National Survey Shows Rise in Hunting, Angling Trends

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2011 National Survey found the number of anglers nationwide increased 11 percent over the past 5 years. Photo by Dusan Smetana.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the results of a comprehensive national survey of outdoor recreation showing hunters nationwide increased 9 percent and an 11 percent growth in anglers over the past five years. After decades of declining numbers, Salazar was enthusiastic about the news.

“Seeing more people fishing, hunting and getting outdoors is great news for America’s economy and conservation heritage,” said Salazar. “Outdoor recreation and tourism are huge economic engines for local communities and the country, so it is vital that we continue to support policies and investments that help Americans get outside, learn to fish, or go hunting.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation found nearly 38 percent of all Americans participated in wildlife-related recreation in 2011, an increase of 2.6 million participants from the previous survey in 2006. They spent $145 billion on related gear, trips and other purchases.

Other key findings include:

• In 2011, 13.7 million people, 6 percent of the U.S. population 16 years old and older, went hunting. They spent $34.0 billion on trips, equipment, licenses, and other items, an average of $2,484 per hunter.
• More than 33 million people 16 and older fished in 2011, spending $41.8 billion on trips, equipment, licenses, and other items, an average of $1,262 per angler.
• More than 71 million people engaged in wildlife watching in 2011, spending $55.0 billion on their activities.

USFWS has been conducting the national survey every five years since 1955, and is viewed as one of the nation’s most important wildlife-related recreation databases.

Funded through a Multi-State Conservation Grant from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, the survey contacted 48,627 households across the country.

The report is the first in a series that the Service will release. The next report of findings will contain state by state data and will be available in the coming months.

View the results of the national overview report.

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