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Fishing and Hunting
1991-2001: Avid, Casual,
and Intermediate
Participation Trends
Addendum to the 2001 National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation
Report 2001-5
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Fishing and Hunting
1991-2001: Avid, Casual,
and Intermediate
Participation Trends
Addendum to the 2001 National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation
Report 2001-5
July 2004
Richard Aiken
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Federal Aid
Arlington VA
This report complements the National and State reports from the 2001 National
Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The conclusions
are the author’s and do not represent official positions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
The author wishes to thank Sylvia Cabrera and Genevieve Pullis La Rouche for their
valuable input into the analysis.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
2 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Part One – National Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Trends in Avid Fishing and Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Avid Anglers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Avid Hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Trends in Intermediate Fishing and Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Intermediate Anglers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Intermediate Hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Trends in Casual Fishing and Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Casual Anglers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Casual Hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Comparison of Avids, Intermediates, and Casual Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Part Two – State Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Number of In-State Anglers and Hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Number of Fishing and Hunting Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Trends in State Fishing and Hunting Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Fishing Trip-Related and Total Expenditures by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Hunting Trip-Related and Total Expenditures by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Appendix I – FHWAR Survey Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Appendix II – Sources of Comparable 1955-2001 Estimates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Contents
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 3
Long-term trends of fishing and hunting
in the United States interest different
people for different reasons. State fish
and game agencies want to know the
number and demographics of their
constituents, with an eye toward knowing
what to expect in the future from
them. Also, managers of fish and game
populations want to know not only how
many people are participating but also
how often, since a drop-off (or increase)
in the numbers of participants may not
mean a decrease (or increase) of the
pressure on the resource if the hunters
and anglers that remain increase (or
decrease) their days afield. Marketers
want to know the state of the industry
and where to put their efforts. Academics
want to better understand the culture of
hunting and angling. The ordinary hunter
and angler wants to know how the culture
that gives him or her so much enjoyment
is evolving.
Americans’ participation in angling
and hunting in 1991, 1996, and
2001 is the focus of this analysis. In
addition to changes in the number
of participants and their days afield,
avid, intermediate, and casual hunters
and anglers are defined and analyzed.
Trends in overall fishing and hunting
can be better understood by examining
important subgroups. Trends in days of
participation and expenditures at the
state level are presented also. The source
of the information is the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service’s 1991, 1996, and 2001
National Surveys of Fishing, Hunting,
and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
(FHWAR).1 See Appendix I for details of
the FHWAR Survey methodology.
Long Term Context of Trends
Figure 1 shows the trends in the number
of all Americans, anglers, and hunters
since 1955, the year of the first FHWAR
survey. Indices of change are used, in
which the 1955 estimates are set to 100
and the succeeding years’ estimates are
presented as the percent change. This
makes it easier to compare the changes of
the three groups.
Participation in fishing grew from 1955
to 1990, both in absolute numbers and
relative to the underlying trend of the
U.S. population. Since 1990 there has been
a downturn in the number of anglers.
Participation in hunting grew until
1975 at a rate slightly greater than U.S.
population growth. Since 1975 hunting
has undergone a gradual decline.
Introduction
Figure 1. 1955-2001 Trend
Note: Due to methodological changes over the 46 years of this survey, assumptions and approximations
were made to make the results comparable. See Appendix II for the assumptions.
�� ��
1 These Surveys covered activity by
Americans 16 years old and older
participating in the U.S. It is important to
note that the FHWAR Surveys measure
the activity of every fifth year only. The
intervening years’ activity is not included.
Those hunters and anglers who participated
in the intervening years but not the surveyed
years are not part of this analysis.
4 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Highlights
From 1991 to 2001 the number of
Americans who hunted and/or fished in
the U.S. decreased 5 percent, with the
number of anglers decreasing 4 percent
and the number of hunters decreasing 7
percent. The drops for both fishing and
hunting occurred primarily during the
second half of the 1990’s.
Fishing
The number of anglers was stable
from 1991 to 1996 (the 1% drop is not
statistically significant at the 90% level2),
then fell 3 percent from 1996 to 2001.
Freshwater fishing fell 8% from 1991
to 2001, while saltwater fishing held
roughly constant (the 2% increase is
not statistically significant). Breaking
the freshwater trend number into its
coldwater and warmwater components,
coldwater fishing participation fell 12%,
led by the 15% drop in trout fishing.
Similarly, warmwater fishing dropped
13%, largely due to the 17% decline in
black bass fishing.
While there was a decline in the number
of anglers, their days on the water
increased. The average days of fishing
increased from 14 days in 1991 to 16
days in 2001, and fishing days for both
freshwater and saltwater increased
significantly. This raises the question of
how the increase in days is distributed.
Did all anglers increase their angling
days, or did an avid core of anglers
increase their high level of participation?
We will return to this subject later in
this report.
Part One – National Trends
Table 1. Sportsperson Participation 1991-2001
(Numbers in thousands)
1991
Number
1996
Number
1991-1996
Percent
Change
2001
Number
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
Sportspersons 39,979 39,694 -1 37,805 -5 -5
Anglers 35,578 35,246 -1 34,070 -3 -4
Hunters 14,063 13,975 -1 13,034 -7 -7
Table 2. National Fishing Participation Trends
(Numbers in thousands)
1991
Number
1996
Number
1991-1996
Percent
Change
2001
Number
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
Fishing, total 35,578 35,246 -1 34,070 -3 -4
Freshwater 31,041 29,734 -4 28,439 -4 -8
Coldwater 10,158 9,994 -2 8,989 -10 -12
Trout 9,497 9,290 -2 8,118 -13 -15
Warmwater 23,971 22,030 -8 20,882 -5 -13
Black Bass 13,139 12,972 -1 10,956 -16 -17
Saltwater 8,885 9,438 6 9,051 -4 2
Table 3. National Fishing Days Participation Trends
(Numbers in thousands)
1991
Number
1996
Number
1991-1996
Percent
Change
2001
Number
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
Fishing Days, total 511,329 625,893 22 557,394 -11 9
Freshwater 439,536 515,115 17 466,984 -9 6
Trout 86,626 97,978 13 89,285 -9 3
Black Bass 162,595 196,385 21 166,202 -15 2
2 All statistical significance tests will be at Saltwater 74,696 103,034 38 90,838 -12 22
the 90% level. Statistical significance at the
90% level means that for 90% of all possible
samples, the estimate for one survey year
cannot be shown to be different from the
estimate for the other survey year.
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 5
Hunting
The number of Americans who hunted
was roughly level from 1991 to 1996
(the 1 percent drop is not statistically
significant) and fell 7 percent from
1996 to 2001. From 1991 to 2001 small
game and other animal (fox, raccoon,
groundhog, and other nongame) hunting
participation dropped by over a quarter
(29% for small game, 26% for other
animals), while big game and migratory
bird hunting participation has not
dropped significantly (the +/-2% changes
are not statistically significant).
As for the hunting of individual species,
deer hunting was the single most
popular hunting activity. It held steady
at 10.3 million hunters in both 1991
and 2001. From 1991 to 2001 turkey
hunters increased 46% and duck hunters
increased 37%. Elk hunters increased
33%. Goose hunters increased 13% over
the same time period. Species hunting
that declined from 1991 to 2001 include
dove hunting which decreased by 22%,
pheasant hunting by 25%, squirrel
hunting by 41%, and rabbit hunting
by 47%.
The disparity in participation trends
between big game and migratory bird
hunters and small game and other animal
hunters is also seen in days afield. Big
game and migratory bird hunting days
increased significantly from 1991 to 2001
(19% for big game, 32% for migratory
birds). Small game hunting days
decreased 22%. Overall, the increasing
days hunting group (big game, migratory
bird) compensated for the decreasing
days group (small game, other animals) in
the total hunting days trend (the 3% drop
is not statistically significant). Hunters as
a whole hunted more days per capita over
time. In 1991 the average hunter went
out 17 days and in 2001 it was 18 days.
The same question arises as for fishing.
Did all hunters increase their hunting
days, or did a particular subgroup
increase their participation? We will
return to this subject later in this report.
Trends in Avid Fishing and Hunting
There are several ways of defining
avidity, e.g., days afield, dollars spent,
variety of animals sought, years spent
hunting and fishing. Each has its pros and
cons. After examining each, days afield
was chosen. People can spend money
on equipment without participating in
hunting or fishing, a person can be an
avid deer hunter and not hunt any other
game, a young person can be avid without
a long history of hunting or fishing
behind him/her. But participating in an
Table 4. National Hunting Participation Trends
(Numbers in thousands)
1991
Number
1996
Number
1991-1996
Percent
Change
2001
Number
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
Hunting, total 14,063 13,975 -1 13,034 -7 -7
Big Game 10,745 11,288 5 10,911 -3 2
Deer 10,277 10,722 4 10,272 -4 (Z)
Elk 682 959 41 910 -5 33
Turkey 1,720 2,189 27 2,504 14 46
Small Game 7,642 6,945 -9 5,434 -22 -29
Rabbit 3,980 3,146 -21 2,099 -33 -47
Squirrel 3,569 3,207 -10 2,119 -34 -41
Pheasant 2,285 2,261 -1 1,723 -24 -25
Migratory Bird 3,009 3,073 2 2,956 -4 -2
Duck 1,164 1,596 37 1,589 (Z) 37
Geese 882 915 4 1,000 9 13
Dove 1,851 1,581 -15 1,450 -8 -22
Other Animals 1,411 1,521 8 1047 -31 -26
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent.
Table 5. National Hunting Days Trends
(Numbers in thousands)
1991
Number
1996
Number
1991-1996
Percent
Change
2001
Number
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
Hunting Days, total 235,806 256,676 9 228,368 -11 -3
Big Game 128,411 153,784 20 153,191 (Z) 19
Deer 112,853 131,345 16 133,457 2 18
Elk 5,048 7,174 42 6,402 -11 27
Turkey 13,483 18,532 37 23,165 25 72
Small Game 77,132 75,117 -3 60142 -20 -22
Rabbit 35,624 28,873 -19 22,768 -21 -36
Squirrel 29,602 25,401 -14 22,333 -12 -25
Pheasant 16,136 17,336 7 12,769 -26 -21
Migratory Bird 22,235 26,501 19 29310 11 32
Duck 8,800 13,800 57 18,290 33 108
Geese 6,584 8,451 28 10,508 24 60
Dove 9,480 8,141 -14 9,041 11 -5
Other Animals 19,340 24,522 27 19207 -22 -1
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent.
6 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
activity many times in a year requires
commitment, which is a criterion of
avidity.
See Figure 2 for a bar chart of the
distribution of hunting days in 2001.
736,000 people hunted one day, increasing
to 936,000 people hunting two days.
It drops off then, with the number of
people hunting at each increment of
days decreasing rapidly (with spikes at
the numbers of days that respondents
typically round to, such as 10, 20, and 25)
to about 100 days, more than which only
153,000 people hunted.
Figure 3 is a bar chart of how many days
were contributed by hunters in 2001,
in order of how many days each person
hunted. This is an important perspective
because if the determination of the most
influential hunting group is those who
hunted the most days, that information
cannot be obtained from Figure 2, in
which the hunters who hunted 2 days is
the single biggest group. But as can be
seen in Figure 3, they contributed a very
low number of total days, while hunters
who hunted 30 days in 2001 had by far the
most days afield. Here is a more detailed
example: 878,000 Americans hunted 10
days (see Figure 2), so they accounted
for 8,780,000 hunting days (see Figure
3). The 736,000 people who hunted one
day accounted for only 736,000 days,
compared to the 33,000 people (4% of the
people who hunted one day) who hunted
100 days accounting for 3.3 million
hunting days (nearly five times the total
days of people who hunted one day). The
sum of days increases from 736,000 days
by one-day hunters to 11.8 million days
by people who hunted 30 days. The sum
of days trend then falls steadily to the
6,000 hunters who hunted 150 days (who
alone account for 873,000 days!), after
which the line bumps along the x-axis.
Examination of Figures 2 and 3
demonstrates that the top 10% of hunters
in 2001, who hunted 41 days or more,
can be considered avid,3 and the number
of hunters who hunt one or two days,
13% of total hunters, can be considered
casual. Examination of the data from the
1991 and 1996 Surveys finds the same
percentage of hunters can be defined to
be avid, 10%, and 11% in 1996 and 16%
in 1991 of hunters qualify as casual, i.e.,
hunt one or two days. The top 10% of
Figure 2. 2001 Hunting Days: The Number of Hunters, by Number of Days Spent Hunting
(Number of People in thousands)
anglers can be defined to be avid as well,
while anglers who fish only one day (11%
of total anglers in 2001, 11% in 1996,
and 14% in 1991) qualify as casual. The
criteria for avid and casual participants
used for all three surveys: avids are the
top 10% of total participants based on
their days afield, casual angling is made
up of anglers who fished one day in the
year, and casual hunting consists of
hunters who hunted one or two days in
the year. Everyone between these two
extremes is considered intermediate.
Based on their total days participating in
2001, the top 10% of anglers and hunters
accounted for 45% of all fishing and
hunting days. The avid angler fished an
average of 73 days per year, compared to
the average angler’s 16 days. Similarly,
the average avid hunter in 2001 hunted
70 days and the average hunter 18 days.
Tables 3 and 4 present the trend in avid
fishing and hunting over the past three
surveys.
Looking at the avid trends, the number
of avid anglers was 3.7 million in 1991,
3.4 million in 1996, and 3.5 million in 2001,
compared to all anglers (35.6 million, 35.2
million, and 34.1 million, respectively).
The number of avid hunters was
relatively steady, with 1.4 million in
1991 and 1996 and 1.3 million in 2001,
compared to all hunters (14.1 million, 14.0
million, and 13.0 million, respectively).
Figure 3. 2001 Hunting Days: The Contribution to Total Days by Casual,
Intermediate, and Avid Hunters
(Sum of Days in thousands)
3 Robert Southwick came to the same
conclusion for the designation of avidity in his
study Today’s Angler, A Statistical Profile of
America’s Angler, Southwick, Inc., 2003.
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Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 7
Table 6. Avid Fishing Trends
(Numbers in thousands)
Fishing, total
Total
Participants
Avid
Participants
Percent of
Participants Total Days Avid Days
Percent
of Days
Avid
Mean Days
2001 34,070 3,542 10 557,394 259,388 47 73
1996 35,246 3,362 10 625,893 286,388 46 85
1991 35,578 3,706 10 511,329 250,988 49 68
Non-Great Lakes Freshwater
2001 27,913 3,206 11 443,247 208,547 47 66
1996 28,921 3,060 11 485,474 223,090 46 73
1991 30,186 3,443 11 430,922 212,828 49 62
Great Lakes
2001 1,847 343 19 23,138 12,634 55 37
1996 2,039 299 15 20,095 9,247 46 32
1991 2,552 456 18 25,335 12,759 50 28
Saltwater
2001 9,051 1,036 11 90,838 39,038 43 38
1996 9,438 1,012 11 103,034 43,067 42 43
1991 8,885 1,088 12 74,696 33,255 45 31
Note: Avids determined by total days, not type of fishing days (e.g., Great Lakes days).
Table 7. Avid Hunting Trends
(Numbers in thousands)
Hunting
Total
Participants
Avid
Participants
Percent of
Participants Total Days Avid Days
Percent
of Days
Avid
Mean Days
2001 13,034 1,298 10 228,368 91,032 40 70
1996 13,975 1,384 10 256,676 99,190 39 72
1991 14,063 1,412 10 235,806 98,096 42 69
Big Game
2001 10,911 1,225 11 153,191 56,613 37 46
1996 11,288 1,284 11 153,784 53,731 35 42
1991 10,745 1,317 12 128,411 45,339 35 34
Small Game
2001 5,434 871 16 60,142 26,332 44 30
1996 6,945 1,094 16 75,117 28,413 38 26
1991 7,642 1,228 16 77,132 34,099 44 28
Migratory Birds
2001 2,956 447 15 29,310 11,399 39 25
1996 3,073 521 17 26,501 8,585 32 18
1991 3,009 603 20 22,235 8,894 40 15
Other Animals
2001 1,047 356 34 19,207 13,666 71 39
1996 1,521 465 31 24,522 15,945 65 38
1991 1,411 532 38 19,340 13,280 69 25
Note: Avids determined by total days, not type of hunting days (e.g., Small Game days).
8 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Avid Anglers
In 2001 avid anglers made up 11% of both
non-Great Lakes freshwater anglers
and saltwater anglers. This means that
avid anglers as a group do not specialize
in freshwater or saltwater angling, but
distribute themselves equally between
the two activities. This pattern held for
1991 and 1996. This finding is borne out
in the days data as well. In 2001 47% of
all fishing days were provided by avid
anglers. 47% of all freshwater days and
43% of all saltwater days were provided
by avid anglers. The observation that
avids as a group do not specialize in
freshwater or saltwater can be made for
1991 and 1996 as well.
Avid anglers are an important subgroup
of anglers as a whole, both economically
and in terms of effort. Studying their
sociodemographics gives us insight into
who they are.
A majority, 56%, of avid anglers
resided in urban areas in 2001. This is
not surprising, since a majority of all
anglers, 61%, resided in urban areas.
The tendency of avid anglers to not be
as urban-based as anglers as a whole has
held steady over the past three surveys.
In 2001 67% of avid anglers lived in
Metropolitan Statistical Areas4 (MSA)
of 50,000 or more residents, compared to
72% of all anglers. Viewed another way,
9% of urban anglers (8% in 1996) and 12%
of rural anglers were avid. Rural anglers
are more likely to be avid than urban
anglers.
In 2001 the age group that had the
most avid anglers was 35-44 year olds.
This was also true for all anglers. After
combining 16-17 and 18-24 year olds
into one age group for the purpose of
comparison the age group that had the
fewest avids was 65 years old and older,
as was the case with all anglers.
As with anglers as a whole, avid anglers
have become an older age group.
Comparing 2001 and 1991 data, 16-34
year olds made up more of the avid
angler population in 1991 than in 2001
(45% compared to 32%). Conversely, 45
year old and older anglers were 47% of
all avid anglers in 2001, 43% in 1996, and
34% in 1991.
Angling is a recreational commodity,
and economic theory suggests that as
income increases people will be more
likely to purchase “angling,” i.e., the
angler with higher income will more
likely be avid. And indeed, in 2001 60% of
all avid anglers had a household income
above national median income and 40%
of all avid anglers had below median
income. However, comparing that data
to income data of anglers as a whole
presents a different story. In 2001 60%
of avid anglers had above median income,
compared to 66% of all anglers. Nonavid
anglers tended to have higher income
than avid anglers. Higher income is not
the indicator of avidity as predicted.
Similarly, in 1991 53% of avid anglers had
above median income, compared to 59%
of all anglers. Although avid anglers tend
to have an above median income, anglers
as a whole show a stronger tendency for
an above median income.
Another way of looking at income’s effect
on avidity is the percent of anglers with
above median income who are avid. In
2001 9% of all anglers with above median
income were avid anglers, compared to
10% of all anglers being avid. Conversely,
12% of all below median anglers were
avid. A similar relationship held in 1991
and 1996. Avid anglers are more likely
to have below median income than the
average angler.
Table 8. Avid Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
Total 35,578 100 3,706 100 35,246 100 3,362 100 34,070 100 3,542 100
Urban 22,368 63 2,081 56 21,618 61 1,776 53 20,924 61 1,981 56
Rural 13,210 37 1,625 44 13,628 39 1,586 47 13,146 39 1,561 44
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)(1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 100 3,362 100 34,070 100 3,542 100
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 22 711 21 6,676 20 502 14
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 48 1,530 46 17,714 52 1,865 53
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 30 1,121 33 9,680 28 1,175 33
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
4 A Metropolitan Statistical Area is a town,
county, or group of towns or counties with
a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA
must contain a central city. These areas are
determined by the Census Bureau, unlike the
urban/rural designation, which is determined
by each respondent independently. MSA’s
are included here because they remove the
subjective element from the respondent’s
urban/rural determination.
