michael Nussman, president and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association.

By far the largest sector of wildlife recreation is made up of people who feed, photograph and observe wildlife. In 2011, 71.8 million people 16 and older spent $55.0 billion on these activities. Most of the activity focused on wildlife viewing around the home, yet 38 percent of wildlife watchers traveled to observe wildlife. $37.7 billion in spending was directed towards equipment including bird food ($4 billion), optical and photographic equipment and processing ($4.25 billion) and special equipment such as RV's, boats, etc. ($14.3 billion). Total trip-related expenditures top $17 billion.

The FWS released preliminary statistics for state-specific activity in mid-September. Twenty-eight states had increases in the number of wildlife-related recreationists in the last five years. Texas had the overall highest number of participants with 1.15 million hunters, 2.25 million anglers and 4.38 million wildlife watchers in state. Expenditures by wildlife recreationists clearly have an impact on state economies with the highest expenditures from anglers in Florida ($4.6 billion), hunters in Wisconsin ($2.5 billion) and wildlife watchers in New York ($4.2 billion).

More detailed economic statistics and state-by-state reports are expected to be released by the FWS in the late fall. (jas)