From the 2001 National Survey
of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation
U.S. Department of the Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Federal Aid
4401 North Fairfax Drive: MS: 4501-4020
Arlington, VA 22203
FHW/02 QKFACT
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Bird Watchers
46 million
40 million
Total Residential
(Away from
home)
Hunters Participation
Rate by Income
Less than $20,000 3%
6%
9%
9%
9%
7%
$35,000 to 49,999
$50,000 to 74,999
$75,000 to 99,999
$100,000 or more
$20,000 to 34,999
Wildlife Watchers
Wildlife-Watching Activity
Number Percent
Total participants 66,105,000 100
Nonresidential
(away from home) 21,823,000 33
Observe wildife 20,080,000 30
Photograph wildlife 9,427,000 14
Feed wildlife 7,077,000 11
Residential
(around the home) 62,928,000 95
Observe wildlife 42,111,000 64
Photograph wildife 13,937,000 21
Feed wildlife 53,988,000 82
Visit public parks/
natural areas 10,981,000 17
Maintain plantings/
natural areas 13,072,000 20
Percent of Residential
Wildlife Observers by Type
of Wildlife Observed
Total,
all wildlife
Mammals
Insects,
spiders
Reptiles,
amphibians
Fish and
other wildlife
Birds
100%
96%
82%
33%
23%
19%
Wildlife-Watching Expenditures
Total: $38 billion
Trip-related
$8 billion
Equipment
$23 billion
Other
$7 billion
Trip expenditure per participant: $374 per year
Average trip expenditures: $22 per day
Percent of Nonresidential Wildlife
Observers by Type of Wildlife Observed
Number of
Wildlife observed persons observing Percent
Total wildlife 21,823,000 100
Total birds 18,580,000 85
Waterfowl 14,432,000 66
Songbirds 12,878,000 59
Birds of prey 12,495,000 57
Other water birds 10,314,000 47
Other birds 7,907,000 36
Total land mammals 15,506,000 71
Large land mammals 12,226,000 56
Small land mammals 12,958,000 59
Fish 6,330,000 29
Marine mammals 3,013,000 14
Other wildlife
(butterflies, turtles, etc.) 9,409,000 43
35 to 44
years
23%
18 to 24
years
5%
25 to 34
years
13%
16 to 17
years
3%
Percent of Wildlife Watchers
by Age Group
65 years
and older
19%
45 to 54
years
22%
55 to 64
years
16%
Wildlife Watchers’
Participation Rate by
Income
Less than $20,000 24%
31%
36%
39%
44%
42%
$35,000 to 49,999
$50,000 to 74,999
$75,000 to 99,999
$100,000 or more
$20,000 to 34,999
Nonresidential
(Away from
home)
18 million
In 2001, 82 million U.S.
residents, about 39 percent of
the population 16 years of age
and older, participated in wildlife-related
recreation activities.
Wildlife-Related Recreationists: 2001
34 million anglers
13 million hunters
66 million wildlife watchers
These recreationists spent $108 billion on their
fishing, hunting, and wildlife-watching (wildlife
observation, feeding, and photography) activities.
The 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation is a comprehensive
source of wildlife-related recreation information.
Information is provided in national and state reports
and on the internet: http://federalaid.fws.gov
Fishing Expenditures
Total: $36 billion
Trip-related
$15 billion
Equipment
$17 billion
Other
$4 billion
Comparative
Fishing by
Type
of Fishing
Days of
fishing per
angler
Trip
expenditures
per angler
Trip
expenditures
per day
16
16
13
10
$430
$337
$420
$26
$21
$34
$49
$496
All fishing
Freshwater, except
Great Lakes
Great Lakes
Saltwater
Anglers Days
Number Percent Number Percent
Total fishing 34,071,000 100 557,394,000 100
Freshwater, total 28,439,000 83 466,984,000 84
Freshwater,
except
Great Lakes 27,913,000 82 443,247,000 80
Great Lakes 1,847,000 5 23,138,000 4
Saltwater 9,051,000 27 90,838,000 16
Fishing
Anglers and Days of Fishing
Anglers’ Participation
Rate by Income
Less than $20,000 10%
16%
21%
23%
23%
22%
$35,000 to 49,999
$50,000 to 74,999
$75,000 to 99,999
$100,000 or more
$20,000 to 34,999
Hunting
Hunters and Days of Hunting
Hunters Days
Number Percent Number Percent
Total hunting 13,034,000 100 228,368,000 100
Big game 10,911,000 84 153,191,000 67
Small game 5,434,000 42 60,142,000 26
Migratory bird 2,956,000 23 29,310,000 13
Other game 1,047,000 8 19,207,000 8
Hunting Expenditures
Total: $21.6 billion
Other
$4.9 billion Trip-related
$5.3 billion
Equipment
$10.4 billion
Comparative
Hunting by Type
of Hunting
Total
Big game
Small game
Migratory bird
Other game
Days of
hunting per
hunter
Trip
expenditures
per hunter
Trip
expenditures
per day
18
14
11
10
18
$403
$327
$167
$116
$23
$23
$15
$222
$22
$6
Selected Game by Type of Hunting
Game sought Number of hunters
Big game
Deer 10,272,000
Wild turkey 2,504,000
Elk 910,000
Bear 360,000
Small game
Squirrel 2,119,000
Rabbit 2,099,000
Pheasant 1,723,000
Quail 991,000
Migratory bird
Duck 1,589,000
Dove 1,450,000
Geese 1,000,000
Percent of Hunters by Age Group
65 years
and older
7%
45 to 54
years
22%
55 to 64
years
11%
18 to 24
years
10%
35 to 44
years
27%
25 to 34
years
19%
16 to 17
years
4%
Percent of Anglers by Age Group
65 years
and older
9%
45 to 54
years
20%
55 to 64
years
12%
18 to 24
years
9%
35 to 44
years
27%
25 to 34
years
19%
16 to 17
years
4%
Selected Fish by Type of Fishing
Fish sought Number of anglers
Freshwater,
except Great Lakes
Black bass 10,708,000
Panfish 7,910,000
Trout 7,819,000
Catfish 7,517,000
Great Lakes
Perch 693,000
Black bass 589,000
Walleye, sauger 571,000
Salmon 516,000
Saltwater
Flatfish (flounder, halibut) 2,269,000
Red drum (redfish) 1,721,000
Striped bass 1,716,000
Sea trout 1,487,000