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 9
Table 9. Avid Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
Total 35,578 3,706 10 35,246 3,362 10 34,070 3,542 10
Urban 22,368 2,081 9 21,618 1,776 8 20,924 1,981 9
Rural 13,210 1,625 12 13,628 1,586 12 13,146 1,561 12
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 3,362 10 34,070 3,542 10
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 711 9 6,676 502 8
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 1,530 9 17,714 1,865 11
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 1,121 11 9,680 1,175 12
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
Table 10. Avid Anglers by Age Groups (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
Total 35,578 100 3,705 100 35,246 100 3,361 100 34,070 100 3,544 100
16-17 1,481 4 146 4 1,406 4 145 4 1,319 4 140 4
18-24 4,589 13 564 15 3,321 9 309 9 2,931 9 319 9
25-34 9,927 28 955 26 7,175 20 765 23 6,578 19 672 19
35-44 8,583 24 824 22 9,673 27 682 20 9,047 27 772 22
45-54 4,891 14 501 14 7,020 20 767 23 6,940 20 696 20
55-64 3,270 9 397 11 3,537 10 352 10 4,168 12 566 16
65 and older 2,827 8 318 9 3,092 9 341 10 3,090 9 379 11
Table 11. Avid Anglers by Age Groups (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
Total 35,578 3,705 10 35,246 3,361 10 34,070 3,544 10
16-17 1,481 146 10 1,406 145 10 1,319 140 11
18-24 4,589 564 12 3,321 309 9 2,931 319 11
25-34 9,927 955 10 7,175 765 11 6,578 672 10
35-44 8,583 824 10 9,673 682 7 9,047 772 9
45-54 4,891 501 10 7,020 767 11 6,940 696 10
55-64 3,270 397 12 3,537 352 10 4,168 566 14
65 and older 2,827 318 11 3,092 341 11 3,090 379 12
10 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Table 12. Avid Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household
income
All
Participants
Percent
of total
Avid
Participants
Percent
of total
All
Participants
Percent
of total
Avid
Participants
Percent
of total
All
Participants
Percent
of total
Avid
Participants
Percent
of total
Total 32,351 100 3,385 100 30,980 100 3,025 100 28,851 100 3,013 100
Below median 13,301 41 1,607 47 13,516 44 1,649 55 9,793 34 1,216 40
Above median 19,050 59 1,778 53 17,464 56 1,376 45 19,058 66 1,797 60
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
Table 13. Avid Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
Avid
Participants
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Avid
Participants
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Avid
Participants
Percent of
Participants
Total 32,351 3,385 10 30,980 3,025 10 28,851 3,013 10
Below median 13,301 1,607 12 13,516 1,649 12 9,793 1,216 12
Above median 19,050 1,778 9 17,464 1,376 8 19,058 1,797 9
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
Pat Hagan/USFWS
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 11
Table 14. Avid Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
Total 14,063 100 1,412 100 13,975 100 1,385 100 13,034 100 1,298 100
Urban 6,631 47 443 31 6,402 46 467 34 5,873 45 363 28
Rural 7,432 53 969 69 7,574 54 918 66 7,161 55 935 72
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 100 1,384 100 13,034 100 1,298 100
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,123 15 78 6 1,803 14 88 7
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,660 41 558 40 5,946 46 513 40
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 44 748 54 5,285 41 697 54
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
Table 15. Avid Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
Total 14,063 1,412 10 13,975 1,385 10 13,034 1,298 10
Urban 6,631 443 7 6,402 467 7 5,873 363 6
Rural 7,432 969 13 7,574 918 12 7,161 935 13
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 1,384 10 13,034 1,298 10
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,123 78 4 1,803 88 5
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,660 558 10 5,946 513 9
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 748 12 5,285 697 13
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
Avid Hunters
In 2001 avid hunters constituted 11% of
big game hunters, 15% of migratory bird
hunters, 16% of small game hunters, and
34% of other animal hunters. Migratory
bird, small game, and particularly other
animal hunters tended to be more avid
than big game hunters. This was true for
1991 and 1996 as well.
Looking at the days data for 2001,
avid hunters accounted for 40% of all
hunting days: 37% of big game days,
39% of migratory bird days, 44% of small
game days, and a startling 71% of other
animal days. Over two-thirds of other
animal (nongame) hunting effort was
supplied by avid hunters, compared to
approximately one-third of big game
hunting effort.
Sociodemographic characteristics of
avid hunters help explain participation.
In 2001 72% of all avid hunters resided
in rural areas, compared to 55% of all
hunters living in rural areas. A similar
relationship held for 1991 and 1996. Rural
hunters are twice as likely to be avid as
urban hunters. In both 1991 and 2001 13%
of all rural hunters were avid, compared
to 6%-7% of urban hunters (6% in 2001,
7% in 1991). Perhaps the easier access to
hunting areas that rural residents have
is a strong factor in the avidity level of
hunters. The traditional rural culture is
almost certainly a factor as well.
Age also is a significant factor in avidity
levels. When the 16-17 and 18-24 year old
age cohorts are combined, the age group
with the fewest number of avid hunters in
2001 was the 65 year old and older cohort.
The age group with the most avid hunters
was the 35-44 year olds. Compared to
1991, when the age group with the most
avid hunters was the 25-34 year olds, avid
hunters in 2001 tended to be older. This is
also true with hunters as a whole.
Avid hunters have a tendency toward
having higher income, but not as strong
a tendency as that of hunters as a whole.
In 2001 42% of avid hunters had below
median household income, compared to
34% of all hunters. This pattern held in
1991 and 1996. Avid hunter income tends
to be lower than the income of hunters
as a whole. The trend from 1991 to 2001
was toward a bigger gap between the
numbers of below median and above
median income hunters.
12 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Table 16. Avid Hunters by Age Groups (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
Total 14,063 100 1,412 100 13,975 100 1,385 100 13,034 100 1,299 100
16-17 662 5 61 4 672 5 62 4 584 4 69 5
18-24 2,008 14 262 19 1,397 10 170 12 1,251 10 155 12
25-34 3,928 28 431 31 2,783 20 374 27 2,413 19 280 22
35-44 3,363 24 348 25 3,819 27 372 27 3,551 27 307 24
45-54 2,071 15 191 14 2,851 20 277 20 2,821 22 261 20
55-64 1,177 8 68 5 1,487 11 87 6 1,449 11 156 12
65 and older 836 6 51 4 967 7 43 3 965 7 71 5
Table 17. Avid Hunters by Age Groups (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Avid
Percent of
Participants
Total 14,063 1,412 10 13,975 1,385 10 13,034 1,299 10
16-17 662 61 9 672 62 9 584 69 12
18-24 2,008 262 13 1,397 170 12 1,251 155 12
25-34 3,928 431 11 2,783 374 13 2,413 280 12
35-44 3,363 348 10 3,819 372 10 3,551 307 9
45-54 2,071 191 9 2,851 277 10 2,821 261 9
55-64 1,177 68 6 1,487 87 6 1,449 156 11
65 and older 836 51 6 967 43 4 965 71 7
Table 18. Avid Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Avid
Percent
of Total
Total 12,714 100 1,290 100 12,219 100 1,228 100 10,979 100 1,084 100
Below median 5,424 43 602 47 5,272 43 603 49 3,703 34 460 42
Above median 7,290 57 688 53 6,947 57 625 51 7,276 66 624 58
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
Table 19. Avid Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
1991
Avid
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
1996
Avid
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
2001
Avid
Percent of
Participants
Total 12,714 1,290 10 12,219 1,228 10 10,979 1,084 10
Below median 5,424 602 11 5,272 603 11 3,703 460 12
Above median 7,290 688 9 6,947 625 9 7,276 624 9
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 13
Trends in Intermediate
Fishing and Hunting
The largest subgroup of anglers and
hunters is the intermediates, those people
who participate more than once or twice
a year but less than the avid threshold
(i.e., between 35 and 45 days per year,
depending on the activity and year).
Intermediates make up approximately
75% of participants and contribute
about half of all angling and hunting
days. What are their participation and
sociodemographic characteristics?
Intermediate participants in 2001 were
78% of all anglers. They provided 53%
of all fishing days — an average of
11 days per angler, compared to 10 days
in 1991. Hunting is a similar picture.
Intermediate hunters were 76% of all
hunters in 2001 and provided a total of
59% of all hunting days — an average
of 14 days per hunter, compared to
13 days in 1991.
Intermediate anglers numbered 26.8
million in 1991, 27.7 million in 1996, and
26.6 million in 2001, compared to all
anglers (35.6 million, 35.2 million, and
34.1 million, successively). Intermediate
hunters numbered 10.3 million, 10.9
million, and 10.0 million, compared to all
hunters (14.1 million to 14.0 million to
13.0 million) in the three survey years.
Intermediate Anglers
In 2001 intermediate anglers made up
79% of non-Great Lakes freshwater
anglers and 78% of saltwater anglers.
Intermediate anglers as a group did
not specialize in one type of fishing, but
as a group participated in freshwater
and saltwater roughly equally. 52% of
all freshwater days were provided by
intermediate anglers, while slightly
more, 56%, of all saltwater days were
provided by intermediate anglers. The
intermediate angler contributed nearly
the same proportion of all fishing days
for both freshwater and saltwater
fisheries. The data for 1991 and 1996
show similar patterns.
Table 20. Intermediate Angler Trends
(Numbers in thousands)
Fishing
Total
Participants
Intermediate
Participants
Percent of
Participants
Total
Days
Intermediate
Days
Percent
of Days
Intermediate
Mean Days
2001 34,070 26,588 78 557,394 294,411 53 11
1996 35,246 27,724 79 625,893 335,690 54 12
1991 35,578 26,835 75 511,329 255,478 50 10
Non-Great Lakes Freshwater
2001 27,913 22,153 79 443,247 232,297 52 10
1996 28,921 23,143 80 485,474 259,748 54 11
1991 30,186 23,067 76 430,922 213,409 50 9
Great Lakes
2001 1,847 1,374 74 23,138 10,405 45 8
1996 2,039 1,553 76 20,095 10,710 53 7
1991 2,552 1,894 74 25,335 12,360 49 7
Saltwater
2001 9,051 7,104 78 90,838 50,948 56 7
1996 9,438 7,392 78 103,034 58,961 57 8
1991 8,885 6,632 75 74,696 40,043 54 6
Note: Intermediate anglers determined by all fishing days, not type of fishing days (e.g., Great Lakes days).
14 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
A majority of intermediate anglers
resided in urban areas (63% in 1991 and
62% in 1996 and 2001). All demographic
findings for intermediates closely follow
those of all anglers. Focusing on urban
areas, in 2001 19.1 million intermediate
anglers, 72% of all intermediate anglers,
lived in a Metropolitan Statistical Area,
compared to 24.4 million total anglers,
72% of anglers as a whole, living in a
MSA.
In 2001 the age group that had the most
intermediate anglers was 35-44 year olds.
This was also true for all anglers. The age
group (after combining 16-17 and 18-24
year olds into one age group) that had
the fewest intermediates was 65 years
old and older, as was the case with all
anglers.
The average age of intermediate
anglers has increased from 1991 to
2001. Comparing 2001 and 1991 data,
16-34 year olds made up more of the
intermediate angler population in 1991
than in 2001 (44% compared to 32%).
Conversely, 45 year olds and older were
42% of all intermediate anglers in 2001,
39% in 1996, and 31% in 1991.
Intermediate anglers had nearly the
same proportion of below median income
anglers and above median income anglers
as the general angling population for all
three surveys. Above median income
anglers were slightly more likely to
be intermediate anglers — 76% of all
below median income anglers and 80%
of all above median income anglers were
intermediate anglers in 2001.
Table 21. Intermediate Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
Total 35,578 100 26,836 100 35,246 100 27,725 100 34,070 100 26,588 100
Urban 22,368 63 16,968 63 21,618 61 17,112 62 20,924 61 16,407 62
Rural 13,210 37 9,868 37 13,628 39 10,613 38 13,146 39 10,181 38
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 100 27,725 100 34,070 100 26,588 100
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 22 5,747 21 6,676 20 5,456 21
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 48 13,736 50 17,714 52 13,617 51
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 30 8,242 30 9,680 28 7,515 28
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
Table 22. Intermediate Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
Total 35,578 26,836 75 35,246 27,725 79 34,070 26,588 78
Urban 22,368 16,968 76 21,618 17,112 79 20,924 16,407 78
Rural 13,210 9,868 75 13,628 10,613 78 13,146 10,181 77
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 27,725 79 34,070 26,588 78
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 5,747 75 6,676 5,456 82
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 13,736 81 17,714 13,617 77
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 8,242 78 9,680 7,515 78
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 15
Table 23. Intermediate Anglers by Age Group (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
Total 35,578 100 26,835 100 35,246 100 27,724 100 34,070 100 26,589 100
16-17 1,481 4 1,127 4 1,406 4 1,100 4 1,319 4 1,028 4
18-24 4,589 13 3,338 12 3,321 9 2,594 9 2,931 9 2,319 9
25-34 9,927 28 7,442 28 7,175 20 5,636 20 6,578 19 5,112 19
35-44 8,583 24 6,560 24 9,673 27 7,735 28 9,047 27 7,147 27
45-54 4,891 14 3,870 14 7,020 20 5,460 20 6,940 20 5,495 21
55-64 3,270 9 2,449 9 3,537 10 2,763 10 4,168 12 3,113 12
65 and older 2,827 8 2,049 8 3,092 9 2,436 9 3,090 9 2,375 9
Table 24. Intermediate Anglers by Age Group (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
Total 35,578 26,835 75 35,246 27,724 79 34,070 26,589 78
16-17 1,481 1,127 76 1,406 1,100 78 1,319 1,028 78
18-24 4,589 3,338 73 3,321 2,594 78 2,931 2,319 79
25-34 9,927 7,442 75 7,175 5,636 79 6,578 5,112 78
35-44 8,583 6,560 76 9,673 7,735 80 9,047 7,147 79
45-54 4,891 3,870 79 7,020 5,460 78 6,940 5,495 79
55-64 3,270 2,449 75 3,537 2,763 78 4,168 3,113 75
65 and older 2,827 2,049 72 3,092 2,436 79 3,090 2,375 77
Table 25. Intermediate Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
Percent
of total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of total
All
Participants
Percent
of total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of total
All
Participants
Percent
of total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of total
Total 32,351 100 24,424 100 30,980 100 24,452 100 28,851 100 22,607 100
Below median 13,301 41 9,784 40 13,516 44 10,368 42 9,793 34 7,450 33
Above median 19,050 59 14,640 60 17,464 56 14,084 58 19,058 66 15,157 67
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
Table 26. Intermediate Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
Total 32,351 24,424 75 30,980 24,452 79 28,851 22,607 78
Below median 13,301 9,784 74 13,516 10,368 77 9,793 7,450 76
Above median 19,050 14,640 77 17,464 14,084 81 19,058 15,157 80
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
16 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Intermediate Hunters
In 2001 intermediate hunters, 76% of all
hunters, constituted 79% of big game
hunters, 77% of migratory bird hunters,
75% of small game hunters, and 63% of
other animal hunters. Big game hunting
was the biggest draw for intermediate
hunters, as it is for the avid and casual
subcategories of hunters, and as it was in
1991 and 1996.
Looking at the days data, 59% of all
hunting days in 2001 were provided by
intermediate hunters: 62% of all big
game days, 60% of all migratory bird
days, 55% of all small game days, and
29% of all other animal days. In 1991,
the days afield by intermediate hunters
were very close to 2001, with 57% of all
hunting days, 63% of big game days,
58% of migratory bird days, 54% of small
game days, and 30% of other animal
hunting days contributed by intermediate
hunters. The intermediate hunter has
maintained his/her share of all hunting
activity over the past three surveys, with
a small bump up in 1996 and a fall to 1991
levels in 2001.
The discussion of the sociodemographic
characteristics of intermediate hunters
begins with their urban/rural residence.
In 2001 54% of intermediate hunters
resided in rural areas, similar to the 53%
of intermediate hunters in 1991 and 1996.
Again, these percentages are very close
to those of hunters as a whole.
When the 16-17 and 18-24 year old age
cohorts are combined, the age group
with the fewest number of intermediate
hunters in 2001 was the 65 years old
and older cohort. 7% of intermediate
hunters were 65 years old and older,
compared to 5% of avids and 10% of
casuals of the same age. The age group
with the most intermediate hunters was
the 25-34 year olds in 1991 and the 35-44
year olds in 2001. This aging trend holds
for all subcategories of hunters: avid,
intermediate, and casual.
Intermediate hunters had a strong
tendency toward having higher income
in 2001. 33% of intermediate hunters had
below median household income. 34%
of hunters as a whole had below median
household income. Above median income
is a strong determinant for intermediate
hunting, as it is for hunting as a whole.
This is a difference between intermediate
hunters and avid hunters: the below
median income hunting group tends to
be less intermediate than the average
hunter, while the same group tends to be
more avid than the average hunter.
Table 27. Intermediate Hunting Trends
(Numbers in thousands)
Hunting
Total
Participants
Intermediate
Participants
Percent of
Participants
Total
Days
Intermediate
Days
Percent
of Days
Intermediate
Mean Days
2001 13,034 9,969 76 228,368 134,728 59 14
1996 13,975 10,916 78 256,676 154,945 60 14
1991 14,063 10,262 73 235,806 134,150 57 13
Big Game
2001 10,911 8,570 79 153,191 94,904 62 11
1996 11,288 8,957 79 153,784 98,477 64 11
1991 10,745 8,203 76 128,411 80,869 63 10
Small Game
2001 5,434 4,079 75 60,142 33,177 55 8
1996 6,945 5,379 77 75,117 46,043 61 9
1991 7,642 5,526 72 77,132 41,645 54 8
Migratory Birds
2001 2,956 2,278 77 29,310 17,601 60 8
1996 3,073 2,372 77 26,501 17,662 67 7
1991 3,009 2,063 69 22,235 12,800 58 6
Other Animals
2001 1,047 662 63 19,207 5,514 29 8
1996 1,521 977 64 24,522 8,497 35 9
1991 1,411 832 59 19,340 5,870 30 7
Note: Intermediate hunters determined by total days, not type of hunting days (e.g., Small Game days).
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 17
Table 28. Intermediate Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
Total 14,063 100 10,262 100 13,975 100 10,916 100 13,034 100 9,969 100
Urban 6,631 47 4,854 47 6,402 46 5,121 47 5,873 45 4,628 46
Rural 7,432 53 5,408 53 7,574 54 5,795 53 7,161 55 5,341 54
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 100 10,916 100 13,034 100 9,969 100
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,123 15 1,723 16 1,803 14 1,414 14
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,660 41 4,544 42 5,946 46 4,615 46
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 44 4649 43 5,285 41 3,940 40
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
Table 29. Intermediate Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
Total 14,063 10,262 73 13,975 10,916 78 13,034 9,969 76
Urban 6,631 4,854 73 6,402 5,121 80 5,873 4,628 79
Rural 7,432 5,408 73 7,574 5,795 77 7,161 5,341 75
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 10,916 78 13,034 9,969 76
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,123 1,723 81 1,803 1,414 78
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,660 4,544 80 5,946 4,615 78
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 4,649 75 5,285 3,940 75
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
18 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Table 30. Intermediate Hunters by Age Group (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
Total 14,063 100 10,261 100 13,975 100 10,915 100 13,034 100 9,970 100
16-17 662 5 449 4 672 5 540 5 584 4 434 4
18-24 2,008 14 1,392 14 1,397 10 1,037 10 1,251 10 878 9
25-34 3,928 28 2,847 28 2,783 20 2,080 19 2,413 19 1,775 18
35-44 3,363 24 2,524 25 3,819 27 3,024 28 3,551 27 2,807 28
45-54 2,071 15 1,560 15 2,851 20 2,248 21 2,821 22 2,251 23
55-64 1,177 8 925 9 1,487 11 1,239 11 1,449 11 1,101 11
65 and older 836 6 564 5 967 7 747 7 965 7 724 7
Table 31. Intermediate Hunters by Age Group (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
Total 14,063 10,261 73 13,975 10,915 78 13,034 9,970 76
16-17 662 449 68 672 540 80 584 434 74
18-24 2,008 1,392 69 1,397 1,037 74 1,251 878 70
25-34 3,928 2,847 72 2,783 2,080 75 2,413 1,775 74
35-44 3,363 2,524 75 3,819 3,024 79 3,551 2,807 79
45-54 2,071 1,560 75 2,851 2,248 79 2,821 2,251 80
55-64 1,177 925 79 1,487 1,239 83 1,449 1,101 76
65 and older 836 564 67 967 747 77 965 724 75
Table 32. Intermediate Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Inter-mediate
Percent
of Total
Total 12,714 100 9,297 100 12,219 100 9,525 100 10,979 100 8,441 100
Below median 5,424 43 3,890 42 5,272 43 3,986 42 3,703 34 2,763 33
Above median 7,290 57 5,407 58 6,947 57 5,539 58 7,276 66 5,678 67
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
Table 33. Intermediate Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Inter-mediate
Percent of
Participants
Total 12,714 9,297 73 12,219 9,525 78 10,979 8,441 77
Below median 5,424 3,890 72 5,272 3,986 76 3,703 2,763 75
Above median 7,290 5,407 74 6,947 5,539 80 7,276 5,678 78
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 19
Trends in Casual Fishing and Hunting
Another interesting subgroup of
anglers and hunters is the casuals,
those people who participate one or two
days in a year. Casuals barely made it
into the field compared to their avid
counterparts, and yet count as equal to
avids in participation tallies. What are
their behavior and sociodemographic
characteristics?
People who went fishing one day in
2001 made up 11% of all anglers. They
participated 1% of all fishing days.
Hunting is similar. 13% of all hunters
went one or two days in 2001 which is 1%
of all hunting days. 1991’s casual hunters
contributed 2% of all hunting days, and
1996’s went 1% of all hunting days. The
definition of a casual angler is one who
fished one day in the year and the casual
hunter is one who hunted one or two days
in the year.
As with all anglers, the number of casual
anglers has decreased with each survey,
from 4.9 million in 1991 to 3.8 million in
1996 to 3.6 million in 2001. In contrast,
the number of casual hunters decreased
then stabilized, from 2.3 million to 1.6
million to 1.7 million, compared to all
hunters (14.1 million to 14.0 million to
13.0 million). Both casual anglers and
casual hunters had their biggest drop
in numbers from 1991 to 1996, when the
overall numbers of anglers and hunters
remained the same. Further, the numbers
of casual anglers and hunters roughly
stabilized from 1996 to 2001 when
overall angling and hunting dropped
significantly. The trends in casual angling
and hunting have run counter to the
trends in overall angling and hunting.
Phyllis Cooper/USFWS
20 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Casual Anglers
In 2001 casual anglers made up 9% of
both non-Great Lakes freshwater anglers
and saltwater anglers. Casual anglers as
a group did not specialize in one type of
fishing, but participated in each in equal
proportions. This finding is supported
by the days data. 1% of all freshwater
days were provided by casual anglers.
The same was true of all saltwater days.
Again, the casual angler fishes the same
proportion of all days for both freshwater
fishing and saltwater fishing, without
preference for either. There was a slight
preference for saltwater fishing in 1991
and 1996.
One-third of casual anglers in 1991
and 1996 (and 36% in 2001) resided
in rural areas, compared to 39% of
anglers as a whole in 1996 and 2001.
A similar conclusion can be made using
the Metropolitan Statistical Area
information. The casual angler is less
likely than the average angler to come
from a rural area.
