Washington, DC - Spending by Americas hunters
and anglers totaled $70 billion this past year
according to preliminary results from the 2001
"National Fish and Wildlife Survey of Fishing,
Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation"
released today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. Respectively hunters spent $20 billion
on trips and equipment, while anglers spent
$35 billion and individuals that participated
in both activities spent $15 billion.
"Sportsmen
and women are one of the most influential demographic
groups in this country, and the information
that the CSF resource guide will provide will
clearly show how important they are," said
Melinda Gable, Executive Director of the Congressional
Sportsmen's Foundation. "While economic
analysts worried about a looming recession in
2001, American sportsmen were doing their part
to keep the economy in motion. The fact of the
matter is, not only are hunting and fishing
traditional activities in American culture,
but they have an economic ripple effect on Fortune
500 companies as well as small town family businesses."
While hunters and anglers get wide acknowledgement
as the major source of funds for healthy fish
and wildlife populations, sportsmen tend to
get little recognition as a major force in our
economy through the expenses incurred in pursuit
of their pastime. These statistics show in the
most compelling terms that hunting and fishing
aren't just leisure activities, but major contributors
to the national economy.
The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and
Wildlife Associated Recreation is the most comprehensive
analysis of the numbers of hunters and anglers
and their overall economic impact. These statistics
provide the basis for a more comprehensive review
of the data coordinated by the Congressional
Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) with the cooperation
of the USFWS and other conservation groups that
will be released in October. The economic resource
guide, which will further break down the impacts
of hunting and fishing, and compare these figures
to other economic sectors of each state's and
the nation's economy, is scheduled to be released
in early fall.
The
preliminary results revealed that in 2001, 34
million Americans 16 years and older took to
the waters, each fishing an average of 16 days
and spending $1,046 each. Americans taking to
the fields and woods 16 years and older totaled
13 million, who hunted on average 17.5 days
each and spent $1,581 apiece.
Established in 1989, the mission of the Congressional
Sportsmen's Foundation is to ensure that current
and future generations of Americans will have
the right and opportunity to hunt, fish and
trap by serving as the sportsmen's link to Congress.
