U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service
National
Survey of
Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation
Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation
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U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service
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National
Survey of
Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation |
| SURVEY BACKGROUND |
The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation has been conducted about every five years since 1955. It provides information on 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.
The Survey is one of the
Nation's most important wildlife recreation databases. It is the only source
of comprehensive information on participation and expenditures that is comparable
on a state-by-state basis. It is used for estimating the economic impact of
wildlife-related recreation for each state; for estimating the value of wildlife
resources lost due to pollution or disease such as whirling disease in fish;
for use in critical habitat analysis of threatened species; and for preparing
environmental impact statements, budgets, and legislative proposals.
| 2001 SURVEY |
The 2001 National Report
is available through this website as a pdf
file (Click link for report). Hard copies of the report are available by
contacting our Publication Unit [link to Survey
Report and Product Section]. Individual 2001
State Reports are also available (50 State Reports, 2001 National Survey
of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation).
The Office of Management and Budget control number for the Survey is 1018-0088.
| 2001 SURVEY METHODS AND RESPONSE RATES |
The U.S. Census Bureau collected information for the Survey in two phases. The first phase was the screen which began in April 2001. During the screening phase, the Census Bureau interviewed a sample of 77,000 households nationwide to determine who in the household had fished, hunted, or wildlife watched in 2000, and who had engaged or planned to engage in those activities in 2001. In most cases, one adult household member provided information for all household members. The screen primarily covered 2000 activities while the next, more in-depth phase covered 2001 activities.
The second phase of data collection consisted of three detailed interview waves. The first wave began in April 2001, the second in September 2001, and the last in January 2002. Interviews were conducted with samples of likely anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers who were identified in the initial screening phase. The Census Bureau conducted these interviews primarily by telephone, with in-person interviews in the first and third interview waves for those respondents who could not be reached by telephone
Respondents in the second Survey phase were limited to persons at least 16
years old. Each respondent provided information pertaining only to his or her
activities and expenditures. Sample sizes were designed to provide statistically
reliable results at the State level. Altogether, interviews were completed for
25,070 respondents from the sportspersons sample and 15,303 from the wildlife
watchers sample. The response rate for the screen phase was 75%. For the sportspersons
sample it was 88% and for the wildlife-watching sample, 90%.
| 2001 SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS |
Over 82 million U.S. residents 16 years old and older fished, hunted, or wildlife watched in 2001. During that year, 34.1 million people fished, 13.0 million hunted, and 66.1 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 $108 billion in 2001.
This amounted to 1.1% of the GDP. Of the total amount spent, $28 billion was
for trips, $64 billion for equipment, and $16 billion for other items.
Sportspersons spent a total of $70 billion in 2001—$36 billion on fishing,
$21 billion on hunting, and $14 billion on items used for both hunting and fishing
(the sum of expenditures totals $71 billion due to rounding). Wildlife watchers
spent $38 billion on trips, equipment, and other items.
| 10 YEAR TREND INFORMATION |
A comparison of estimates from the 1991, 1996, and 2001 Surveys reveals that millions of Americans continue to enjoy wildlife recreation. While the number of sportspersons fell from 40 million in 1991 to 37.8 million in 2001, their expenditures increased from $53 billion (adjusted for inflation and comparability between Surveys) in 1991 to $70 billion in 2001.
Fishing — Fishing continues to be a favorite pastime in the United States. In 2001, 16% of the U.S. population 16 years old and older spent an average of 16 days fishing. Comparing results of the 2001 Survey and the 1996 Survey reveals that the number of all anglers declined 3% and overall fishing expenditures fell 17% — a 16% drop in trip and a 22% drop in equipment expenditures.
From 1991 to 2001, the number of all anglers declined 4% and expenditures increased 14%. Saltwater fishing increased 2% (not significant) but freshwater fishing declined by 8%.
Hunting — Six percent of the U.S. population 16 years old and older, over 13 million people, hunted in 2001. They spent an average of 18 days pursuing their sport. The number of all hunters declined by 7% from 1996 to 2001 and there was a 12% drop in expenditures (not a statistically significant change).
Comparing 1991 to 2001, the number of all hunters declined by 7%. Although the number of all hunters fell, the number of big game and migratory bird hunters remained constant. The decreases occurred in small game (-29%) and other animal (-26%) hunting. Hunting expenditures increased 29% from 1991 to 2001, primarily due to equipment expenditures.
Wildlife Watching — Thirty-one percent of the U.S. population 16 years old and older fed, observed, or photographed wildlife in 2001. These wildlife watchers increased in number by 5% from 1996 to 2001. Their expenditures for trips, equipment, and other items increased 16%.
From 1991 to 2001 the total number of wildlife watchers decreased by 13%. The number of those participating around their home fell 15%; while those taking trips to wildlife watch fell by 27%. In spite of the decline in participation, expenditures increased by 41% because of equipment purchases.
Due to changes in methodology, the estimates from the 1991, 1996 and 2001 surveys cannot be compared with estimates from previous surveys.
| SURVEY CONTENT |
The following types of
data are presented in national and state reports:
• Number of anglers, hunters, and wildlife-watching participants, by type
of activity.
• Trips and days spent on different types of activities.
• Expenditures (trip, equipment, etc.), by type of fishing and hunting
and wildlife-watching activity.
• Number of persons and days of participation by animal sought.
• Demographic characteristics of participants (including age, income, sex,
race, and education).
| SURVEY REPORTS AND PRODUCTS |
Hard copies of all reports and CD-ROMs can be obtained by contacting:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
NCTC Publication Unit
698 Conservation Way
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
(304) 876-7203 or Email: pubs@fws.gov
The following reports are available in PDF:
2001
Survey Databases (.dat files and data dictionary)
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Participation and Expenditure Patterns of African-American, Hispanic, and Female Hunters and Anglers. Report 2001-4. Addendum to 2001 National Survey of Fishing. Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. 2004. 44p. |
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Participation Trends: Addendum to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. 2004. 52 p. |
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Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis. Addendum to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (Report 2001-1). 2003. 24 p. |
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