In 2001 the age group that had the most
casual anglers was 35-44 year olds. This
was also true for anglers as a whole (and
avid and intermediate anglers). And
again, in 1991 the age group that had
the most casual participation was the
25-34 year olds. The age group (after
combining 16-17 and 18-24 year olds
into one age group) that had the fewest
casuals was 65 years old and older. This
was the case with all anglers as well. The
casual angler age distribution closely
followed that of anglers as a whole.
Comparing 1991 and 2001 data, 16-34
year olds made up more of the casual
angler population in 1991 than in 2001
(49% compared to 33%). By contrast, 45
year olds and older were 28% of casual
anglers in 1991, 37% in 1996, and 39% in
2001. The overall angling population has
aged from 1991 to 2001, and the casual
angling population has followed suit.
In 2001 66% of all casual anglers had
an above median household income and
34% of all casual anglers had a household
income less than the median. The casual
angler income distribution approximately
followed that of anglers as a whole for all
three surveys.
Table 34. Casual Fishing Trends
(Numbers in thousands)
Total
Participants
Casual
Participants
Percent of
Participants
Total
Days
Casual
Days
Percent
of Days
Casual
Mean Days
Fishing
2001 34,070 3,595 11 557,394 3,595 1 1
1996 35,246 3,816 11 625,893 3,816 1 1
1991 35,578 4,862 14 511,329 4,862 1 1
Non-Great Lakes Freshwater
2001 27,913 2,389 9 443,247 2,404 1 1
1996 28,921 2,623 9 485,474 2,636 1 1
1991 30,186 3,548 12 430,922 4,066 1 1
Great Lakes
2001 1,847 100 5 23,138 100 (Z) 1
1996 2,039 139 7 20,095 139 1 1
1991 2,552 198 8 25,335 198 1 1
Saltwater
2001 9,051 851 9 90,838 853 1 1
1996 9,438 992 11 103,034 1,006 1 1
1991 8,885 1,120 13 74,696 1,246 2 1
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent.
Note: Casuals determined by total days, not type of fishing days (e.g., Great Lakes days).
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 21
Table 35. Casual Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
Total 35,578 100 4,862 100 35,246 100 3,816 100 34,070 100 3,595 100
Urban 22,368 63 3,199 66 21,618 61 2,521 66 20,925 61 2,297 64
Rural 13,210 37 1,663 34 13,628 39 1,295 34 13,146 39 1,298 36
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 100 3,815 100 34,070 100 3,595 100
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 22 1,073 28 6,676 20 665 18
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 48 1,680 44 17,714 52 2,035 57
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 30 1,062 28 9,680 28 895 25
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
Table 36. Casual Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
Total 35,578 4,862 14 35,246 3,816 11 34,070 3,595 11
Urban 22,368 3,199 14 21,618 2,521 12 20,925 2,297 11
Rural 13,210 1,663 13 13,628 1,295 10 13,146 1,298 10
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 3,815 11 34,070 3,595 11
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 1,073 14 6,676 665 10
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 1,680 10 17,714 2,035 11
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 1,062 10 9,680 895 9
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
22 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Table 37. Casual Anglers by Age Group (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
Total 35,578 100 4,862 100 35,246 100 3,816 100 34,070 100 3,595 100
16-17 1,481 4 198 4 1,406 4 151 4 1,319 4 149 4
18-24 4,589 13 659 14 3,321 9 389 10 2,931 9 270 8
25-34 9,927 28 1,492 31 7,175 20 700 18 6,578 19 750 21
35-44 8,583 24 1,150 24 9,673 27 1,178 31 9,047 27 1,009 28
45-54 4,891 14 513 11 7,020 20 722 19 6,940 20 692 19
55-64 3,270 9 407 8 3,537 10 379 10 4,168 12 443 12
65 and older 2,827 8 443 9 3,092 9 297 8 3,090 9 282 8
Table 38. Casual Anglers by Age Group (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
Total 35,578 4,862 14 35,246 3,816 11 34,070 3,595 11
16-17 1,481 198 13 1,406 151 11 1,319 149 11
18-24 4,589 659 14 3,321 389 12 2,931 270 9
25-34 9,927 1,492 15 7,175 700 10 6,578 750 11
35-44 8,583 1,150 13 9,673 1,178 12 9,047 1,009 11
45-54 4,891 513 10 7,020 722 10 6,940 692 10
55-64 3,270 407 12 3,537 379 11 4,168 443 11
65 and older 2,827 443 16 3,092 297 10 3,090 282 9
Table 39. Casual Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
Total 32,351 100 4,389 100 30,980 100 3,230 100 28,851 100 2,998 100
Below median 13,301 41 1,848 42 13,516 44 1,340 41 9,793 34 1,020 34
Above median 19,050 59 2,541 58 17,464 56 1,890 59 19,058 66 1,978 66
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
Table 40. Casual Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
Total 32,351 4,389 14 30,980 3,230 10 28,851 2,998 10
Below median 13,301 1,848 14 13,516 1,340 10 9,793 1,020 10
Above median 19,050 2,541 13 17,464 1,890 11 19,058 1,978 10
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 23
Casual Hunters
In 2001 casual hunters constituted 10%
of big game hunters, 8% of small game
hunters, 7% of migratory bird hunters,
and 2% of other animal hunters. Big
game hunting was the biggest draw for
casual hunters, as it was for all hunters.
Looking at this trend over the last
three surveys, it is interesting that in
1991 the participation rate of casuals in
big game hunting was matched by the
participation rate of both small game
and migratory bird casual hunting
whereas small game and migratory
bird hunting participation dropped
in 2001 more than big game hunting
participation. There are two points to be
made about the changes in small game
and migratory bird hunting from 1991
to 2001. The 29% drop in overall small
game hunting from 1991 to 2001 was
reflected in the three subgroups, led
by the 47% drop in small game hunting
by casuals. However, migratory bird
hunting remained level from 1991-2001,
with the drop in casuals of 37% balanced
by a 10% increase in intermediate
migratory bird hunters.
1% of all hunting days in 2001 was
provided by casual hunters. Casual
hunters contributed 1% of big game,
1% of migratory bird, 1% of small game,
and less than 0.5% of other animal
hunting days. In 1991, casual hunters
accounted for 2% of all hunting days, as
well as 2% of big game, small game, and
migratory bird hunting days, and 1% of
other animal days. The casual hunter
did not participate as much in 2001 as in
1991, which partly explains the change in
hunting participation numbers, although
their influence on total hunting days is
very small.
The discussion of the sociodemographic
characteristics of casual hunters
begins with the urban/rural residence
of participants. In 2001, 50% of all
casual hunters resided in rural areas,
compared to 55% of hunters as a whole
living in rural areas. This pattern of
casual hunters tending to be more urban
than hunters as a whole held in 1991
and 1996 as well. Furthermore, 14%
of urban-based hunters were casual in
2001, compared to 19% in 1991. 12% of
rural-based hunters were casual in 2001,
compared to 14% in 1991. This means
that while the number of casual hunters
declined from 1991 to 2001, the number
of urban-based casual hunters declined
more than rural-based casual hunters.
Table 41. Casual Hunting Trends
(Numbers in thousands)
Total
Participants
Casual
Participants
Percent of
Participants
Total
Days
Casual
Days
Percent
of Days
Casual
Mean Days
Hunting, total
2001 13,034 1,672 13 228,368 2,607 1 2
1996 13,975 1,606 11 256,676 2,541 1 2
1991 14,063 2,301 16 235,806 3,559 2 2
Big Game
2001 10,911 1,054 10 153,191 1,673 1 2
1996 11,288 989 9 153,784 1,576 1 2
1991 10,745 1,184 11 128,411 1,989 2 2
Small Game
2001 5,434 443 8 60,142 633 1 1
1996 6,945 452 7 75,117 662 1 1
1991 7,642 836 11 77,132 1,261 2 2
Migratory Birds
2001 2,956 214 7 29,310 310 1 1
1996 3,073 170 6 26,501 254 1 1
1991 3,009 338 11 22,235 504 2 1
Other Animals
2001 1,047 19 2 19,207 27 (Z) 1
1996 1,521 54 4 24,522 80 (Z) 1
1991 1,411 45 3 19,340 189 1 4
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent.
Note: Casuals determined by total days, not type of hunting days (e.g., Small Game days).
24 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
When the 16-17 and 18-24 year old age
cohorts are combined, the age group
with the fewest number of casual hunters
in 2001 was the 65 years old and older
cohort. 10% of casual hunters were 65
years old and older, compared to 7% of
hunters as a whole. The age group with
the most casual hunters was the 35-44
year olds in 2001, compared to 1991
when it was the 25-34 year olds. As with
hunters as a whole, the casual hunter in
2001 tended to be older than in 1991.
Casual hunters had a stronger tendency
toward having higher incomes in 2001
than in 1991 or 1996. Only 32% of casual
hunters had a below median household
income in 2001, similar to the 34% of
hunters as a whole who had below median
income. If one is trying to find hunters
among the general population, above
median income is a determinant in casual
(and intermediate) hunting levels. But if
one is trying to find casual hunters in the
general hunter population, above median
income is no help in selecting casual (and
intermediate) hunters, since hunters as a
whole tend to have above median income.
In short, casual (and intermediate)
hunters had income distributions that
closely followed that of hunters as a
whole. This conclusion also holds for
1991 and 1996.
The percentages of below and above
median income for hunters as a whole
in 1991 and 1996 were 43% and 57%
respectively, compared to 2001’s 34%
below median income and 66% above
median income. The tendency toward
above median income by hunters held in
each survey, but it was more pronounced
in 2001.
Table 42. Casual Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
Total 14,063 100 2,300 100 13,975 100 1,606 100 13,034 100 1,672 100
Urban 6,631 47 1,270 55 6,402 46 805 50 5,873 45 843 50
Rural 7,432 53 1,030 45 7,573 54 801 50 7,161 55 829 50
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 100 1,606 100 13,034 100 1,672 100
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,120 15 319 20 1,792 14 290 17
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,637 40 535 33 5,889 45 761 46
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 44 752 47 5,285 41 621 37
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
Table 43. Casual Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Urban/Rural Cohorts
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
Total 14,063 2,300 16 13,975 1,606 11 13,034 1,672 13
Urban 6,631 1,270 19 6,402 805 13 5,873 843 14
Rural 7,432 1,030 14 7,573 801 11 7,161 829 12
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1)
Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 1,606 11 13,034 1,672 13
In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,120 319 15 1,792 290 16
In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,637 535 9 5,889 761 13
Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 752 12 5,285 621 12
(1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau
of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently.
N.A. Not available
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 25
Table 44. Casual Hunters by Age Group (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
Total 14,063 100 2,300 100 13,975 100 1,606 100 13,034 100 1,671 100
16-17 662 5 139 6 672 5 67 4 584 4 78 5
18-24 2,008 14 351 15 1,397 10 169 11 1,251 10 216 13
25-34 3,928 28 636 28 2,783 20 322 20 2,413 19 338 20
35-44 3,363 24 479 21 3,819 27 414 26 3,551 27 401 24
45-54 2,071 15 313 14 2,851 20 315 20 2,821 22 293 18
55-64 1,177 8 181 8 1,487 11 143 9 1,449 11 178 11
65 and older 836 6 201 9 967 7 176 11 965 7 167 10
Table 45. Casual Hunters by Age Group (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Age Cohorts
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
Total 14,063 2,300 16 13,975 1,606 11 13,034 1,671 13
16-17 662 139 21 672 67 10 584 78 13
18-24 2,008 351 17 1,397 169 12 1,251 216 17
25-34 3,928 636 16 2,783 322 12 2,413 338 14
35-44 3,363 479 14 3,819 414 11 3,551 401 11
45-54 2,071 313 15 2,851 315 11 2,821 293 10
55-64 1,177 181 15 1,487 143 10 1,449 178 12
65 and older 836 201 24 967 176 18 965 167 17
Table 46. Casual Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Totals)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
All
Participants
Percent
of Total
Casual
Percent
of Total
Total 12,714 100 2,062 100 12,219 100 1,417 100 10,979 100 1,377 100
Below median 5,424 43 900 44 5,272 43 654 46 3,703 34 446 32
Above median 7,290 57 1,162 56 6,947 57 763 54 7,276 66 931 68
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
Table 47. Casual Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Participants)
(Numbers in thousands)
1991 1996 2001
Household income
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
All
Participants
Casual
Percent of
Participants
Total 12,714 2,062 16 12,219 1,417 12 10,979 1,377 13
Below median 5,424 900 17 5,272 654 12 3,703 446 12
Above median 7,290 1,162 16 6,947 763 11 7,276 931 13
Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income.
26 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Comparison of Avid, Intermediate, and
Casual Participants
Going into this research, the assumption
was that avid participants would
be markedly different from casual
participants. Indeed, the difference in
average days is huge. But what about
the circumstances of the participants’
age and urban/rural status? What
about household income? What are the
differences there?
Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate avid,
intermediate, and casual angling in
1991, 1996, and 2001. The year with the
most casuals was 1991, when 4.9 million
anglers fished only one day. This dropped
significantly in 1996 to 3.8 million.
The increase in intermediate anglers
maintained the overall level of angling for
1996 compared to 1991. Of note for 2001
is the drop in intermediate anglers, from
27.7 million in 1996 to 26.6 million in 2001.
This was not compensated by an increase
in avid or casual angling, so overall
angling decreased from 1996 to 2001.
Figure 4. 1991 Fishing
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 5. 1996 Fishing
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 6. 2001 Fishing
(Numbers in thousands)
Avids 3,705
Casuals 4,862
Intermediates 26,835
Avids 3,361
Intermediates 27,724 Casuals 3,816
Avids 3,544
Intermediates 26,589 Casuals 3,595
Total 35.6 million anglers
Total 35.2 million anglers
Total 34.1 million anglers
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 27
Figures 7, 8, and 9 graphically illustrate
the hunting subgroups for the three
survey years. As with fishing, there
was a significant drop in casual
participation from 1991 to 1996 which
was compensated by an increase in
intermediate hunting. And again as in
fishing, there was a drop in intermediate
hunters from 1996 to 2001 which was not
counterbalanced by an increase in avid or
casual hunting.
Figure 7. 1991 Hunting
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 8. 1996 Hunting
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 9. 2001 Hunting
(Numbers in thousands)
Avids 1,412
Casuals 2,301
Intermediates 10,261
Avids 1,385
Intermediates 10,915 Casuals 1,606
Avids 1,299
Casuals 1,671
Intermediates 9,970
Total 14.1 million hunters
Total 14.0 million hunters
Total 13.0 million hunters
28 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
For fishing, the age cohort with the most
participants was 25-34 year olds for all
three groups in 1991, and 35-44 year olds
for all three groups in 1996 and 2001. The
age group with the fewest participants
for all three subgroups was 65 years old
and older for all three surveys (there was
one exception: the 55-64 year old group
was smaller than the 65 year old and
older group for casual anglers in 1991).
In addition to comparing the number of
participants by age cohort, comparing
the percentage of age cohorts that are
avid, intermediate, and casual anglers
yields insights. Keeping in mind that 10%
of all anglers in each survey year were
avid, one looks for the age cohorts in
which there is variation from this overall
norm. The pattern that stands out for
avids is the age group with the lowest
percentage of avidity across surveys:
35-44 year olds consistently have the
lowest percentage of avids for angling.
The fact that this age group also provided
the most avids in 1996 and 2001 is due to
35-44 year olds being the biggest group
of anglers for those years. There is no
noteworthy variation across age groups
for intermediates or casuals.
Figure 10. 1991 Fishing
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 11. 1996 Fishing
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 12. 2001 Fishing
(Numbers in thousands)
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Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 29
Avid, intermediate, and casual anglers
were more likely to live in urban areas.
A range of 53-56% of avids, 62-63% of
intermediates, and 64-66% of casuals
lived in urban areas the three surveyed
years. These percentages show that
anglers are more likely urban-based,
although not as likely as the average
American. The general American
population’s urban-based range is
72-74%.5 Avids tended to be less urban
than the other two subgroups, but were
still more likely to be urbanites than
ruralites.
5 Source: 1991, 1996, and 2001 National
Reports of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation. They can be accessed
at http://fa.r9.fws.gov/surveys/surveys.html
Figure 13. 1991 Fishing
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 14. 1996 Fishing
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 15. 2001 Fishing
(Numbers in thousands)
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30 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
For hunting, the age cohort with the most
participants was 25-34 year olds for avids,
intermediates, and casuals in 1991, and
35-44 year olds for the three groups in
1996 and 2001. The age group with the
fewest participants was 65 years old and
older for nearly all three subgroups for
all three surveys (the exception was in
1991 and 1996 when the 55-64 year old
group numbered fewer than the 65 year
old and older group for casual hunters).
Another approach is to compare
percentages of age cohorts that are
avid, intermediate, and casual hunters.
The age group that had the lowest
avidity percentage (and highest casual
percentage) across the three surveys
is the 65 year old and older cohort (in
1991 the 55-64 year old group joined
them). The age group that consistently
rated above the overall norm in avidity
was the 18-34 year olds. If people 18-34
years old decide to hunt, they are more
likely to hunt a lot. 35-44 year olds have
been at or slightly under the national
norm in avidity percentage. As for casual
hunting, the age group with the lowest
percentage in 1991 was the 35-44 year
old group, and ten years later in 2001
it was the 45-54 year olds. Finally, the
highest intermediate hunters percentage
in 2001 was the 45-54 year olds and the
lowest was the 18-24 year olds. In 1991
the lowest percentage was that of the 65
year old and older hunters, and in 1996 it
was the 18-24 year olds. There has been
a significant decline in participation by
the 18-24 year old group, as also noted
in the 1996 Survey trends report, “1980-
1995 Participation in Fishing, Hunting,
and Wildlife Watching,” Washington,
D.C. 1999.
Figure 16. 1991 Hunting
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 17. 1996 Hunting
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 18. 2001 Hunting
(Numbers in thousands)
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Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 31
A significant area where there were
differences among subcategories
for hunting was the urban/rural
demographic. Casual hunters in 1996 and
2001 lived in urban areas and rural areas
equally and in 1991 lived more in urban
areas than in rural areas. But for the
intermediate and avid hunting groups in
the three surveyed years, the majority
(53%) of the intermediates and the strong
majority (nearly 70%) of avids lived in
rural areas.
Figure 19. 1991 Hunting
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 20. 1996 Hunting
(Numbers in thousands)
Figure 21. 2001 Hunting
(Numbers in thousands)
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32 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Number of In-State Anglers and Hunters
State trends in fishing and hunting
do not necessarily follow national
trends. National fishing and hunting
participation trends encompass a wide
variation at the state level.
For example, while national fishing
participation fell 4% from 1991 to 2001, in
North Dakota fishing increased 81% and
in Michigan fishing decreased 23%. The
three states with the largest increases
were North Dakota, Utah (63%), and
Alaska (36%, 25% for freshwater anglers,
48% for saltwater anglers), all western
states with small populations and
significant wilderness expanse. The one
other state with a significant increase
in fishing activity was Florida, with a
16% uptick (interestingly, this increase
is solely due to the increase in saltwater
anglers). The eastern seaboard states
of New York, New Jersey, and North
Carolina saw significant decreases in
fishing. Two states with a 16% drop in
participation from 1991 to 2001, New
York (-28% for freshwater anglers and
-17% for saltwater anglers) and New
Jersey (-19% for freshwater anglers
and -23% for saltwater anglers), are
states that abut each other. Another
state with a significant decrease is North
Carolina, with a 13% downturn (-17%
for freshwater anglers and +5% for
saltwater anglers). The changes for all
other states were not significant, which
means the apparent upturn or downturn
in fishing activity may not be a real
change, but instead due to sampling
factors.
Part Two – State Trends
Table 48. State Freshwater Fishing Participation Trends
(In-state participation, numbers in thousands)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 31,041 29,734 -4 28,439 -4 -8
Alabama 831 843 1 732 -13 -12
Alaska 213 313 47 266 -15 25
Arizona 480 483 1 419 -13 -13
Arkansas 769 739 -4 782 6 2
California 2,118 2,175 3 1,865 -14 -12
Colorado 778 787 1 915 16 18
Connecticut 255 318 25 254 -20 (Z)
Delaware 45 66 47 73 11 62
Florida 1,311 1,137 -13 1,316 16 (Z)
Georgia 1,066 967 -9 1,017 5 -5
Hawaii 32 22 -31 12 -45 -63
Idaho 365 474 30 416 -12 14
Illinois 1,359 1,351 -1 1,237 -8 -9
Indiana 986 992 1 874 -12 -11
Iowa 556 477 -14 542 14 -3
Kansas 453 341 -25 404 18 -11
Kentucky 766 772 1 780 1 2
Louisiana 785 815 4 659 -19 -16
Maine 361 290 -20 272 -6 -25
Maryland 392 319 -19 367 15 -6
Massachusetts 373 377 1 325 -14 -13
Michigan 1,762 1,824 4 1,354 -26 -23
Minnesota 1,450 1,538 6 1,624 6 12
Mississippi 565 487 -14 494 1 -13
Missouri 1,329 1,138 -14 1,215 7 -9
Montana 342 329 -4 349 6 2
Nebraska 252 247 -2 296 20 17
Nevada 171 219 28 172 -21 1
New Hampshire 267 237 -11 221 -7 -17
New Jersey 411 428 4 331 -23 -19
New Mexico 281 312 11 314 1 12
New York 1,454 1,295 -11 1,052 -19 -28
North Carolina 1,019 1,009 -1 848 -16 -17
North Dakota 99 90 -9 179 99 81
Ohio 1,515 1,231 -19 1,371 11 -10
Oklahoma 804 891 11 774 -13 -4
Oregon 605 589 -3 611 4 1
Pennsylvania 1,397 1,277 -9 1,266 -1 -9
Rhode Island 66 72 9 51 -29 -23
South Carolina 645 716 11 591 -17 -8
South Dakota 158 213 35 214 (Z) 35
Tennessee 996 767 -23 903 18 -9
Texas 2,074 2,147 4 1,842 -14 -11
Utah 317 397 25 517 30 63
Vermont 181 176 -3 171 -3 -6
Virginia 780 761 -2 721 -5 -8
Washington 681 768 13 659 -14 -3
West Virginia 339 323 -5 318 -2 -6
Wisconsin 1,470 1,474 (Z) 1,412 -4 -4
Wyoming 301 379 26 293 -23 -3
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 33
Table 49. State Saltwater Fishing Participation Trends
(In-state participation, numbers in thousands)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 8,885 9,438 6 9,051 -4 2
Alabama 137 160 17 167 4 22
Alaska 183 283 55 271 -4 48
California 1,057 1,049 -1 932 -11 -12
Connecticut 145 178 23 161 -10 11
Delaware 130 148 14 88 -41 -32
Florida 2,051 2,255 10 2,437 8 19
Georgia 72 137 90 98 -28 36
Hawaii 192 244 27 144 -41 -25
Louisiana 240 346 44 504 46 110
Maine 143 106 -26 150 42 5
Maryland 431 498 16 370 -26 -14
Massachusetts 393 429 9 376 -12 -4
Mississippi 148 121 -18 106 -12 -28
New Hampshire 75 46 -39 70 52 -7
New Jersey 746 841 13 572 -32 -23
New York 491 476 -3 406 -15 -17
North Carolina 626 770 23 657 -15 5
Oregon 225 162 -28 183 13 -19
Rhode Island 125 108 -14 149 38 19
South Carolina 298 382 28 348 -9 17
Texas 828 862 4 860 (Z) 4
Virginia 339 377 11 385 2 14
Washington 504 378 -25 386 2 -23
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent
34 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
The 7% drop in the number of hunters
nationally from 1991 to 2001 saw
extremes of a 42% increase in hunters in
South Dakota and a 39% drop in hunters
in both California and Massachusetts.
