The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts for their participation, beginning in April, of the Congressionally-approved 10th National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.
The survey is undertaken every five years and is paid for with funds from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (Pittman-Robertson) and Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration (Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux) programs. It provides the only comprehensive statistical data available related to participation and expenditures on hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-related recreation. The survey is considered a critical resource for Federal and state wildlife agencies, journalists, outdoor and tourist industries, local governments, conservation groups and others with an interest in wildlife and outdoor recreation.
Information for the survey is collected by the Census Bureau, primarily through telephone interviews that will be conducted in April and September 2001 and January 2002. Individuals will be asked about their participation and expenditures in several categories of wildlife-associated recreation. Results are published in a national report and in 50 individual state reports. The survey has been conducted every five years since 1955.
In conducting the survey, the Census Bureau initially contacts 80,000 households. A sampling of individuals is compiled from the first round of calls, and those in the sampling are called again, later in the year. In 1996, the sampling included 28,200 anglers and hunters and 14,400 wildlife observers, feeders and photographers.
The 1996 survey revealed that 77 million Americans enjoyed some form of wildlife-related recreation and spent more than $100 billion pursuing their activities.
"We are deeply appreciative of the anglers, hunters, birdwatchers and others throughout the United States who voluntarily participate in this survey," said Marshall Jones, the Services acting director.
Preliminary survey reports will be available in the summer of 2002 and final reports will be issued beginning in the fall of 2002. Regular updates will be posted on the Services home page at http://fa.r9.fws.gov/surveys/html.
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 70 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.
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