The reports, which include the results of the 1991 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Related Recreation, are to be released alphabetically by state. The first 18 states, through Louisiana, will be out in early September, the remainder by November. The entire data set for national and state statistics will also be available on CD-ROM and data tapes.
Included in the reports is information on the number of hunters, anglers, bird-watchers, and others who enjoy wildlife and the amount of money they spend on their pursuits.
These reports offer detailed statistics about each state. For example, the Arizona report shows that 1.5 million people age 16 years old and older in that state participated in some form of wildlife-related recreation in 1991, spending $867 million. Out of this total, 228,000 were trout anglers, 103,000 were big game hunters, and 880,000 fed wild birds in their backyards.
In Arkansas, 1.2 million people age 16 years old and older enjoyed some kind of wildlife-related recreation in 1991, spending $906 million. Out of these, 243,000 people hunted deer, 398,000 fished for black bass, and 791,000 enjoyed observing, feeding, or photographing animals or some other non-consumptive wildlife-related activity.
The National Survey is the most extensive periodic examination of the participation of U.S. residents in wildlife recreation and is conducted every five years. The information is used widely by public and private wildlife managers and others to help meet the changing demands on fish and wildlife resources.
The annual economic value of wildlife-related recreation is $59 billion, or about 1 percent of Americas gross national product.
The U.S. Bureau of Census interviewed 128,000 households in the United States to determine participants in wildlife-associated activities. From this initial phase, 68,000 individuals were selected to be interviewed primarily by telephone three times at four-month intervals during 1991.
Previous surveys only interviewed participants once during the survey year. The methodology was changed for the current survey in order to improve the accuracy of the data.
The change was made because people recall detailed information concerning expenditures and days of activity more accurately when interviewed more frequently. Information contained in the 1991 survey results is not directly comparable to past surveys, which had longer recall periods.
The last National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Related Recreation was in 1985. As expected, the 1991 estimates of participation are lower than those of the 1985 survey. This is not indicative of an actual decline, but rather the result of the changes in methodology. Other information, such as fishing and hunting license purchases and excise taxes on industry sales, indicate a relatively steady level of participation in fishing and hunting nationwide since 1985.
The 1991 Survey was paid for through excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition, fishing equipment, pleasure boats, and motorboat fuels under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration and Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Acts.
To receive the state reports, CD-ROM or data tapes, contact Federal Aid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Room 140, Arlington Square, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203, or call 703-358-2156.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