Three states experienced significant
increases in hunting activity, South
Dakota (largely due to non-big game
hunting6), Arkansas (37%, with big game
hunting increasing 29% and non-big game
hunting 42%), and Minnesota (30%, with
big game hunting increasing 47% and
non-big game hunting decreasing 16%).
States with statistically significant
hunting downturns were California (big
game decreased 34% and non-big game
hunting decreased 50%), Massachusetts
(big game hunting decreased 32% and
non-big game hunting decreased 52%),
Illinois (-31%, with big game hunting a
mere -4% and non-big game hunting a
whopping -58%), Iowa (-26%, with big
game hunting dropping 11% and non-big
game hunting decreasing 34%), North
Carolina (-26%, with big game hunting
-22% and non-big game hunting -33%),
and Ohio (-20%, with big game hunting
increasing 8% and non-big game hunting
decreasing 31%). All other states had
statistically insignificant changes in
hunting activity.
Table 50. State Big Game Hunting Participation Trends
(In-state participation, numbers in thousands)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 10,745 11,288 5 10,911 -3 2
Alabama 262 279 6 392 41 50
Alaska 60 64 7 84 31 40
Arizona 103 100 -3 81 -19 -21
Arkansas 249 298 20 322 8 29
California 195 294 51 129 -56 -34
Colorado 286 411 44 235 -43 -18
Connecticut 30 43 43 33 -23 10
Delaware 16 28 75 11 -61 -31
Florida 191 159 -17 188 18 -2
Georgia 329 322 -2 342 6 4
Hawaii 16 20 25 15 -25 -6
Idaho 160 215 34 156 -27 -3
Illinois 256 264 3 245 -7 -4
Indiana 206 262 27 215 -18 4
Iowa 156 203 30 139 -32 -11
Kansas 71 114 61 159 39 124
Kentucky 209 282 35 264 -6 26
Louisiana 203 228 12 212 -7 4
Maine 158 172 9 156 -9 -1
Maryland 102 111 9 126 14 24
Massachusetts 85 76 -11 58 -24 -32
Michigan 757 855 13 680 -20 -10
Minnesota 336 486 45 493 1 47
Mississippi 305 352 15 295 -16 -3
Missouri 411 457 11 423 -7 3
Montana 202 161 -20 206 28 2
Nebraska 67 77 15 89 16 33
Nevada 28 28 (Z) 25 -11 -11
New Hampshire 62 66 6 71 8 15
New Jersey 101 75 -26 111 48 10
New Mexico 87 73 -16 112 53 29
New York 666 596 -11 664 11 (Z)
North Carolina 288 266 -8 224 -16 -22
North Dakota 58 59 2 74 25 28
Ohio 390 322 -17 422 31 8
Oklahoma 130 226 74 212 -6 63
Oregon 223 254 14 226 -11 1
Pennsylvania 969 816 -16 956 17 -1
Rhode Island 16 20 25 6 -70 -63
South Carolina 184 245 33 217 -11 18
South Dakota 69 79 14 75 -5 9
Tennessee 231 277 20 262 -5 13
Texas 739 775 5 888 15 20
Utah 151 118 -22 171 45 13
Vermont 93 91 -2 94 3 1
Virginia 328 332 1 322 -3 -2
Washington 197 233 18 187 -20 -5
West Virginia 308 352 14 269 -24 -13
Wisconsin 672 584 -13 606 4 -10
Wyoming 123 109 -11 110 1 -11
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent
6 Due to sample size considerations, hunting
at the state level is divided into big game and
non-big game hunting.
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 35
Table 51. State Non-Big Game Hunting Participation Trends
(In-state participation, numbers in thousands)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 9,065 8,445 -7 7,098 -16 -22
Alabama 226 160 -29 170 6 -25
Alaska 33 38 17 27 -29 -17
Arizona 112 105 -6 103 -2 -8
Arkansas 190 255 34 268 5 41
California 378 391 4 188 -52 -50
Colorado 121 141 17 107 -24 -12
Connecticut 39 31 -20 24 -24 -39
Delaware 21 27 30 10 -64 -53
Florida 162 81 -50 120 49 -26
Georgia 199 218 10 201 -8 1
Hawaii 5 10 80 8 -18 48
Idaho 91 111 22 85 -23 -7
Illinois 332 312 -6 141 -55 -58
Indiana 253 213 -16 170 -20 -33
Iowa 277 292 6 183 -37 -34
Kansas 218 241 11 231 -4 6
Kentucky 289 252 -13 180 -28 -38
Louisiana 262 290 11 230 -21 -12
Maine 72 91 28 71 -22 -1
Maryland 97 86 -11 83 -3 -14
Massachusetts 71 45 -37 35 -23 -52
Michigan 421 493 17 245 -50 -42
Minnesota 295 349 18 342 -2 16
Mississippi 226 261 15 214 -18 -6
Missouri 331 344 4 207 -40 -38
Montana 74 74 (Z) 62 -16 -16
Nebraska 153 148 -3 130 -12 -15
Nevada 41 36 -13 37 5 -9
New Hampshire 40 45 11 27 -40 -34
New Jersey 93 48 -49 67 41 -28
New Mexico 41 39 -5 48 22 16
New York 362 285 -21 342 20 -5
North Carolina 265 276 4 177 -36 -33
North Dakota 73 52 -28 104 99 42
Ohio 486 347 -29 337 -3 -31
Oklahoma 195 179 -8 157 -12 -19
Oregon 84 115 37 86 -25 2
Pennsylvania 628 458 -27 500 9 -20
Rhode Island 16 13 -18 6 -53 -62
South Carolina 132 163 23 142 -12 8
South Dakota 129 154 20 219 42 71
Tennessee 278 279 (Z) 226 -19 -19
Texas 704 519 -26 797 54 13
Utah 71 63 -11 93 48 31
Vermont 61 49 -20 34 -31 -45
Virginia 275 187 -32 153 -18 -44
Washington 134 147 10 101 -31 -24
West Virginia 212 198 -7 135 -32 -36
Wisconsin 335 343 3 239 -30 -29
Wyoming 35 52 48 44 -14 28
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent
36 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Number of Fishing and Hunting Days
The number of fishing days rose 9%
from 1991 to 2001 nationally. At the state
level there were significant drops in
only two states: Pennsylvania’s 25% and
Michigan’s 24% decreases. Four states
had significant increases: Utah’s 96%,
Minnesota’s 66%, Colorado’s 47%, and
Florida’s 28% (with freshwater’s 35%
increase and saltwater’s 33%).
Table 52. State Freshwater Fishing Days Trend
(In-state participation, numbers in thousands)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 439,536 515,115 17 466,984 -9 6
Alabama 11,215 14,256 27 9,877 -31 -12
Alaska 2,086 3,602 73 2,110 -41 1
Arizona 4,074 4,689 15 4,246 -9 4
Arkansas 11,002 9,661 -12 13,006 35 18
California 18,712 28,987 55 19,385 -33 4
Colorado 6,284 8,232 31 9,267 13 47
Connecticut 3,460 3,880 12 3,516 -9 2
Delaware 569 980 72 609 -38 7
Florida 15,465 18,409 19 20,840 13 35
Georgia 15,341 12,857 -16 13,076 2 -15
Hawaii 207 189 -9 194 3 -6
Idaho 3,157 4,411 40 4,070 -8 29
Illinois 16,808 20,459 22 16,133 -21 -4
Indiana 12,306 15,811 28 14,192 -10 15
Iowa 6,062 7,062 16 7,485 6 23
Kansas 4,981 6,355 28 5,662 -11 14
Kentucky 9,895 9,631 -3 12,394 29 25
Louisiana 12,026 18,493 54 8,419 -54 -30
Maine 3,960 4,108 4 3,422 -17 -14
Maryland 4,354 4,290 -1 4,269 (Z) -2
Massachusetts 6,011 6,746 12 4,560 -32 -24
Michigan 25,319 28,709 13 19,320 -33 -24
Minnesota 18,080 27,002 49 30,083 11 66
Mississippi 8,338 8,213 -1 8,466 3 2
Missouri 15,136 14,682 -3 13,279 -10 -12
Montana 3,156 2,617 -17 4,068 55 29
Nebraska 2,734 3,004 10 3,204 7 17
Nevada 1,218 1,976 62 1,575 -20 29
New Hampshire 2,720 3,139 15 2,871 -9 6
New Jersey 5,911 6,021 2 5,553 -8 -6
New Mexico 1,943 2,836 46 2,485 -12 28
New York N.A. 21,010 N.A. 17,379 -17 N.A.
North Carolina 13,015 15,831 22 12,073 -24 -7
North Dakota 993 1,321 33 2,186 65 120
Ohio 18,880 17,848 -5 19,882 11 5
Oklahoma 12,079 14,674 21 12,741 -13 5
Oregon 6,490 7,118 10 7,895 11 22
Pennsylvania 24,313 20,901 -14 18,313 -12 -25
Rhode Island 1,049 1,347 28 649 -52 -38
South Carolina 9,329 11,342 22 8,713 -23 -7
South Dakota 1,722 2,748 60 2,984 9 73
Tennessee 13,690 11,317 -17 15,035 33 10
Texas 29,092 37,575 29 25,650 -32 -12
Utah 2,672 3,926 47 5,238 33 96
Vermont 2,258 1,951 -14 2,321 19 3
Virginia 10,504 9,282 -12 10,849 17 3
Washington 8,583 10,975 28 9,800 -11 14
West Virginia 4,107 5,040 23 4,152 -18 1
Wisconsin 21,257 17,130 -19 22,042 29 4
Wyoming 2,348 2,415 3 2,497 3 6
N.A. Not available
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 37
Table 53. State Saltwater Fishing Days Trend
(In-state participation, numbers in thousands)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 74,696 103,034 38 90,838 -12 22
Alabama 1,173 1,561 33 1,340 -14 14
Alaska 1,066 1,949 83 1,531 -21 44
California 5,499 7,302 33 8,345 14 52
Connecticut 1,226 1,747 42 1,398 -20 14
Delaware 759 1,612 112 698 -57 -8
Florida 22,634 25,140 11 30,123 20 33
Georgia 606 993 64 467 -53 -23
Hawaii 2,189 2,901 33 2,567 -12 17
Louisiana 2,612 2,083 -20 4,673 124 79
Maine 843 989 17 727 -26 -14
Maryland 2,526 5,264 108 3,169 -40 25
Massachusetts 3,282 3,954 20 3,304 -16 1
Mississippi 807 1,443 79 988 -32 22
New Hampshire 293 314 7 320 2 9
New Jersey 6,071 10,366 71 5,114 -51 -16
New York 3,598 5,151 43 4,430 -14 23
North Carolina 3,525 5,677 61 3,402 -40 -3
Oregon 1,072 870 -19 953 10 -11
Rhode Island 1,091 947 -13 1,508 59 38
South Carolina 1,556 2,451 58 2,013 -18 29
Texas 6,823 13,030 91 7,538 -42 10
Virginia 1,853 5,156 178 3,279 -36 77
Washington 3,557 2,135 -40 2,941 38 -17
38 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
The number of hunting days nationally
declined a statistically insignificant 3%
from 1991 to 2001. Three states had
significant increases: Utah with 81% (27%
big game hunting, 235% non-big game
hunting), Minnesota with 61% (117% big
game, 29% non-big game), and Arkansas
with 53% (80% big game, 46% non-big
game). Four states had significant losses:
Michigan’s -40% (-29% big game, -48%
non-big game), California’s -34% (-42%
big game, -26% non-big game), Illinois’
-34% (24% big game, -63% non-big game),
and Virginia’s -33% (-17% big game, -54%
non-big game).
Table 54. State Big Game Hunting Days Trend
(In-state participation, numbers in thousands)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 128,411 153,784 20 153,191 (Z) 19
Alabama 3,705 5,276 42 6,658 26 80
Alaska 612 748 22 944 26 54
Arizona 886 681 -23 860 26 -3
Arkansas 3,194 4,631 45 5,740 24 80
California 2,225 2,773 25 1,285 -54 -42
Colorado 1,934 3,004 55 1,634 -46 -16
Connecticut 491 607 24 522 -14 6
Delaware 162 407 151 158 -61 -2
Florida 2,820 4,189 49 3,493 -17 24
Georgia 4,419 5,323 20 6,131 15 39
Hawaii 191 193 1 285 48 49
Idaho 1,248 2,085 67 1,384 -34 11
Illinois 2,632 3,628 38 3,274 -10 24
Indiana 3,212 3,602 12 2,696 -25 -16
Iowa 1,188 1,764 48 1,449 -18 22
Kansas 681 1,184 74 1,570 33 131
Kentucky 2,032 2,380 17 2,828 19 39
Louisiana 3,138 3,348 7 4,365 30 39
Maine 1,496 2,529 69 2,021 -20 35
Maryland 1,434 1,321 -8 1,350 2 -6
Massachusetts 558 702 26 683 -3 22
Michigan 9,219 11,227 22 6,532 -42 -29
Minnesota 2,245 2,883 28 4,869 69 117
Mississippi 5,767 6,210 8 7,196 16 25
Missouri 3,513 5,127 46 4,591 -10 31
Montana 1,983 1,235 -38 1,797 46 -9
Nebraska 479 703 47 763 9 59
Nevada 213 172 -19 169 -2 -21
New Hampshire 688 783 14 1,127 44 64
New Jersey 1,222 1,169 -4 2,813 141 130
New Mexico 600 387 -36 711 84 19
New York 8,297 8,166 -2 10,864 33 31
North Carolina 4,145 4,286 3 5,117 19 23
North Dakota 346 390 13 574 47 66
Ohio 3,505 3,927 12 4,290 9 22
Oklahoma 1,719 2,877 67 3,465 20 102
Oregon 1,905 2,781 46 2,500 -10 31
Pennsylvania 9,606 8,973 -7 8,816 -2 -8
Rhode Island 187 424 127 65 -85 -65
South Carolina 2,703 4,750 76 3,757 -21 39
South Dakota 458 684 49 534 -22 17
Tennessee 3,544 4,340 22 4,112 -5 16
Texas 7,667 11,122 45 8,868 -20 16
Utah 983 830 -16 1,252 51 27
Vermont 1,037 1,158 12 1,218 5 17
Virginia 5,216 5,132 -2 4,305 -16 -17
Washington 1,780 2,829 59 1,841 -35 3
West Virginia 3,364 3,933 17 3,167 -19 -6
Wisconsin 6,936 5,804 -16 7,505 29 8
Wyoming 826 1,105 34 1,001 -9 21
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 39
Table 55. State Non-Big Game Hunting Days Trend
(In-state participation, numbers in thousands)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 118,709 126,140 6 108,659 -14 -8
Alabama 2,309 1,981 -14 1,689 -15 -27
Alaska 349 496 42 305 -39 -13
Arizona 762 1,151 51 1,067 -7 40
Arkansas 2,452 4,494 83 3,590 -20 46
California 3,428 5,630 64 2,532 -55 -26
Colorado 883 1,561 77 1,253 -20 42
Connecticut 369 344 -7 296 -14 -20
Delaware 254 397 56 92 -77 -64
Florida 1,948 816 -58 1,807 121 -7
Georgia 1,806 2,106 17 2,811 33 56
Hawaii 56 130 132 107 -18 91
Idaho 1,034 1,805 75 1,028 -43 -1
Illinois 4,416 3,422 -23 1,614 -53 -63
Indiana 4,383 2,745 -37 3,056 11 -30
Iowa 3,031 3,906 29 2,875 -26 -5
Kansas 2,324 3,498 51 2,682 -23 15
Kentucky 4,326 3,519 -19 2,586 -27 -40
Louisiana 3,751 4,328 15 2,665 -38 -29
Maine 1,020 1,344 32 813 -40 -20
Maryland 926 515 -44 615 19 -34
Massachusetts 939 745 -21 729 -2 -22
Michigan 6,479 7,619 18 3,378 -56 -48
Minnesota 3,350 4,403 31 4,323 -2 29
Mississippi 3,185 2,886 -9 2,852 -1 -10
Missouri 3,813 4,078 7 3,046 -25 -20
Montana 715 864 21 868 (Z) 21
Nebraska 1,903 1,846 -3 1,691 -8 -11
Nevada 391 491 26 429 -13 10
New Hampshire 517 640 24 452 -29 -13
New Jersey 1,246 612 -51 675 10 -46
New Mexico 536 305 -43 1,110 264 107
New York 5,427 4,214 -22 5,077 20 -6
North Carolina 2,945 4,996 70 2,935 -41 (Z)
North Dakota 994 683 -31 1,278 87 29
Ohio 5,818 5,220 -10 7,685 47 32
Oklahoma 2,040 2,580 26 3,847 49 89
Oregon 783 1,730 121 796 -54 2
Pennsylvania 6,645 5,199 -22 6,257 20 -6
Rhode Island 175 114 -35 66 -42 -62
South Carolina 1,552 2,217 43 1,417 -36 -9
South Dakota 1,588 1,730 9 2,366 37 49
Tennessee 3,952 5,110 29 4,231 -17 7
Texas 8,679 9,092 5 8,310 -9 -4
Utah 431 823 91 1,442 75 235
Vermont 880 598 -32 484 -19 -45
Virginia 3,925 2,009 -49 1,817 -10 -54
Washington 1,848 2,685 45 1,396 -48 -24
West Virginia 3,067 2,924 -5 2,734 -6 -11
Wisconsin 4,749 4,942 4 3,035 -39 -36
Wyoming 310 597 93 450 -25 45
Note: These day estimates are sums of days of small game, migratory bird, and other animal hunting,
which is an overestimate, since different kinds of hunting can be done on the same day. The typical
overestimate is 6%, based on 1991 data.
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent
Trends in State Fishing and
Hunting Expenditures
The state trend information for
expenditures in this report covers trip-related
expenditures by state where each
purchase took place and all fishing and
hunting expenditures (trip-related and
equipment purchases) by state residents.
The 1991 Survey did not ask for the state
in which equipment was purchased, so
the 1991-2001 total expenditure trend
data cannot be presented by state where
expenditures took place.
40 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Fishing Trip-Related and Total
Expenditures by State
Nationally trip-related expenditures for
fishing increased from 1991 to 1996 (13%)
and decreased from 1996 to 2001 (-16%),
making the 1991 to 2001 comparison
(-5%) statistically insignificant. Although
state resident total expenditures also saw
an increase from 1991 to 1996 (37%) and a
decrease from 1996 to 2001 (-17%), unlike
trip-related expenditures there was a
significant difference (14%) comparing
1991 to 2001. The inclusion of equipment
expenditures literally made a significant
difference.
Focusing on the 1991 to 2001 trip-related
expenditures comparison, anglers in
two states increased their expenditures
significantly: Florida (34%) and
Minnesota (32%). Six states experienced
significant decreases: New York (-43%),
Indiana (-40%), Arkansas (-35%), Illinois
(-35%), Michigan (-26%), and Ohio (-25%).
Looking at the state resident fishing
expenditures total (which include
both trip-related and equipment
expenditures), nine states saw a
significant increase from 1991 to 2001
and four states a significant decrease.
The states with increases were Nevada
(126%), Montana (118%), North Dakota
(102%), Utah (99%), Colorado (86%),
New Hampshire (65%), Florida (59%),
Wyoming (56%), and Rhode Island (42%).
The states with decreases were Michigan
(-43%), Alaska (-32%), Washington
(-26%), and Iowa (-24%).
