Early figures say numbers of hunters, fishermen increasing in the US
by Michael C. Bolton
August 19,2012
| Source:
al.com
The number of hunters and fishermen in the United States has been in a steady decline for two decades. The number tumbled from about 40 million in 1991 to 34 million in 2006.
The announcement by U.S. Fish and Wildlife last week that the decline had been reversed was one you'd think would make game and fish directors across the U.S. jump for joy. Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries director Fred Harders says Alabama might be an exception and he's going to wait for more information before he gets too far off the ground.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife released its preliminary report of the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. It not only showed that the decline in hunters and fishermen had halted, it showed that the numbers for both sportsmen's groups were up dramatically in 2011.
The report said the number of licensed hunters in the U.S. had increased by 9 percent since its previous survey in 2006. The number of licensed fishermen increased by 11 percent during that time. Harders said license sales in this state indicate no such increase in hunters or fishermen. He prefaced that statement by saying it is possible there has been an increase in hunters and fishermen in the over-65 age category. Licenses are not required in that category so if that number increased it would not be apparent.
"I'm just curious to see the final report," he said. "That will contain state-by-state information."
There has been a lot of speculation among his brethren as to why numbers would be up, he said. Some believe a poor economy has more people staying home and going hunting and fishing, he said. Many believe that with so many people out of jobs, the increase could be due to more people hunting and fishing to put food on the table.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife has conducted the survey at five-year intervals since the 1950s. It serves as a database that outlines participation and purchases associated with hunting, fishing and other forms of wildlife-related recreation.
The preliminary report says that in 2011 13.7 million people went hunting. They spent $34 billion on trips, equipment, licenses, gas, food and other necessities to hunt. They spent an average of $2,484 per hunter.
More than 33 million people fished in 2011. They spent $41.8 billion on trips, equipment, licenses and other items, an average of $1,262 per angler.
Combine those numbers with activities such as watching, feeding and photographing wildlife and the numbers are huge.
The report said 90.1 million Americans, or about 38 percent of the population, participated in wildlife-related recreation in 2011. That was an increase of 2.6 million participants since 2006.Those involved in wildlife-related recreation spent $145 billion on gear, trips, licenses, tags and land leasing and ownership. Those expenditures provide thousands of jobs in businesses connected to fishing, hunting and wildlife watching.
A math major looking at those numbers might see that hunters and fishermen make up only a little more than half of the people participating in wildlife-related recreation. True, but their importance to the overall picture shouldn't be discounted.
Businesses that manufacture hunting gear, fishing gear, shooting gear, boats and other items pay a self-imposed excise tax that the federal government directs to state wildlife and fishery programs. That money is used for many things that benefit other wildlife recreationists such as bird watchers and hikers. In Alabama, that money has been used to bring back the bluebird and the bald eagle, birds that are not hunted.
Increased numbers are important so state agencies such as Alabama's Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries can continue wildlife management and wildlife law enforcement that protect those resources. It was good news.
© 2012 Alabama Live LLC
Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