Table 56. State Trip-Related Fishing Expenditure Trends
(In-state expenditures, in thousands, 2001 dollars)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 15,396,151 17,380,775 13* 14,656,001 -16* -5
Alabama 332,656 407,730 23 355,883 -13 7
Alaska 311,389 495,717 59 423,139 -15 36
Arizona 203,936 207,236 2 140,567 -32 -31
Arkansas 282,023 202,475 -28 182,772 -10 -35*
California 1,078,873 1,632,823 51* 1,116,707 -32 4
Colorado 220,432 303,747 38 303,412 (Z) 38
Connecticut 81,030 113,382 40 100,286 -12 24
Delaware 52,008 88,234 70 30,547 -65 -41
Florida 1,563,048 1,831,307 17 2,087,721 14 34*
Georgia 330,307 348,211 5 245,288 -30 -26
Hawaii 93,333 107,933 16 66,198 -39 -29
Idaho 97,270 147,741 52 115,142 -22 18
Illinois 316,403 328,385 4 204,724 -38* -35*
Indiana 251,941 226,380 -10 152,287 -33 -40*
Iowa 94,359 120,687 28 104,706 -13 11
Kansas 98,130 88,462 -10 80,360 -9 -18
Kentucky 211,025 249,580 18 220,918 -11 5
Louisiana 437,731 432,809 -1 397,183 -8 -9
Maine 150,284 161,575 8 94,931 -41 -37
Maryland 202,064 298,123 48 245,088 -18 21
Massachusetts 249,887 267,611 7 217,216 -19 -13
Michigan 696,455 653,074 -6 516,682 -21 -26*
Minnesota 593,970 746,501 26 785,922 5 32*
Mississippi 177,719 191,413 8 117,694 -39 -34
Missouri 402,385 386,460 -4 317,368 -18 -21
Montana 157,789 194,444 23 148,042 -24 -6
Nebraska 59,518 52,866 -11 60,000 13 1
Nevada 53,079 82,767 56 76,293 -8 44
New Hampshire 79,952 77,495 -3 75,876 -2 -5
New Jersey 476,156 530,377 11 373,755 -30 -22
New Mexico 83,863 118,077 41 89,623 -24 7
New York 669,267 676,325 1 378,967 -44* -43*
North Carolina 490,302 561,324 14 449,830 -20 -8
North Dakota 27,134 34,631 28 57,066 65 110
Ohio 508,991 325,717 -36* 379,730 17 -25*
Oklahoma 255,375 293,220 15 211,301 -28 -17
Oregon 266,167 299,258 12 256,958 -14 -3
Pennsylvania 345,743 332,379 -4 282,022 -15 -18
Rhode Island 51,465 49,856 -3 69,274 39 35
South Carolina 313,809 339,670 8 316,887 -7 1
South Dakota 50,791 87,024 71 85,428 -2 68
Tennessee 336,685 242,477 -28 263,252 9 -22
Texas 1,029,347 1,311,286 27 866,813 -34* -16
Utah 125,397 133,478 6 170,530 28 36
Vermont 58,153 47,165 -19 59,094 25 2
Virginia 260,098 353,107 36 276,985 -22 6
Washington 370,026 367,309 -1 340,322 -7 -8
West Virginia 72,002 70,877 -2 64,115 -10 -11
Wisconsin 618,202 496,268 -20 508,636 2 -18
Wyoming 107,163 124,771 16 94,289 -24 -12
*Significant difference at the 90% level of significance.
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 41
Table 57. State Resident Fishing Expenditure Trends
(In-state expenditures, in thousands, 2001 dollars)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 31,175,168 42,710,679 37* 35,632,132 -17* 14*
Alabama 582,304 851,693 46 598,037 -30 3
Alaska 310,916 243,383 -22 212,738 -13 -32*
Arizona 389,470 361,957 -7 324,426 -10 -17
Arkansas 371,918 244,918 -34* 385,217 57* 4
California 2,334,734 4,189,242 79* 2,149,634 -49* -8
Colorado 415,068 725,154 75* 770,233 6 86*
Connecticut 328,896 315,557 -4 327,512 4 (Z)
Delaware 103,293 202,820 96* 92,418 -54* -11
Florida 2,150,972 3,142,568 46 3,423,204 9 59*
Georgia 694,900 1,367,724 97* 611,235 -55* -12
Hawaii 98,174 99,257 1 97,187 -2 -1
Idaho 189,093 265,451 40 228,926 -14 21
Illinois 1,444,641 2,219,810 54* 1,145,764 -48* -21
Indiana 525,677 901,890 72* 468,909 -48* -11
Iowa 416,950 473,252 14 318,518 -33* -24*
Kansas 375,323 311,553 -17 330,607 6 -12
Kentucky 609,609 809,932 33 550,903 -32 -10
Louisiana 892,062 1,012,401 13 646,717 -36* -28
Maine 182,827 149,214 -18 157,926 6 -14
Maryland 367,532 750,949 104* 494,919 -34 35
Massachusetts 590,512 797,485 35 460,028 -42* -22
Michigan 1,672,278 1,666,469 (Z) 958,598 -42* -43*
Minnesota 1,100,120 1,688,978 54* 1,243,224 -26 13
Mississippi 342,009 605,738 77* 316,900 -48* -7
Missouri 571,004 711,659 25 757,224 6 33
Montana 92,560 114,626 24 201,969 76* 118*
Nebraska 192,148 213,264 11 179,595 -16 -7
Nevada 104,160 366,708 252* 235,357 -36* 126*
New Hampshire 113,071 247,526 119* 186,257 -25 65*
New Jersey 868,961 1,324,141 52* 712,408 -46* -18
New Mexico 146,722 203,779 39 195,631 -4 33
New York 1,127,415 1,585,969 41 919,978 -42* -18
North Carolina 750,802 1,488,085 98* 922,464 -38 23
North Dakota 90,369 154,287 71* 182,109 18 102*
Ohio 1,120,020 1,078,212 -4 904,493 -16 -19
Oklahoma 548,646 600,010 9 492,682 -18 -10
Oregon 599,686 701,382 17 588,733 -16 -2
Pennsylvania 880,765 1,063,284 21 761,512 -28* -14
Rhode Island 82,580 169,342 105* 116,918 -31 42*
South Carolina 518,163 841,669 62* 495,895 -41* -4
South Dakota 113,382 183,401 62* 100,882 -45* -11
Tennessee 641,126 555,662 -13 467,108 -16 -27
Texas 1,918,111 3,414,000 78* 2,125,366 -38 11
Utah 200,466 214,001 7 398,344 86* 99*
Vermont 83,510 153,274 84* 72,158 -53* -14
Virginia 560,407 1,021,051 82* 688,345 -33* 23
Washington 1,312,102 763,399 -42* 964,827 26 -26*
West Virginia 141,972 214,125 51* 145,730 -32 3
Wisconsin 860,632 1,056,844 23 840,828 -20 -2
Wyoming 86,151 107,993 25 134,391 24 56*
*Significant difference at the 90% level of significance.
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent
42 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Hunting Trip-Related and Total
Expenditures by State
Nationally trip-related expenditures
for hunting increased significantly
from 1991 to 1996 (30%) and decreased
insignificantly from 1996 to 2001 (-10%),
making the 1991 to 2001 comparison a
significant increase of 17%. Similarly, for
state resident total expenditures, there
was a significant increase from 1991 to
1996 (45%) and an insignificant decrease
from 1996 to 2001 (-12%), winding up with
a significant increase from 1991 to 2001
of 29%.
Focusing on the 1991 to 2001 trip-related
expenditures comparison, hunters in
two states increased their expenditures
significantly: Arkansas (82%) and Texas
(46%). One state experienced a significant
decrease: Michigan (-36%).
Regarding the state resident hunting
trip-related and equipment expenditures,
seven states saw a significant increase
from 1991 to 2001 and three states a
significant decrease. The states with
increases were Utah (173%), Oregon
(169%), New Mexico (130%), Alabama
(79%), South Carolina (68%), Tennessee
(62%), Minnesota (58%). The states
with decreases were California (-56%),
Michigan (-51%), and Mississippi (-42%).
Table 58. State Trip-Related Hunting Expenditure Trends
(In-state expenditures, in thousands, 2001 dollars)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S., total 4,471,065 5,825,510 30* 5,252,391 -10 17*
Alabama 116,555 128,690 10 185,360 44 59
Alaska 57,622 97,875 70 146,488 50 154
Arizona 50,362 73,582 46 64,291 -13 28
Arkansas 110,562 97,467 -12 200,929 106* 82*
California 140,249 301,217 115* 154,412 -49* 10
Colorado 203,397 250,420 23 183,451 -27 -10
Connecticut 7,065 9,271 31 6,930 -25 -2
Delaware 4,128 8,842 114 3,108 -65 -25
Florida 110,317 132,959 21 115,085 -13 4
Georgia 137,942 117,057 -15 188,684 61 37
Hawaii 12,606 8,808 -30 7,999 -9 -37
Idaho 57,519 84,716 47 81,783 -3 42
Illinois 73,372 121,868 66 104,018 -15 42
Indiana 72,922 49,009 -33 43,894 -10 -40
Iowa 60,525 83,513 38 60,083 -28 -1
Kansas 57,654 99,386 72 95,568 -4 66
Kentucky 93,460 75,421 -19 61,891 -18 -34
Louisiana 106,393 139,647 31 109,978 -21 3
Maine 41,088 77,936 90 52,240 -33 27
Maryland 39,350 32,621 -17 31,202 -4 -21
Massachusetts 18,329 22,151 21 10,042 -55 -45
Michigan 246,638 317,738 29 156,703 -51* -36*
Minnesota 110,061 141,378 28 171,040 21 55
Mississippi 124,073 194,472 57 126,653 -35 2
Missouri 106,817 161,239 51 102,319 -37 -4
Montana 137,407 111,990 -18 106,179 -5 -23
Nebraska 49,004 80,953 65 74,345 -8 52
Nevada 24,293 22,942 -6 20,194 -12 -17
New Hampshire 12,549 15,341 22 15,421 1 23
New Jersey 39,277 46,167 18 67,284 46 71
New Mexico 45,238 33,316 -26 58,503 76 29
New York 210,928 238,919 13 152,059 -36 -28
North Carolina 75,462 111,694 48 90,279 -19 20
North Dakota 31,767 26,506 -17 53,245 101 68
Ohio 88,190 91,038 3 112,104 23 27
Oklahoma 70,578 86,327 22 95,502 11 35
Oregon 73,166 141,902 94 105,253 -26 44
Pennsylvania 215,546 204,242 -5 187,713 -8 -13
Rhode Island 3,704 4,477 21 800 -82 -78
South Carolina 80,357 122,260 52 94,626 -23 18
South Dakota 62,328 120,286 93 112,206 -7 80
Tennessee 100,391 118,966 19 113,886 -4 13
Texas 367,820 503,040 37 535,668 6 46*
Utah 53,867 40,621 -25 86,018 112 60
Vermont 42,440 31,276 -26 16,286 -48 -62
Virginia 110,011 103,028 -6 94,592 -8 -14
Washington 86,456 101,784 18 99,145 -3 15
West Virginia 69,912 75,669 8 62,354 -18 -11
Wisconsin 195,876 142,641 -27 159,396 12 -19
Wyoming 66,962 102,460 53 70,390 -31 5
*Significant difference at the 90% level of significance.
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 43
Table 59. State Resident Hunting Expenditure Trends
(In-state expenditures, in thousands, 2001 dollars)
1991 1996
1991-1996
Percent
Change 2001
1996-2001
Percent
Change
1991-2001
Percent
Change
U.S. total 16,031,197 23,293,156 45* 20,611,025 -12 29*
Alabama 358,648 600,645 67 642,336 7 79*
Alaska 115,166 152,097 32 97,650 -36 -15
Arizona 199,681 235,054 18 224,791 -4 13
Arkansas 374,479 598,963 60 381,003 -36 2
California 836,095 1,144,663 37 364,008 -68* -56*
Colorado 200,849 536,620 167* 182,990 -66* -9
Connecticut 56,335 96,721 72 69,313 -28 23
Delaware 26,710 34,883 31 18,154 -48 -32
Florida 420,874 528,179 25 540,767 2 28
Georgia 358,874 966,612 169* 503,047 -48 40
Hawaii 22,426 22,628 1 17,163 -24 -23
Idaho 127,332 204,145 60 166,780 -18 31
Illinois 425,044 589,824 39 527,368 -11 24
Indiana 316,715 312,624 -1 278,165 -11 -12
Iowa 221,821 250,257 13 184,830 -26 -17
Kansas 163,302 356,915 119 222,396 -38 36
Kentucky 307,458 383,676 25 383,789 (Z) 25
Louisiana 563,951 711,807 26 517,465 -27 -8
Maine 86,731 229,208 164* 117,605 -49 36
Maryland 209,848 108,933 -48* 141,895 30 -32
Massachusetts 147,497 156,902 6 113,461 -28 -23
Michigan 1,135,475 1,360,925 20 550,378 -60* -52*
Minnesota 376,596 581,709 54 593,246 2 58*
Mississippi 522,725 554,832 6 300,669 -46* -42*
Missouri 440,993 740,985 68 486,198 -34 10
Montana 114,655 109,548 -4 160,346 46* 40
Nebraska 87,913 110,154 25 134,618 22 53
Nevada 84,949 128,219 51 147,992 15 74
New Hampshire 57,266 67,414 18 55,697 -17 -3
New Jersey 160,712 203,487 27 156,659 -23 -3
New Mexico 74,207 97,156 31 170,345 75 130*
New York 655,838 967,054 47 948,523 -2 45
North Carolina 351,858 630,052 79 565,044 -10 61
North Dakota 67,301 102,482 52 78,267 -24 16
Ohio 496,224 550,998 11 645,319 17 30
Oklahoma 206,320 474,836 130 321,775 -32 56
Oregon 159,560 673,247 322* 429,277 -36 169*
Pennsylvania 697,992 728,165 4 899,005 23 29
Rhode Island 27,021 26,838 -1 15,143 -44 -44
South Carolina 166,413 387,024 133* 279,013 -28 68*
South Dakota 102,641 110,458 8 111,837 1 9
Tennessee 405,238 909,687 124* 654,682 -28 62*
Texas 1,308,362 1,382,378 6 1,446,869 5 11
Utah 112,078 189,500 69 306,204 62 173*
Vermont 62,642 107,743 72* 53,622 -50* -14
Virginia 332,568 478,236 44 338,494 -29 2
Washington 249,092 383,684 54 336,061 -12 35
West Virginia 214,606 263,480 23 199,449 -24 -7
Wisconsin 655,294 959,455 46 626,616 -35 -4
Wyoming 65,324 119,944 84 62,451 -48 -4
*Significant difference at the 90% level of significance.
(Z) Less than 0.5 percent
44 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends
Sportspersons
Hunting and fishing are important to
millions of Americans, with nearly one
in five people participating in hunting
and fishing in 2001. From 1991 to 2001
the number of Americans 16 years
old and older who fished and hunted
decreased 5%. The number of anglers
decreased by 4% and the number of
hunters decreased by 7%. Despite these
drops in sportsperson numbers, the
number of days afield increased 5%
for sportspersons, 9% for anglers, and
decreased a statistically insignificant 3%
for hunters.
The 1991-2001 trend can be broken up
into two phases: the 1991-1996 trend
and the 1996-2001 trend. The 1991-
1996 national trend for both hunting
and fishing consisted of level numbers
of participants and increases in days
afield. The 1996-2001 national trend for
both hunting and fishing consisted of
decreases in participants and decreases
in the number of days.
Trends in overall fishing and hunting are
better understood by an examination of
the trends of sportsperson subgroups
such as avid and casual anglers and
hunters. Avid anglers and hunters,
the 10% of all participants who fished
or hunted the most days in a year,
accounted for 40% to 50% of all days
afield in 1991, 1996, and 2001. Another
subgroup of anglers and hunters were
the casual participants, those who fished
or hunted one or two days in the year.
Losing a casual participant would have
little effect on overall days totals (unlike
losing an avid participant), but would
have the same effect as losing an avid
or intermediate participant on overall
participant numbers. The trends in casual
angling and hunting have run counter to
the trends in overall angling and hunting,
with drops when overall trends were level
and stability when overall trends were
declining.
Summary
Fishing
The number of freshwater anglers fell
8% from 1991 to 2001, while saltwater
angling held relatively constant.
Coldwater fishing participation fell 12%
and warmwater fishing dropped 13%.
The average days of avid anglers, 68 in
1991, 85 in 1996, and 73 in 2001, were
about eight times more than the average
days of nonavid anglers, 8 in 1991, 11 in
1996, and 10 in 2001.
The percentage of casual anglers fell
from 14% of all anglers in 1991 to 11% in
2001. They accounted for only 1% of all
fishing days in each survey year.
The intermediate group between avid
and casual anglers was the bulk of total
participants. The intermediate angler
group made up over 75% of all anglers
in the three surveyed years, although
they contributed only slightly more than
half the days. In 2001 their average days
spent fishing were 11, which was less than
the 16 days spent by the average angler.
The increase in intermediate anglers from
1991 to 1996 compensated for the loss
of casual and avid anglers, maintaining
the overall number of anglers. In 2001
the number of intermediate anglers
dropped, and avid and casual angling did
not increase, so the number of anglers
decreased from 1996 to 2001. Also, days on
the water by intermediate anglers went
up 15% from 1991 to 2001, avid days went
up 3% and casual days went down 26%,
so the intermediate angler was largely
responsible for the overall increase in
angling days.
Looking at percent comparisons of
subgroup demographics with those
of total participants, a generalization
is that the demographics of casuals
and intermediates in general followed
those of participants as a whole, but the
demographics of avids did not.
■ Avid anglers are more likely to live
in a rural area
■ Avid anglers have lower income
LaVonda Walton/USFWS
Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 45
Hunting
The number of big game and migratory
bird hunters in 2001 was the same as in
1991, while the number of small game and
other animal hunters fell significantly.
The 29% drop in small game hunting
from 1991 to 2001 was led by the 47%
drop in casual hunters’ pursuit of small
game, although avid and intermediate
hunters also cut back on small game
hunting. The loss of small game habitat
in many states could partially explain the
drop.
As for days, small game hunting days
decreased 22% from 1991 to 2001, big
game hunting days increased 25%,
migratory bird hunting days increased
28%, and other animal days stayed
the same. Overall, the increasing days
hunting group (big game, migratory bird)
counterbalanced the decreasing days
group (small game, other animals) in the
total hunting days trend.
The average days of avid hunters were
approximately six times greater than
those of nonavid hunters. Avid hunters
went 69 days in 1991, 72 days in 1996,
and 70 days in 2001. The nonavid hunter
hunted an average of 11 days in 1991,
13 days in 1996, and 12 days in 2001.
The intermediate hunter group was about
75% of the total hunter group for the
three surveyed years, and their average
days were 14, compared to 18 for the
average hunter.
Casual participants in hunting fell from
16% of all hunters in 1991 to 13% in 2001.
They accounted for 2% of all hunting days
in 1991 and 1% in both 1996 and 2001.
Demographic findings include
■ Casual hunters tend to live in urban
areas more than intermediate and
avid hunters. Casual hunters were
equally split between urban and rural
residences in 1996 and 2001 and in
1991 were more likely to live in urban
areas than in rural areas.
■ Avid hunters are strongly rural-based.
Rural hunters are twice as likely to be
avid than are urban-based hunters.
■ The average age of hunters of every
subgroup has increased. Younger
people are not hunting as much in
2001 as they did in 1991. However, if
younger people decide to hunt, they
are more likely to be avid.
■ Avid hunters were more likely to have
a household income below the national
median than intermediate, casual, or
hunters as a whole.
There was a significant drop in casual
participation from 1991 to 1996 which
was compensated by an increase in
intermediate hunting, maintaining the
overall numbers of hunters. However,
there was a drop in intermediate
hunters from 1996 to 2001 which was not
compensated by an increase in avid or
casual hunting.
The fact that in 2001 11% of anglers
fished 1% of all days while 10% fished
47% of all days illustrates the diversity
of fishing activity in the United States.
Hunters were even more diverse, with
13% of all hunters hunting 1% of all days
afield and 10% hunting 40% of all days in
2001. However, there is something they
all have in common. While tens of millions
of American sportspersons are widely
varied in both the demographic qualities
they possess and in the type and amount
of hunting and fishing they do, they share
an appreciation of and fervor for hunting
and fishing.
Ryan Hagerty/USFWS
46 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, C
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| Title | Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Addendum to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Report 2001-5 |
| Contact | mailto:library@fws.gov |
| Description | nat_survey2001_trends.pdf |
| FWS Resource Links | http://library.fws.gov |
| Subject |
Document Fishing Hunting Recreation Economics Statistics Wildlife viewing |
| Publisher | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Date of Original | July 2004 |
| Type | Text |
| Format | |
| Source |
NCTC Conservation Library Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Library |
| Rights | Public domain |
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| Transcript | Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Addendum to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Report 2001-5 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Addendum to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Report 2001-5 July 2004 Richard Aiken U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Federal Aid Arlington VA This report complements the National and State reports from the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The conclusions are the author’s and do not represent official positions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The author wishes to thank Sylvia Cabrera and Genevieve Pullis La Rouche for their valuable input into the analysis. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Part One – National Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Trends in Avid Fishing and Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Avid Anglers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Avid Hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Trends in Intermediate Fishing and Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Intermediate Anglers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Intermediate Hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Trends in Casual Fishing and Hunting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Casual Anglers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Casual Hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Comparison of Avids, Intermediates, and Casual Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Part Two – State Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Number of In-State Anglers and Hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Number of Fishing and Hunting Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Trends in State Fishing and Hunting Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Fishing Trip-Related and Total Expenditures by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Hunting Trip-Related and Total Expenditures by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Appendix I – FHWAR Survey Methodology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Appendix II – Sources of Comparable 1955-2001 Estimates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Contents Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 3 Long-term trends of fishing and hunting in the United States interest different people for different reasons. State fish and game agencies want to know the number and demographics of their constituents, with an eye toward knowing what to expect in the future from them. Also, managers of fish and game populations want to know not only how many people are participating but also how often, since a drop-off (or increase) in the numbers of participants may not mean a decrease (or increase) of the pressure on the resource if the hunters and anglers that remain increase (or decrease) their days afield. Marketers want to know the state of the industry and where to put their efforts. Academics want to better understand the culture of hunting and angling. The ordinary hunter and angler wants to know how the culture that gives him or her so much enjoyment is evolving. Americans’ participation in angling and hunting in 1991, 1996, and 2001 is the focus of this analysis. In addition to changes in the number of participants and their days afield, avid, intermediate, and casual hunters and anglers are defined and analyzed. Trends in overall fishing and hunting can be better understood by examining important subgroups. Trends in days of participation and expenditures at the state level are presented also. The source of the information is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 1991, 1996, and 2001 National Surveys of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR).1 See Appendix I for details of the FHWAR Survey methodology. Long Term Context of Trends Figure 1 shows the trends in the number of all Americans, anglers, and hunters since 1955, the year of the first FHWAR survey. Indices of change are used, in which the 1955 estimates are set to 100 and the succeeding years’ estimates are presented as the percent change. This makes it easier to compare the changes of the three groups. Participation in fishing grew from 1955 to 1990, both in absolute numbers and relative to the underlying trend of the U.S. population. Since 1990 there has been a downturn in the number of anglers. Participation in hunting grew until 1975 at a rate slightly greater than U.S. population growth. Since 1975 hunting has undergone a gradual decline. Introduction Figure 1. 1955-2001 Trend Note: Due to methodological changes over the 46 years of this survey, assumptions and approximations were made to make the results comparable. See Appendix II for the assumptions. �� �� 1 These Surveys covered activity by Americans 16 years old and older participating in the U.S. It is important to note that the FHWAR Surveys measure the activity of every fifth year only. The intervening years’ activity is not included. Those hunters and anglers who participated in the intervening years but not the surveyed years are not part of this analysis. 4 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Highlights From 1991 to 2001 the number of Americans who hunted and/or fished in the U.S. decreased 5 percent, with the number of anglers decreasing 4 percent and the number of hunters decreasing 7 percent. The drops for both fishing and hunting occurred primarily during the second half of the 1990’s. Fishing The number of anglers was stable from 1991 to 1996 (the 1% drop is not statistically significant at the 90% level2), then fell 3 percent from 1996 to 2001. Freshwater fishing fell 8% from 1991 to 2001, while saltwater fishing held roughly constant (the 2% increase is not statistically significant). Breaking the freshwater trend number into its coldwater and warmwater components, coldwater fishing participation fell 12%, led by the 15% drop in trout fishing. Similarly, warmwater fishing dropped 13%, largely due to the 17% decline in black bass fishing. While there was a decline in the number of anglers, their days on the water increased. The average days of fishing increased from 14 days in 1991 to 16 days in 2001, and fishing days for both freshwater and saltwater increased significantly. This raises the question of how the increase in days is distributed. Did all anglers increase their angling days, or did an avid core of anglers increase their high level of participation? We will return to this subject later in this report. Part One – National Trends Table 1. Sportsperson Participation 1991-2001 (Numbers in thousands) 1991 Number 1996 Number 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 Number 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change Sportspersons 39,979 39,694 -1 37,805 -5 -5 Anglers 35,578 35,246 -1 34,070 -3 -4 Hunters 14,063 13,975 -1 13,034 -7 -7 Table 2. National Fishing Participation Trends (Numbers in thousands) 1991 Number 1996 Number 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 Number 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change Fishing, total 35,578 35,246 -1 34,070 -3 -4 Freshwater 31,041 29,734 -4 28,439 -4 -8 Coldwater 10,158 9,994 -2 8,989 -10 -12 Trout 9,497 9,290 -2 8,118 -13 -15 Warmwater 23,971 22,030 -8 20,882 -5 -13 Black Bass 13,139 12,972 -1 10,956 -16 -17 Saltwater 8,885 9,438 6 9,051 -4 2 Table 3. National Fishing Days Participation Trends (Numbers in thousands) 1991 Number 1996 Number 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 Number 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change Fishing Days, total 511,329 625,893 22 557,394 -11 9 Freshwater 439,536 515,115 17 466,984 -9 6 Trout 86,626 97,978 13 89,285 -9 3 Black Bass 162,595 196,385 21 166,202 -15 2 2 All statistical significance tests will be at Saltwater 74,696 103,034 38 90,838 -12 22 the 90% level. Statistical significance at the 90% level means that for 90% of all possible samples, the estimate for one survey year cannot be shown to be different from the estimate for the other survey year. Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 5 Hunting The number of Americans who hunted was roughly level from 1991 to 1996 (the 1 percent drop is not statistically significant) and fell 7 percent from 1996 to 2001. From 1991 to 2001 small game and other animal (fox, raccoon, groundhog, and other nongame) hunting participation dropped by over a quarter (29% for small game, 26% for other animals), while big game and migratory bird hunting participation has not dropped significantly (the +/-2% changes are not statistically significant). As for the hunting of individual species, deer hunting was the single most popular hunting activity. It held steady at 10.3 million hunters in both 1991 and 2001. From 1991 to 2001 turkey hunters increased 46% and duck hunters increased 37%. Elk hunters increased 33%. Goose hunters increased 13% over the same time period. Species hunting that declined from 1991 to 2001 include dove hunting which decreased by 22%, pheasant hunting by 25%, squirrel hunting by 41%, and rabbit hunting by 47%. The disparity in participation trends between big game and migratory bird hunters and small game and other animal hunters is also seen in days afield. Big game and migratory bird hunting days increased significantly from 1991 to 2001 (19% for big game, 32% for migratory birds). Small game hunting days decreased 22%. Overall, the increasing days hunting group (big game, migratory bird) compensated for the decreasing days group (small game, other animals) in the total hunting days trend (the 3% drop is not statistically significant). Hunters as a whole hunted more days per capita over time. In 1991 the average hunter went out 17 days and in 2001 it was 18 days. The same question arises as for fishing. Did all hunters increase their hunting days, or did a particular subgroup increase their participation? We will return to this subject later in this report. Trends in Avid Fishing and Hunting There are several ways of defining avidity, e.g., days afield, dollars spent, variety of animals sought, years spent hunting and fishing. Each has its pros and cons. After examining each, days afield was chosen. People can spend money on equipment without participating in hunting or fishing, a person can be an avid deer hunter and not hunt any other game, a young person can be avid without a long history of hunting or fishing behind him/her. But participating in an Table 4. National Hunting Participation Trends (Numbers in thousands) 1991 Number 1996 Number 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 Number 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change Hunting, total 14,063 13,975 -1 13,034 -7 -7 Big Game 10,745 11,288 5 10,911 -3 2 Deer 10,277 10,722 4 10,272 -4 (Z) Elk 682 959 41 910 -5 33 Turkey 1,720 2,189 27 2,504 14 46 Small Game 7,642 6,945 -9 5,434 -22 -29 Rabbit 3,980 3,146 -21 2,099 -33 -47 Squirrel 3,569 3,207 -10 2,119 -34 -41 Pheasant 2,285 2,261 -1 1,723 -24 -25 Migratory Bird 3,009 3,073 2 2,956 -4 -2 Duck 1,164 1,596 37 1,589 (Z) 37 Geese 882 915 4 1,000 9 13 Dove 1,851 1,581 -15 1,450 -8 -22 Other Animals 1,411 1,521 8 1047 -31 -26 (Z) Less than 0.5 percent. Table 5. National Hunting Days Trends (Numbers in thousands) 1991 Number 1996 Number 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 Number 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change Hunting Days, total 235,806 256,676 9 228,368 -11 -3 Big Game 128,411 153,784 20 153,191 (Z) 19 Deer 112,853 131,345 16 133,457 2 18 Elk 5,048 7,174 42 6,402 -11 27 Turkey 13,483 18,532 37 23,165 25 72 Small Game 77,132 75,117 -3 60142 -20 -22 Rabbit 35,624 28,873 -19 22,768 -21 -36 Squirrel 29,602 25,401 -14 22,333 -12 -25 Pheasant 16,136 17,336 7 12,769 -26 -21 Migratory Bird 22,235 26,501 19 29310 11 32 Duck 8,800 13,800 57 18,290 33 108 Geese 6,584 8,451 28 10,508 24 60 Dove 9,480 8,141 -14 9,041 11 -5 Other Animals 19,340 24,522 27 19207 -22 -1 (Z) Less than 0.5 percent. 6 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends activity many times in a year requires commitment, which is a criterion of avidity. See Figure 2 for a bar chart of the distribution of hunting days in 2001. 736,000 people hunted one day, increasing to 936,000 people hunting two days. It drops off then, with the number of people hunting at each increment of days decreasing rapidly (with spikes at the numbers of days that respondents typically round to, such as 10, 20, and 25) to about 100 days, more than which only 153,000 people hunted. Figure 3 is a bar chart of how many days were contributed by hunters in 2001, in order of how many days each person hunted. This is an important perspective because if the determination of the most influential hunting group is those who hunted the most days, that information cannot be obtained from Figure 2, in which the hunters who hunted 2 days is the single biggest group. But as can be seen in Figure 3, they contributed a very low number of total days, while hunters who hunted 30 days in 2001 had by far the most days afield. Here is a more detailed example: 878,000 Americans hunted 10 days (see Figure 2), so they accounted for 8,780,000 hunting days (see Figure 3). The 736,000 people who hunted one day accounted for only 736,000 days, compared to the 33,000 people (4% of the people who hunted one day) who hunted 100 days accounting for 3.3 million hunting days (nearly five times the total days of people who hunted one day). The sum of days increases from 736,000 days by one-day hunters to 11.8 million days by people who hunted 30 days. The sum of days trend then falls steadily to the 6,000 hunters who hunted 150 days (who alone account for 873,000 days!), after which the line bumps along the x-axis. Examination of Figures 2 and 3 demonstrates that the top 10% of hunters in 2001, who hunted 41 days or more, can be considered avid,3 and the number of hunters who hunt one or two days, 13% of total hunters, can be considered casual. Examination of the data from the 1991 and 1996 Surveys finds the same percentage of hunters can be defined to be avid, 10%, and 11% in 1996 and 16% in 1991 of hunters qualify as casual, i.e., hunt one or two days. The top 10% of Figure 2. 2001 Hunting Days: The Number of Hunters, by Number of Days Spent Hunting (Number of People in thousands) anglers can be defined to be avid as well, while anglers who fish only one day (11% of total anglers in 2001, 11% in 1996, and 14% in 1991) qualify as casual. The criteria for avid and casual participants used for all three surveys: avids are the top 10% of total participants based on their days afield, casual angling is made up of anglers who fished one day in the year, and casual hunting consists of hunters who hunted one or two days in the year. Everyone between these two extremes is considered intermediate. Based on their total days participating in 2001, the top 10% of anglers and hunters accounted for 45% of all fishing and hunting days. The avid angler fished an average of 73 days per year, compared to the average angler’s 16 days. Similarly, the average avid hunter in 2001 hunted 70 days and the average hunter 18 days. Tables 3 and 4 present the trend in avid fishing and hunting over the past three surveys. Looking at the avid trends, the number of avid anglers was 3.7 million in 1991, 3.4 million in 1996, and 3.5 million in 2001, compared to all anglers (35.6 million, 35.2 million, and 34.1 million, respectively). The number of avid hunters was relatively steady, with 1.4 million in 1991 and 1996 and 1.3 million in 2001, compared to all hunters (14.1 million, 14.0 million, and 13.0 million, respectively). Figure 3. 2001 Hunting Days: The Contribution to Total Days by Casual, Intermediate, and Avid Hunters (Sum of Days in thousands) 3 Robert Southwick came to the same conclusion for the designation of avidity in his study Today’s Angler, A Statistical Profile of America’s Angler, Southwick, Inc., 2003. ��� �� �� ��� ������ ���� ���� Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 7 Table 6. Avid Fishing Trends (Numbers in thousands) Fishing, total Total Participants Avid Participants Percent of Participants Total Days Avid Days Percent of Days Avid Mean Days 2001 34,070 3,542 10 557,394 259,388 47 73 1996 35,246 3,362 10 625,893 286,388 46 85 1991 35,578 3,706 10 511,329 250,988 49 68 Non-Great Lakes Freshwater 2001 27,913 3,206 11 443,247 208,547 47 66 1996 28,921 3,060 11 485,474 223,090 46 73 1991 30,186 3,443 11 430,922 212,828 49 62 Great Lakes 2001 1,847 343 19 23,138 12,634 55 37 1996 2,039 299 15 20,095 9,247 46 32 1991 2,552 456 18 25,335 12,759 50 28 Saltwater 2001 9,051 1,036 11 90,838 39,038 43 38 1996 9,438 1,012 11 103,034 43,067 42 43 1991 8,885 1,088 12 74,696 33,255 45 31 Note: Avids determined by total days, not type of fishing days (e.g., Great Lakes days). Table 7. Avid Hunting Trends (Numbers in thousands) Hunting Total Participants Avid Participants Percent of Participants Total Days Avid Days Percent of Days Avid Mean Days 2001 13,034 1,298 10 228,368 91,032 40 70 1996 13,975 1,384 10 256,676 99,190 39 72 1991 14,063 1,412 10 235,806 98,096 42 69 Big Game 2001 10,911 1,225 11 153,191 56,613 37 46 1996 11,288 1,284 11 153,784 53,731 35 42 1991 10,745 1,317 12 128,411 45,339 35 34 Small Game 2001 5,434 871 16 60,142 26,332 44 30 1996 6,945 1,094 16 75,117 28,413 38 26 1991 7,642 1,228 16 77,132 34,099 44 28 Migratory Birds 2001 2,956 447 15 29,310 11,399 39 25 1996 3,073 521 17 26,501 8,585 32 18 1991 3,009 603 20 22,235 8,894 40 15 Other Animals 2001 1,047 356 34 19,207 13,666 71 39 1996 1,521 465 31 24,522 15,945 65 38 1991 1,411 532 38 19,340 13,280 69 25 Note: Avids determined by total days, not type of hunting days (e.g., Small Game days). 8 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Avid Anglers In 2001 avid anglers made up 11% of both non-Great Lakes freshwater anglers and saltwater anglers. This means that avid anglers as a group do not specialize in freshwater or saltwater angling, but distribute themselves equally between the two activities. This pattern held for 1991 and 1996. This finding is borne out in the days data as well. In 2001 47% of all fishing days were provided by avid anglers. 47% of all freshwater days and 43% of all saltwater days were provided by avid anglers. The observation that avids as a group do not specialize in freshwater or saltwater can be made for 1991 and 1996 as well. Avid anglers are an important subgroup of anglers as a whole, both economically and in terms of effort. Studying their sociodemographics gives us insight into who they are. A majority, 56%, of avid anglers resided in urban areas in 2001. This is not surprising, since a majority of all anglers, 61%, resided in urban areas. The tendency of avid anglers to not be as urban-based as anglers as a whole has held steady over the past three surveys. In 2001 67% of avid anglers lived in Metropolitan Statistical Areas4 (MSA) of 50,000 or more residents, compared to 72% of all anglers. Viewed another way, 9% of urban anglers (8% in 1996) and 12% of rural anglers were avid. Rural anglers are more likely to be avid than urban anglers. In 2001 the age group that had the most avid anglers was 35-44 year olds. This was also true for all anglers. After combining 16-17 and 18-24 year olds into one age group for the purpose of comparison the age group that had the fewest avids was 65 years old and older, as was the case with all anglers. As with anglers as a whole, avid anglers have become an older age group. Comparing 2001 and 1991 data, 16-34 year olds made up more of the avid angler population in 1991 than in 2001 (45% compared to 32%). Conversely, 45 year old and older anglers were 47% of all avid anglers in 2001, 43% in 1996, and 34% in 1991. Angling is a recreational commodity, and economic theory suggests that as income increases people will be more likely to purchase “angling,” i.e., the angler with higher income will more likely be avid. And indeed, in 2001 60% of all avid anglers had a household income above national median income and 40% of all avid anglers had below median income. However, comparing that data to income data of anglers as a whole presents a different story. In 2001 60% of avid anglers had above median income, compared to 66% of all anglers. Nonavid anglers tended to have higher income than avid anglers. Higher income is not the indicator of avidity as predicted. Similarly, in 1991 53% of avid anglers had above median income, compared to 59% of all anglers. Although avid anglers tend to have an above median income, anglers as a whole show a stronger tendency for an above median income. Another way of looking at income’s effect on avidity is the percent of anglers with above median income who are avid. In 2001 9% of all anglers with above median income were avid anglers, compared to 10% of all anglers being avid. Conversely, 12% of all below median anglers were avid. A similar relationship held in 1991 and 1996. Avid anglers are more likely to have below median income than the average angler. Table 8. Avid Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total Total 35,578 100 3,706 100 35,246 100 3,362 100 34,070 100 3,542 100 Urban 22,368 63 2,081 56 21,618 61 1,776 53 20,924 61 1,981 56 Rural 13,210 37 1,625 44 13,628 39 1,586 47 13,146 39 1,561 44 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)(1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 100 3,362 100 34,070 100 3,542 100 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 22 711 21 6,676 20 502 14 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 48 1,530 46 17,714 52 1,865 53 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 30 1,121 33 9,680 28 1,175 33 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available 4 A Metropolitan Statistical Area is a town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. These areas are determined by the Census Bureau, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. MSA’s are included here because they remove the subjective element from the respondent’s urban/rural determination. Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 9 Table 9. Avid Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Avid Percent of Participants All Participants Avid Percent of Participants All Participants Avid Percent of Participants Total 35,578 3,706 10 35,246 3,362 10 34,070 3,542 10 Urban 22,368 2,081 9 21,618 1,776 8 20,924 1,981 9 Rural 13,210 1,625 12 13,628 1,586 12 13,146 1,561 12 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 3,362 10 34,070 3,542 10 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 711 9 6,676 502 8 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 1,530 9 17,714 1,865 11 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 1,121 11 9,680 1,175 12 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available Table 10. Avid Anglers by Age Groups (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total Total 35,578 100 3,705 100 35,246 100 3,361 100 34,070 100 3,544 100 16-17 1,481 4 146 4 1,406 4 145 4 1,319 4 140 4 18-24 4,589 13 564 15 3,321 9 309 9 2,931 9 319 9 25-34 9,927 28 955 26 7,175 20 765 23 6,578 19 672 19 35-44 8,583 24 824 22 9,673 27 682 20 9,047 27 772 22 45-54 4,891 14 501 14 7,020 20 767 23 6,940 20 696 20 55-64 3,270 9 397 11 3,537 10 352 10 4,168 12 566 16 65 and older 2,827 8 318 9 3,092 9 341 10 3,090 9 379 11 Table 11. Avid Anglers by Age Groups (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Avid Percent of Participants All Participants Avid Percent of Participants All Participants Avid Percent of Participants Total 35,578 3,705 10 35,246 3,361 10 34,070 3,544 10 16-17 1,481 146 10 1,406 145 10 1,319 140 11 18-24 4,589 564 12 3,321 309 9 2,931 319 11 25-34 9,927 955 10 7,175 765 11 6,578 672 10 35-44 8,583 824 10 9,673 682 7 9,047 772 9 45-54 4,891 501 10 7,020 767 11 6,940 696 10 55-64 3,270 397 12 3,537 352 10 4,168 566 14 65 and older 2,827 318 11 3,092 341 11 3,090 379 12 10 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Table 12. Avid Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Percent of total Avid Participants Percent of total All Participants Percent of total Avid Participants Percent of total All Participants Percent of total Avid Participants Percent of total Total 32,351 100 3,385 100 30,980 100 3,025 100 28,851 100 3,013 100 Below median 13,301 41 1,607 47 13,516 44 1,649 55 9,793 34 1,216 40 Above median 19,050 59 1,778 53 17,464 56 1,376 45 19,058 66 1,797 60 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. Table 13. Avid Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Avid Participants Percent of Participants All Participants Avid Participants Percent of Participants All Participants Avid Participants Percent of Participants Total 32,351 3,385 10 30,980 3,025 10 28,851 3,013 10 Below median 13,301 1,607 12 13,516 1,649 12 9,793 1,216 12 Above median 19,050 1,778 9 17,464 1,376 8 19,058 1,797 9 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. Pat Hagan/USFWS Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 11 Table 14. Avid Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total Total 14,063 100 1,412 100 13,975 100 1,385 100 13,034 100 1,298 100 Urban 6,631 47 443 31 6,402 46 467 34 5,873 45 363 28 Rural 7,432 53 969 69 7,574 54 918 66 7,161 55 935 72 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 100 1,384 100 13,034 100 1,298 100 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,123 15 78 6 1,803 14 88 7 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,660 41 558 40 5,946 46 513 40 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 44 748 54 5,285 41 697 54 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available Table 15. Avid Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Avid Percent of Participants All Participants Avid Percent of Participants All Participants Avid Percent of Participants Total 14,063 1,412 10 13,975 1,385 10 13,034 1,298 10 Urban 6,631 443 7 6,402 467 7 5,873 363 6 Rural 7,432 969 13 7,574 918 12 7,161 935 13 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 1,384 10 13,034 1,298 10 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,123 78 4 1,803 88 5 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,660 558 10 5,946 513 9 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 748 12 5,285 697 13 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available Avid Hunters In 2001 avid hunters constituted 11% of big game hunters, 15% of migratory bird hunters, 16% of small game hunters, and 34% of other animal hunters. Migratory bird, small game, and particularly other animal hunters tended to be more avid than big game hunters. This was true for 1991 and 1996 as well. Looking at the days data for 2001, avid hunters accounted for 40% of all hunting days: 37% of big game days, 39% of migratory bird days, 44% of small game days, and a startling 71% of other animal days. Over two-thirds of other animal (nongame) hunting effort was supplied by avid hunters, compared to approximately one-third of big game hunting effort. Sociodemographic characteristics of avid hunters help explain participation. In 2001 72% of all avid hunters resided in rural areas, compared to 55% of all hunters living in rural areas. A similar relationship held for 1991 and 1996. Rural hunters are twice as likely to be avid as urban hunters. In both 1991 and 2001 13% of all rural hunters were avid, compared to 6%-7% of urban hunters (6% in 2001, 7% in 1991). Perhaps the easier access to hunting areas that rural residents have is a strong factor in the avidity level of hunters. The traditional rural culture is almost certainly a factor as well. Age also is a significant factor in avidity levels. When the 16-17 and 18-24 year old age cohorts are combined, the age group with the fewest number of avid hunters in 2001 was the 65 year old and older cohort. The age group with the most avid hunters was the 35-44 year olds. Compared to 1991, when the age group with the most avid hunters was the 25-34 year olds, avid hunters in 2001 tended to be older. This is also true with hunters as a whole. Avid hunters have a tendency toward having higher income, but not as strong a tendency as that of hunters as a whole. In 2001 42% of avid hunters had below median household income, compared to 34% of all hunters. This pattern held in 1991 and 1996. Avid hunter income tends to be lower than the income of hunters as a whole. The trend from 1991 to 2001 was toward a bigger gap between the numbers of below median and above median income hunters. 12 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Table 16. Avid Hunters by Age Groups (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total Total 14,063 100 1,412 100 13,975 100 1,385 100 13,034 100 1,299 100 16-17 662 5 61 4 672 5 62 4 584 4 69 5 18-24 2,008 14 262 19 1,397 10 170 12 1,251 10 155 12 25-34 3,928 28 431 31 2,783 20 374 27 2,413 19 280 22 35-44 3,363 24 348 25 3,819 27 372 27 3,551 27 307 24 45-54 2,071 15 191 14 2,851 20 277 20 2,821 22 261 20 55-64 1,177 8 68 5 1,487 11 87 6 1,449 11 156 12 65 and older 836 6 51 4 967 7 43 3 965 7 71 5 Table 17. Avid Hunters by Age Groups (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Avid Percent of Participants All Participants Avid Percent of Participants All Participants Avid Percent of Participants Total 14,063 1,412 10 13,975 1,385 10 13,034 1,299 10 16-17 662 61 9 672 62 9 584 69 12 18-24 2,008 262 13 1,397 170 12 1,251 155 12 25-34 3,928 431 11 2,783 374 13 2,413 280 12 35-44 3,363 348 10 3,819 372 10 3,551 307 9 45-54 2,071 191 9 2,851 277 10 2,821 261 9 55-64 1,177 68 6 1,487 87 6 1,449 156 11 65 and older 836 51 6 967 43 4 965 71 7 Table 18. Avid Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Avid Percent of Total Total 12,714 100 1,290 100 12,219 100 1,228 100 10,979 100 1,084 100 Below median 5,424 43 602 47 5,272 43 603 49 3,703 34 460 42 Above median 7,290 57 688 53 6,947 57 625 51 7,276 66 624 58 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. Table 19. Avid Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants 1991 Avid Percent of Participants All Participants 1996 Avid Percent of Participants All Participants 2001 Avid Percent of Participants Total 12,714 1,290 10 12,219 1,228 10 10,979 1,084 10 Below median 5,424 602 11 5,272 603 11 3,703 460 12 Above median 7,290 688 9 6,947 625 9 7,276 624 9 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 13 Trends in Intermediate Fishing and Hunting The largest subgroup of anglers and hunters is the intermediates, those people who participate more than once or twice a year but less than the avid threshold (i.e., between 35 and 45 days per year, depending on the activity and year). Intermediates make up approximately 75% of participants and contribute about half of all angling and hunting days. What are their participation and sociodemographic characteristics? Intermediate participants in 2001 were 78% of all anglers. They provided 53% of all fishing days — an average of 11 days per angler, compared to 10 days in 1991. Hunting is a similar picture. Intermediate hunters were 76% of all hunters in 2001 and provided a total of 59% of all hunting days — an average of 14 days per hunter, compared to 13 days in 1991. Intermediate anglers numbered 26.8 million in 1991, 27.7 million in 1996, and 26.6 million in 2001, compared to all anglers (35.6 million, 35.2 million, and 34.1 million, successively). Intermediate hunters numbered 10.3 million, 10.9 million, and 10.0 million, compared to all hunters (14.1 million to 14.0 million to 13.0 million) in the three survey years. Intermediate Anglers In 2001 intermediate anglers made up 79% of non-Great Lakes freshwater anglers and 78% of saltwater anglers. Intermediate anglers as a group did not specialize in one type of fishing, but as a group participated in freshwater and saltwater roughly equally. 52% of all freshwater days were provided by intermediate anglers, while slightly more, 56%, of all saltwater days were provided by intermediate anglers. The intermediate angler contributed nearly the same proportion of all fishing days for both freshwater and saltwater fisheries. The data for 1991 and 1996 show similar patterns. Table 20. Intermediate Angler Trends (Numbers in thousands) Fishing Total Participants Intermediate Participants Percent of Participants Total Days Intermediate Days Percent of Days Intermediate Mean Days 2001 34,070 26,588 78 557,394 294,411 53 11 1996 35,246 27,724 79 625,893 335,690 54 12 1991 35,578 26,835 75 511,329 255,478 50 10 Non-Great Lakes Freshwater 2001 27,913 22,153 79 443,247 232,297 52 10 1996 28,921 23,143 80 485,474 259,748 54 11 1991 30,186 23,067 76 430,922 213,409 50 9 Great Lakes 2001 1,847 1,374 74 23,138 10,405 45 8 1996 2,039 1,553 76 20,095 10,710 53 7 1991 2,552 1,894 74 25,335 12,360 49 7 Saltwater 2001 9,051 7,104 78 90,838 50,948 56 7 1996 9,438 7,392 78 103,034 58,961 57 8 1991 8,885 6,632 75 74,696 40,043 54 6 Note: Intermediate anglers determined by all fishing days, not type of fishing days (e.g., Great Lakes days). 14 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends A majority of intermediate anglers resided in urban areas (63% in 1991 and 62% in 1996 and 2001). All demographic findings for intermediates closely follow those of all anglers. Focusing on urban areas, in 2001 19.1 million intermediate anglers, 72% of all intermediate anglers, lived in a Metropolitan Statistical Area, compared to 24.4 million total anglers, 72% of anglers as a whole, living in a MSA. In 2001 the age group that had the most intermediate anglers was 35-44 year olds. This was also true for all anglers. The age group (after combining 16-17 and 18-24 year olds into one age group) that had the fewest intermediates was 65 years old and older, as was the case with all anglers. The average age of intermediate anglers has increased from 1991 to 2001. Comparing 2001 and 1991 data, 16-34 year olds made up more of the intermediate angler population in 1991 than in 2001 (44% compared to 32%). Conversely, 45 year olds and older were 42% of all intermediate anglers in 2001, 39% in 1996, and 31% in 1991. Intermediate anglers had nearly the same proportion of below median income anglers and above median income anglers as the general angling population for all three surveys. Above median income anglers were slightly more likely to be intermediate anglers — 76% of all below median income anglers and 80% of all above median income anglers were intermediate anglers in 2001. Table 21. Intermediate Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total Total 35,578 100 26,836 100 35,246 100 27,725 100 34,070 100 26,588 100 Urban 22,368 63 16,968 63 21,618 61 17,112 62 20,924 61 16,407 62 Rural 13,210 37 9,868 37 13,628 39 10,613 38 13,146 39 10,181 38 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 100 27,725 100 34,070 100 26,588 100 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 22 5,747 21 6,676 20 5,456 21 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 48 13,736 50 17,714 52 13,617 51 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 30 8,242 30 9,680 28 7,515 28 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available Table 22. Intermediate Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants Total 35,578 26,836 75 35,246 27,725 79 34,070 26,588 78 Urban 22,368 16,968 76 21,618 17,112 79 20,924 16,407 78 Rural 13,210 9,868 75 13,628 10,613 78 13,146 10,181 77 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 27,725 79 34,070 26,588 78 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 5,747 75 6,676 5,456 82 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 13,736 81 17,714 13,617 77 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 8,242 78 9,680 7,515 78 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 15 Table 23. Intermediate Anglers by Age Group (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total Total 35,578 100 26,835 100 35,246 100 27,724 100 34,070 100 26,589 100 16-17 1,481 4 1,127 4 1,406 4 1,100 4 1,319 4 1,028 4 18-24 4,589 13 3,338 12 3,321 9 2,594 9 2,931 9 2,319 9 25-34 9,927 28 7,442 28 7,175 20 5,636 20 6,578 19 5,112 19 35-44 8,583 24 6,560 24 9,673 27 7,735 28 9,047 27 7,147 27 45-54 4,891 14 3,870 14 7,020 20 5,460 20 6,940 20 5,495 21 55-64 3,270 9 2,449 9 3,537 10 2,763 10 4,168 12 3,113 12 65 and older 2,827 8 2,049 8 3,092 9 2,436 9 3,090 9 2,375 9 Table 24. Intermediate Anglers by Age Group (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants Total 35,578 26,835 75 35,246 27,724 79 34,070 26,589 78 16-17 1,481 1,127 76 1,406 1,100 78 1,319 1,028 78 18-24 4,589 3,338 73 3,321 2,594 78 2,931 2,319 79 25-34 9,927 7,442 75 7,175 5,636 79 6,578 5,112 78 35-44 8,583 6,560 76 9,673 7,735 80 9,047 7,147 79 45-54 4,891 3,870 79 7,020 5,460 78 6,940 5,495 79 55-64 3,270 2,449 75 3,537 2,763 78 4,168 3,113 75 65 and older 2,827 2,049 72 3,092 2,436 79 3,090 2,375 77 Table 25. Intermediate Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Percent of total Inter-mediate Percent of total All Participants Percent of total Inter-mediate Percent of total All Participants Percent of total Inter-mediate Percent of total Total 32,351 100 24,424 100 30,980 100 24,452 100 28,851 100 22,607 100 Below median 13,301 41 9,784 40 13,516 44 10,368 42 9,793 34 7,450 33 Above median 19,050 59 14,640 60 17,464 56 14,084 58 19,058 66 15,157 67 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. Table 26. Intermediate Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants Total 32,351 24,424 75 30,980 24,452 79 28,851 22,607 78 Below median 13,301 9,784 74 13,516 10,368 77 9,793 7,450 76 Above median 19,050 14,640 77 17,464 14,084 81 19,058 15,157 80 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. 16 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Intermediate Hunters In 2001 intermediate hunters, 76% of all hunters, constituted 79% of big game hunters, 77% of migratory bird hunters, 75% of small game hunters, and 63% of other animal hunters. Big game hunting was the biggest draw for intermediate hunters, as it is for the avid and casual subcategories of hunters, and as it was in 1991 and 1996. Looking at the days data, 59% of all hunting days in 2001 were provided by intermediate hunters: 62% of all big game days, 60% of all migratory bird days, 55% of all small game days, and 29% of all other animal days. In 1991, the days afield by intermediate hunters were very close to 2001, with 57% of all hunting days, 63% of big game days, 58% of migratory bird days, 54% of small game days, and 30% of other animal hunting days contributed by intermediate hunters. The intermediate hunter has maintained his/her share of all hunting activity over the past three surveys, with a small bump up in 1996 and a fall to 1991 levels in 2001. The discussion of the sociodemographic characteristics of intermediate hunters begins with their urban/rural residence. In 2001 54% of intermediate hunters resided in rural areas, similar to the 53% of intermediate hunters in 1991 and 1996. Again, these percentages are very close to those of hunters as a whole. When the 16-17 and 18-24 year old age cohorts are combined, the age group with the fewest number of intermediate hunters in 2001 was the 65 years old and older cohort. 7% of intermediate hunters were 65 years old and older, compared to 5% of avids and 10% of casuals of the same age. The age group with the most intermediate hunters was the 25-34 year olds in 1991 and the 35-44 year olds in 2001. This aging trend holds for all subcategories of hunters: avid, intermediate, and casual. Intermediate hunters had a strong tendency toward having higher income in 2001. 33% of intermediate hunters had below median household income. 34% of hunters as a whole had below median household income. Above median income is a strong determinant for intermediate hunting, as it is for hunting as a whole. This is a difference between intermediate hunters and avid hunters: the below median income hunting group tends to be less intermediate than the average hunter, while the same group tends to be more avid than the average hunter. Table 27. Intermediate Hunting Trends (Numbers in thousands) Hunting Total Participants Intermediate Participants Percent of Participants Total Days Intermediate Days Percent of Days Intermediate Mean Days 2001 13,034 9,969 76 228,368 134,728 59 14 1996 13,975 10,916 78 256,676 154,945 60 14 1991 14,063 10,262 73 235,806 134,150 57 13 Big Game 2001 10,911 8,570 79 153,191 94,904 62 11 1996 11,288 8,957 79 153,784 98,477 64 11 1991 10,745 8,203 76 128,411 80,869 63 10 Small Game 2001 5,434 4,079 75 60,142 33,177 55 8 1996 6,945 5,379 77 75,117 46,043 61 9 1991 7,642 5,526 72 77,132 41,645 54 8 Migratory Birds 2001 2,956 2,278 77 29,310 17,601 60 8 1996 3,073 2,372 77 26,501 17,662 67 7 1991 3,009 2,063 69 22,235 12,800 58 6 Other Animals 2001 1,047 662 63 19,207 5,514 29 8 1996 1,521 977 64 24,522 8,497 35 9 1991 1,411 832 59 19,340 5,870 30 7 Note: Intermediate hunters determined by total days, not type of hunting days (e.g., Small Game days). Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 17 Table 28. Intermediate Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total Total 14,063 100 10,262 100 13,975 100 10,916 100 13,034 100 9,969 100 Urban 6,631 47 4,854 47 6,402 46 5,121 47 5,873 45 4,628 46 Rural 7,432 53 5,408 53 7,574 54 5,795 53 7,161 55 5,341 54 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 100 10,916 100 13,034 100 9,969 100 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,123 15 1,723 16 1,803 14 1,414 14 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,660 41 4,544 42 5,946 46 4,615 46 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 44 4649 43 5,285 41 3,940 40 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available Table 29. Intermediate Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants Total 14,063 10,262 73 13,975 10,916 78 13,034 9,969 76 Urban 6,631 4,854 73 6,402 5,121 80 5,873 4,628 79 Rural 7,432 5,408 73 7,574 5,795 77 7,161 5,341 75 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 10,916 78 13,034 9,969 76 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,123 1,723 81 1,803 1,414 78 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,660 4,544 80 5,946 4,615 78 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 4,649 75 5,285 3,940 75 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available 18 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Table 30. Intermediate Hunters by Age Group (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total Total 14,063 100 10,261 100 13,975 100 10,915 100 13,034 100 9,970 100 16-17 662 5 449 4 672 5 540 5 584 4 434 4 18-24 2,008 14 1,392 14 1,397 10 1,037 10 1,251 10 878 9 25-34 3,928 28 2,847 28 2,783 20 2,080 19 2,413 19 1,775 18 35-44 3,363 24 2,524 25 3,819 27 3,024 28 3,551 27 2,807 28 45-54 2,071 15 1,560 15 2,851 20 2,248 21 2,821 22 2,251 23 55-64 1,177 8 925 9 1,487 11 1,239 11 1,449 11 1,101 11 65 and older 836 6 564 5 967 7 747 7 965 7 724 7 Table 31. Intermediate Hunters by Age Group (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants Total 14,063 10,261 73 13,975 10,915 78 13,034 9,970 76 16-17 662 449 68 672 540 80 584 434 74 18-24 2,008 1,392 69 1,397 1,037 74 1,251 878 70 25-34 3,928 2,847 72 2,783 2,080 75 2,413 1,775 74 35-44 3,363 2,524 75 3,819 3,024 79 3,551 2,807 79 45-54 2,071 1,560 75 2,851 2,248 79 2,821 2,251 80 55-64 1,177 925 79 1,487 1,239 83 1,449 1,101 76 65 and older 836 564 67 967 747 77 965 724 75 Table 32. Intermediate Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Inter-mediate Percent of Total Total 12,714 100 9,297 100 12,219 100 9,525 100 10,979 100 8,441 100 Below median 5,424 43 3,890 42 5,272 43 3,986 42 3,703 34 2,763 33 Above median 7,290 57 5,407 58 6,947 57 5,539 58 7,276 66 5,678 67 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. Table 33. Intermediate Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants All Participants Inter-mediate Percent of Participants Total 12,714 9,297 73 12,219 9,525 78 10,979 8,441 77 Below median 5,424 3,890 72 5,272 3,986 76 3,703 2,763 75 Above median 7,290 5,407 74 6,947 5,539 80 7,276 5,678 78 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 19 Trends in Casual Fishing and Hunting Another interesting subgroup of anglers and hunters is the casuals, those people who participate one or two days in a year. Casuals barely made it into the field compared to their avid counterparts, and yet count as equal to avids in participation tallies. What are their behavior and sociodemographic characteristics? People who went fishing one day in 2001 made up 11% of all anglers. They participated 1% of all fishing days. Hunting is similar. 13% of all hunters went one or two days in 2001 which is 1% of all hunting days. 1991’s casual hunters contributed 2% of all hunting days, and 1996’s went 1% of all hunting days. The definition of a casual angler is one who fished one day in the year and the casual hunter is one who hunted one or two days in the year. As with all anglers, the number of casual anglers has decreased with each survey, from 4.9 million in 1991 to 3.8 million in 1996 to 3.6 million in 2001. In contrast, the number of casual hunters decreased then stabilized, from 2.3 million to 1.6 million to 1.7 million, compared to all hunters (14.1 million to 14.0 million to 13.0 million). Both casual anglers and casual hunters had their biggest drop in numbers from 1991 to 1996, when the overall numbers of anglers and hunters remained the same. Further, the numbers of casual anglers and hunters roughly stabilized from 1996 to 2001 when overall angling and hunting dropped significantly. The trends in casual angling and hunting have run counter to the trends in overall angling and hunting. Phyllis Cooper/USFWS 20 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Casual Anglers In 2001 casual anglers made up 9% of both non-Great Lakes freshwater anglers and saltwater anglers. Casual anglers as a group did not specialize in one type of fishing, but participated in each in equal proportions. This finding is supported by the days data. 1% of all freshwater days were provided by casual anglers. The same was true of all saltwater days. Again, the casual angler fishes the same proportion of all days for both freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing, without preference for either. There was a slight preference for saltwater fishing in 1991 and 1996. One-third of casual anglers in 1991 and 1996 (and 36% in 2001) resided in rural areas, compared to 39% of anglers as a whole in 1996 and 2001. A similar conclusion can be made using the Metropolitan Statistical Area information. The casual angler is less likely than the average angler to come from a rural area. In 2001 the age group that had the most casual anglers was 35-44 year olds. This was also true for anglers as a whole (and avid and intermediate anglers). And again, in 1991 the age group that had the most casual participation was the 25-34 year olds. The age group (after combining 16-17 and 18-24 year olds into one age group) that had the fewest casuals was 65 years old and older. This was the case with all anglers as well. The casual angler age distribution closely followed that of anglers as a whole. Comparing 1991 and 2001 data, 16-34 year olds made up more of the casual angler population in 1991 than in 2001 (49% compared to 33%). By contrast, 45 year olds and older were 28% of casual anglers in 1991, 37% in 1996, and 39% in 2001. The overall angling population has aged from 1991 to 2001, and the casual angling population has followed suit. In 2001 66% of all casual anglers had an above median household income and 34% of all casual anglers had a household income less than the median. The casual angler income distribution approximately followed that of anglers as a whole for all three surveys. Table 34. Casual Fishing Trends (Numbers in thousands) Total Participants Casual Participants Percent of Participants Total Days Casual Days Percent of Days Casual Mean Days Fishing 2001 34,070 3,595 11 557,394 3,595 1 1 1996 35,246 3,816 11 625,893 3,816 1 1 1991 35,578 4,862 14 511,329 4,862 1 1 Non-Great Lakes Freshwater 2001 27,913 2,389 9 443,247 2,404 1 1 1996 28,921 2,623 9 485,474 2,636 1 1 1991 30,186 3,548 12 430,922 4,066 1 1 Great Lakes 2001 1,847 100 5 23,138 100 (Z) 1 1996 2,039 139 7 20,095 139 1 1 1991 2,552 198 8 25,335 198 1 1 Saltwater 2001 9,051 851 9 90,838 853 1 1 1996 9,438 992 11 103,034 1,006 1 1 1991 8,885 1,120 13 74,696 1,246 2 1 (Z) Less than 0.5 percent. Note: Casuals determined by total days, not type of fishing days (e.g., Great Lakes days). Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 21 Table 35. Casual Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total Total 35,578 100 4,862 100 35,246 100 3,816 100 34,070 100 3,595 100 Urban 22,368 63 3,199 66 21,618 61 2,521 66 20,925 61 2,297 64 Rural 13,210 37 1,663 34 13,628 39 1,295 34 13,146 39 1,298 36 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 100 3,815 100 34,070 100 3,595 100 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 22 1,073 28 6,676 20 665 18 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 48 1,680 44 17,714 52 2,035 57 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 30 1,062 28 9,680 28 895 25 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available Table 36. Casual Anglers by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants Total 35,578 4,862 14 35,246 3,816 11 34,070 3,595 11 Urban 22,368 3,199 14 21,618 2,521 12 20,925 2,297 11 Rural 13,210 1,663 13 13,628 1,295 10 13,146 1,298 10 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 35,246 3,815 11 34,070 3,595 11 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 7,637 1,073 14 6,676 665 10 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 17,012 1,680 10 17,714 2,035 11 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 10,584 1,062 10 9,680 895 9 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available 22 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Table 37. Casual Anglers by Age Group (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total Total 35,578 100 4,862 100 35,246 100 3,816 100 34,070 100 3,595 100 16-17 1,481 4 198 4 1,406 4 151 4 1,319 4 149 4 18-24 4,589 13 659 14 3,321 9 389 10 2,931 9 270 8 25-34 9,927 28 1,492 31 7,175 20 700 18 6,578 19 750 21 35-44 8,583 24 1,150 24 9,673 27 1,178 31 9,047 27 1,009 28 45-54 4,891 14 513 11 7,020 20 722 19 6,940 20 692 19 55-64 3,270 9 407 8 3,537 10 379 10 4,168 12 443 12 65 and older 2,827 8 443 9 3,092 9 297 8 3,090 9 282 8 Table 38. Casual Anglers by Age Group (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants Total 35,578 4,862 14 35,246 3,816 11 34,070 3,595 11 16-17 1,481 198 13 1,406 151 11 1,319 149 11 18-24 4,589 659 14 3,321 389 12 2,931 270 9 25-34 9,927 1,492 15 7,175 700 10 6,578 750 11 35-44 8,583 1,150 13 9,673 1,178 12 9,047 1,009 11 45-54 4,891 513 10 7,020 722 10 6,940 692 10 55-64 3,270 407 12 3,537 379 11 4,168 443 11 65 and older 2,827 443 16 3,092 297 10 3,090 282 9 Table 39. Casual Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total Total 32,351 100 4,389 100 30,980 100 3,230 100 28,851 100 2,998 100 Below median 13,301 41 1,848 42 13,516 44 1,340 41 9,793 34 1,020 34 Above median 19,050 59 2,541 58 17,464 56 1,890 59 19,058 66 1,978 66 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. Table 40. Casual Anglers by Median Income (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants Total 32,351 4,389 14 30,980 3,230 10 28,851 2,998 10 Below median 13,301 1,848 14 13,516 1,340 10 9,793 1,020 10 Above median 19,050 2,541 13 17,464 1,890 11 19,058 1,978 10 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 23 Casual Hunters In 2001 casual hunters constituted 10% of big game hunters, 8% of small game hunters, 7% of migratory bird hunters, and 2% of other animal hunters. Big game hunting was the biggest draw for casual hunters, as it was for all hunters. Looking at this trend over the last three surveys, it is interesting that in 1991 the participation rate of casuals in big game hunting was matched by the participation rate of both small game and migratory bird casual hunting whereas small game and migratory bird hunting participation dropped in 2001 more than big game hunting participation. There are two points to be made about the changes in small game and migratory bird hunting from 1991 to 2001. The 29% drop in overall small game hunting from 1991 to 2001 was reflected in the three subgroups, led by the 47% drop in small game hunting by casuals. However, migratory bird hunting remained level from 1991-2001, with the drop in casuals of 37% balanced by a 10% increase in intermediate migratory bird hunters. 1% of all hunting days in 2001 was provided by casual hunters. Casual hunters contributed 1% of big game, 1% of migratory bird, 1% of small game, and less than 0.5% of other animal hunting days. In 1991, casual hunters accounted for 2% of all hunting days, as well as 2% of big game, small game, and migratory bird hunting days, and 1% of other animal days. The casual hunter did not participate as much in 2001 as in 1991, which partly explains the change in hunting participation numbers, although their influence on total hunting days is very small. The discussion of the sociodemographic characteristics of casual hunters begins with the urban/rural residence of participants. In 2001, 50% of all casual hunters resided in rural areas, compared to 55% of hunters as a whole living in rural areas. This pattern of casual hunters tending to be more urban than hunters as a whole held in 1991 and 1996 as well. Furthermore, 14% of urban-based hunters were casual in 2001, compared to 19% in 1991. 12% of rural-based hunters were casual in 2001, compared to 14% in 1991. This means that while the number of casual hunters declined from 1991 to 2001, the number of urban-based casual hunters declined more than rural-based casual hunters. Table 41. Casual Hunting Trends (Numbers in thousands) Total Participants Casual Participants Percent of Participants Total Days Casual Days Percent of Days Casual Mean Days Hunting, total 2001 13,034 1,672 13 228,368 2,607 1 2 1996 13,975 1,606 11 256,676 2,541 1 2 1991 14,063 2,301 16 235,806 3,559 2 2 Big Game 2001 10,911 1,054 10 153,191 1,673 1 2 1996 11,288 989 9 153,784 1,576 1 2 1991 10,745 1,184 11 128,411 1,989 2 2 Small Game 2001 5,434 443 8 60,142 633 1 1 1996 6,945 452 7 75,117 662 1 1 1991 7,642 836 11 77,132 1,261 2 2 Migratory Birds 2001 2,956 214 7 29,310 310 1 1 1996 3,073 170 6 26,501 254 1 1 1991 3,009 338 11 22,235 504 2 1 Other Animals 2001 1,047 19 2 19,207 27 (Z) 1 1996 1,521 54 4 24,522 80 (Z) 1 1991 1,411 45 3 19,340 189 1 4 (Z) Less than 0.5 percent. Note: Casuals determined by total days, not type of hunting days (e.g., Small Game days). 24 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends When the 16-17 and 18-24 year old age cohorts are combined, the age group with the fewest number of casual hunters in 2001 was the 65 years old and older cohort. 10% of casual hunters were 65 years old and older, compared to 7% of hunters as a whole. The age group with the most casual hunters was the 35-44 year olds in 2001, compared to 1991 when it was the 25-34 year olds. As with hunters as a whole, the casual hunter in 2001 tended to be older than in 1991. Casual hunters had a stronger tendency toward having higher incomes in 2001 than in 1991 or 1996. Only 32% of casual hunters had a below median household income in 2001, similar to the 34% of hunters as a whole who had below median income. If one is trying to find hunters among the general population, above median income is a determinant in casual (and intermediate) hunting levels. But if one is trying to find casual hunters in the general hunter population, above median income is no help in selecting casual (and intermediate) hunters, since hunters as a whole tend to have above median income. In short, casual (and intermediate) hunters had income distributions that closely followed that of hunters as a whole. This conclusion also holds for 1991 and 1996. The percentages of below and above median income for hunters as a whole in 1991 and 1996 were 43% and 57% respectively, compared to 2001’s 34% below median income and 66% above median income. The tendency toward above median income by hunters held in each survey, but it was more pronounced in 2001. Table 42. Casual Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total Total 14,063 100 2,300 100 13,975 100 1,606 100 13,034 100 1,672 100 Urban 6,631 47 1,270 55 6,402 46 805 50 5,873 45 843 50 Rural 7,432 53 1,030 45 7,573 54 801 50 7,161 55 829 50 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 100 1,606 100 13,034 100 1,672 100 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,120 15 319 20 1,792 14 290 17 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,637 40 535 33 5,889 45 761 46 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 44 752 47 5,285 41 621 37 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available Table 43. Casual Hunters by Urban/Rural Residence (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Urban/Rural Cohorts All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants Total 14,063 2,300 16 13,975 1,606 11 13,034 1,672 13 Urban 6,631 1,270 19 6,402 805 13 5,873 843 14 Rural 7,432 1,030 14 7,573 801 11 7,161 829 12 Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) (1) Total N.A. N.A. N.A. 13,975 1,606 11 13,034 1,672 13 In MSA in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 2,120 319 15 1,792 290 16 In MSA not in Central City N.A. N.A. N.A. 5,637 535 9 5,889 761 13 Not MSA N.A. N.A. N.A. 6,192 752 12 5,285 621 12 (1) A town, county, or group of towns or counties with a population of at least 50,000. Each MSA must contain a central city. MSA’s are determined by the Bureau of Census, unlike the urban/rural designation, which is determined by each respondent independently. N.A. Not available Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 25 Table 44. Casual Hunters by Age Group (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total Total 14,063 100 2,300 100 13,975 100 1,606 100 13,034 100 1,671 100 16-17 662 5 139 6 672 5 67 4 584 4 78 5 18-24 2,008 14 351 15 1,397 10 169 11 1,251 10 216 13 25-34 3,928 28 636 28 2,783 20 322 20 2,413 19 338 20 35-44 3,363 24 479 21 3,819 27 414 26 3,551 27 401 24 45-54 2,071 15 313 14 2,851 20 315 20 2,821 22 293 18 55-64 1,177 8 181 8 1,487 11 143 9 1,449 11 178 11 65 and older 836 6 201 9 967 7 176 11 965 7 167 10 Table 45. Casual Hunters by Age Group (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Age Cohorts All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants Total 14,063 2,300 16 13,975 1,606 11 13,034 1,671 13 16-17 662 139 21 672 67 10 584 78 13 18-24 2,008 351 17 1,397 169 12 1,251 216 17 25-34 3,928 636 16 2,783 322 12 2,413 338 14 35-44 3,363 479 14 3,819 414 11 3,551 401 11 45-54 2,071 313 15 2,851 315 11 2,821 293 10 55-64 1,177 181 15 1,487 143 10 1,449 178 12 65 and older 836 201 24 967 176 18 965 167 17 Table 46. Casual Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Totals) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total All Participants Percent of Total Casual Percent of Total Total 12,714 100 2,062 100 12,219 100 1,417 100 10,979 100 1,377 100 Below median 5,424 43 900 44 5,272 43 654 46 3,703 34 446 32 Above median 7,290 57 1,162 56 6,947 57 763 54 7,276 66 931 68 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. Table 47. Casual Hunters by Median Income (With Percent of Participants) (Numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 2001 Household income All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants All Participants Casual Percent of Participants Total 12,714 2,062 16 12,219 1,417 12 10,979 1,377 13 Below median 5,424 900 17 5,272 654 12 3,703 446 12 Above median 7,290 1,162 16 6,947 763 11 7,276 931 13 Note: “All Participants” totals do not match totals from other non-income tables because all respondents did not report their income. 26 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Comparison of Avid, Intermediate, and Casual Participants Going into this research, the assumption was that avid participants would be markedly different from casual participants. Indeed, the difference in average days is huge. But what about the circumstances of the participants’ age and urban/rural status? What about household income? What are the differences there? Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate avid, intermediate, and casual angling in 1991, 1996, and 2001. The year with the most casuals was 1991, when 4.9 million anglers fished only one day. This dropped significantly in 1996 to 3.8 million. The increase in intermediate anglers maintained the overall level of angling for 1996 compared to 1991. Of note for 2001 is the drop in intermediate anglers, from 27.7 million in 1996 to 26.6 million in 2001. This was not compensated by an increase in avid or casual angling, so overall angling decreased from 1996 to 2001. Figure 4. 1991 Fishing (Numbers in thousands) Figure 5. 1996 Fishing (Numbers in thousands) Figure 6. 2001 Fishing (Numbers in thousands) Avids 3,705 Casuals 4,862 Intermediates 26,835 Avids 3,361 Intermediates 27,724 Casuals 3,816 Avids 3,544 Intermediates 26,589 Casuals 3,595 Total 35.6 million anglers Total 35.2 million anglers Total 34.1 million anglers Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 27 Figures 7, 8, and 9 graphically illustrate the hunting subgroups for the three survey years. As with fishing, there was a significant drop in casual participation from 1991 to 1996 which was compensated by an increase in intermediate hunting. And again as in fishing, there was a drop in intermediate hunters from 1996 to 2001 which was not counterbalanced by an increase in avid or casual hunting. Figure 7. 1991 Hunting (Numbers in thousands) Figure 8. 1996 Hunting (Numbers in thousands) Figure 9. 2001 Hunting (Numbers in thousands) Avids 1,412 Casuals 2,301 Intermediates 10,261 Avids 1,385 Intermediates 10,915 Casuals 1,606 Avids 1,299 Casuals 1,671 Intermediates 9,970 Total 14.1 million hunters Total 14.0 million hunters Total 13.0 million hunters 28 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends For fishing, the age cohort with the most participants was 25-34 year olds for all three groups in 1991, and 35-44 year olds for all three groups in 1996 and 2001. The age group with the fewest participants for all three subgroups was 65 years old and older for all three surveys (there was one exception: the 55-64 year old group was smaller than the 65 year old and older group for casual anglers in 1991). In addition to comparing the number of participants by age cohort, comparing the percentage of age cohorts that are avid, intermediate, and casual anglers yields insights. Keeping in mind that 10% of all anglers in each survey year were avid, one looks for the age cohorts in which there is variation from this overall norm. The pattern that stands out for avids is the age group with the lowest percentage of avidity across surveys: 35-44 year olds consistently have the lowest percentage of avids for angling. The fact that this age group also provided the most avids in 1996 and 2001 is due to 35-44 year olds being the biggest group of anglers for those years. There is no noteworthy variation across age groups for intermediates or casuals. Figure 10. 1991 Fishing (Numbers in thousands) Figure 11. 1996 Fishing (Numbers in thousands) Figure 12. 2001 Fishing (Numbers in thousands) ������ ������ ��� �������� ������ ������ Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 29 Avid, intermediate, and casual anglers were more likely to live in urban areas. A range of 53-56% of avids, 62-63% of intermediates, and 64-66% of casuals lived in urban areas the three surveyed years. These percentages show that anglers are more likely urban-based, although not as likely as the average American. The general American population’s urban-based range is 72-74%.5 Avids tended to be less urban than the other two subgroups, but were still more likely to be urbanites than ruralites. 5 Source: 1991, 1996, and 2001 National Reports of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife- Associated Recreation. They can be accessed at http://fa.r9.fws.gov/surveys/surveys.html Figure 13. 1991 Fishing (Numbers in thousands) Figure 14. 1996 Fishing (Numbers in thousands) Figure 15. 2001 Fishing (Numbers in thousands) ���� �� ����� �� �� ������� 30 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends For hunting, the age cohort with the most participants was 25-34 year olds for avids, intermediates, and casuals in 1991, and 35-44 year olds for the three groups in 1996 and 2001. The age group with the fewest participants was 65 years old and older for nearly all three subgroups for all three surveys (the exception was in 1991 and 1996 when the 55-64 year old group numbered fewer than the 65 year old and older group for casual hunters). Another approach is to compare percentages of age cohorts that are avid, intermediate, and casual hunters. The age group that had the lowest avidity percentage (and highest casual percentage) across the three surveys is the 65 year old and older cohort (in 1991 the 55-64 year old group joined them). The age group that consistently rated above the overall norm in avidity was the 18-34 year olds. If people 18-34 years old decide to hunt, they are more likely to hunt a lot. 35-44 year olds have been at or slightly under the national norm in avidity percentage. As for casual hunting, the age group with the lowest percentage in 1991 was the 35-44 year old group, and ten years later in 2001 it was the 45-54 year olds. Finally, the highest intermediate hunters percentage in 2001 was the 45-54 year olds and the lowest was the 18-24 year olds. In 1991 the lowest percentage was that of the 65 year old and older hunters, and in 1996 it was the 18-24 year olds. There has been a significant decline in participation by the 18-24 year old group, as also noted in the 1996 Survey trends report, “1980- 1995 Participation in Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Watching,” Washington, D.C. 1999. Figure 16. 1991 Hunting (Numbers in thousands) Figure 17. 1996 Hunting (Numbers in thousands) Figure 18. 2001 Hunting (Numbers in thousands) ��� �� ��� �� �� ��� ���� �� ����� ���� �������� Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 31 A significant area where there were differences among subcategories for hunting was the urban/rural demographic. Casual hunters in 1996 and 2001 lived in urban areas and rural areas equally and in 1991 lived more in urban areas than in rural areas. But for the intermediate and avid hunting groups in the three surveyed years, the majority (53%) of the intermediates and the strong majority (nearly 70%) of avids lived in rural areas. Figure 19. 1991 Hunting (Numbers in thousands) Figure 20. 1996 Hunting (Numbers in thousands) Figure 21. 2001 Hunting (Numbers in thousands) ��� ����� ���� �� �� ����� ��� �� 32 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Number of In-State Anglers and Hunters State trends in fishing and hunting do not necessarily follow national trends. National fishing and hunting participation trends encompass a wide variation at the state level. For example, while national fishing participation fell 4% from 1991 to 2001, in North Dakota fishing increased 81% and in Michigan fishing decreased 23%. The three states with the largest increases were North Dakota, Utah (63%), and Alaska (36%, 25% for freshwater anglers, 48% for saltwater anglers), all western states with small populations and significant wilderness expanse. The one other state with a significant increase in fishing activity was Florida, with a 16% uptick (interestingly, this increase is solely due to the increase in saltwater anglers). The eastern seaboard states of New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina saw significant decreases in fishing. Two states with a 16% drop in participation from 1991 to 2001, New York (-28% for freshwater anglers and -17% for saltwater anglers) and New Jersey (-19% for freshwater anglers and -23% for saltwater anglers), are states that abut each other. Another state with a significant decrease is North Carolina, with a 13% downturn (-17% for freshwater anglers and +5% for saltwater anglers). The changes for all other states were not significant, which means the apparent upturn or downturn in fishing activity may not be a real change, but instead due to sampling factors. Part Two – State Trends Table 48. State Freshwater Fishing Participation Trends (In-state participation, numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 31,041 29,734 -4 28,439 -4 -8 Alabama 831 843 1 732 -13 -12 Alaska 213 313 47 266 -15 25 Arizona 480 483 1 419 -13 -13 Arkansas 769 739 -4 782 6 2 California 2,118 2,175 3 1,865 -14 -12 Colorado 778 787 1 915 16 18 Connecticut 255 318 25 254 -20 (Z) Delaware 45 66 47 73 11 62 Florida 1,311 1,137 -13 1,316 16 (Z) Georgia 1,066 967 -9 1,017 5 -5 Hawaii 32 22 -31 12 -45 -63 Idaho 365 474 30 416 -12 14 Illinois 1,359 1,351 -1 1,237 -8 -9 Indiana 986 992 1 874 -12 -11 Iowa 556 477 -14 542 14 -3 Kansas 453 341 -25 404 18 -11 Kentucky 766 772 1 780 1 2 Louisiana 785 815 4 659 -19 -16 Maine 361 290 -20 272 -6 -25 Maryland 392 319 -19 367 15 -6 Massachusetts 373 377 1 325 -14 -13 Michigan 1,762 1,824 4 1,354 -26 -23 Minnesota 1,450 1,538 6 1,624 6 12 Mississippi 565 487 -14 494 1 -13 Missouri 1,329 1,138 -14 1,215 7 -9 Montana 342 329 -4 349 6 2 Nebraska 252 247 -2 296 20 17 Nevada 171 219 28 172 -21 1 New Hampshire 267 237 -11 221 -7 -17 New Jersey 411 428 4 331 -23 -19 New Mexico 281 312 11 314 1 12 New York 1,454 1,295 -11 1,052 -19 -28 North Carolina 1,019 1,009 -1 848 -16 -17 North Dakota 99 90 -9 179 99 81 Ohio 1,515 1,231 -19 1,371 11 -10 Oklahoma 804 891 11 774 -13 -4 Oregon 605 589 -3 611 4 1 Pennsylvania 1,397 1,277 -9 1,266 -1 -9 Rhode Island 66 72 9 51 -29 -23 South Carolina 645 716 11 591 -17 -8 South Dakota 158 213 35 214 (Z) 35 Tennessee 996 767 -23 903 18 -9 Texas 2,074 2,147 4 1,842 -14 -11 Utah 317 397 25 517 30 63 Vermont 181 176 -3 171 -3 -6 Virginia 780 761 -2 721 -5 -8 Washington 681 768 13 659 -14 -3 West Virginia 339 323 -5 318 -2 -6 Wisconsin 1,470 1,474 (Z) 1,412 -4 -4 Wyoming 301 379 26 293 -23 -3 (Z) Less than 0.5 percent Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 33 Table 49. State Saltwater Fishing Participation Trends (In-state participation, numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 8,885 9,438 6 9,051 -4 2 Alabama 137 160 17 167 4 22 Alaska 183 283 55 271 -4 48 California 1,057 1,049 -1 932 -11 -12 Connecticut 145 178 23 161 -10 11 Delaware 130 148 14 88 -41 -32 Florida 2,051 2,255 10 2,437 8 19 Georgia 72 137 90 98 -28 36 Hawaii 192 244 27 144 -41 -25 Louisiana 240 346 44 504 46 110 Maine 143 106 -26 150 42 5 Maryland 431 498 16 370 -26 -14 Massachusetts 393 429 9 376 -12 -4 Mississippi 148 121 -18 106 -12 -28 New Hampshire 75 46 -39 70 52 -7 New Jersey 746 841 13 572 -32 -23 New York 491 476 -3 406 -15 -17 North Carolina 626 770 23 657 -15 5 Oregon 225 162 -28 183 13 -19 Rhode Island 125 108 -14 149 38 19 South Carolina 298 382 28 348 -9 17 Texas 828 862 4 860 (Z) 4 Virginia 339 377 11 385 2 14 Washington 504 378 -25 386 2 -23 (Z) Less than 0.5 percent 34 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends The 7% drop in the number of hunters nationally from 1991 to 2001 saw extremes of a 42% increase in hunters in South Dakota and a 39% drop in hunters in both California and Massachusetts. Three states experienced significant increases in hunting activity, South Dakota (largely due to non-big game hunting6), Arkansas (37%, with big game hunting increasing 29% and non-big game hunting 42%), and Minnesota (30%, with big game hunting increasing 47% and non-big game hunting decreasing 16%). States with statistically significant hunting downturns were California (big game decreased 34% and non-big game hunting decreased 50%), Massachusetts (big game hunting decreased 32% and non-big game hunting decreased 52%), Illinois (-31%, with big game hunting a mere -4% and non-big game hunting a whopping -58%), Iowa (-26%, with big game hunting dropping 11% and non-big game hunting decreasing 34%), North Carolina (-26%, with big game hunting -22% and non-big game hunting -33%), and Ohio (-20%, with big game hunting increasing 8% and non-big game hunting decreasing 31%). All other states had statistically insignificant changes in hunting activity. Table 50. State Big Game Hunting Participation Trends (In-state participation, numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 10,745 11,288 5 10,911 -3 2 Alabama 262 279 6 392 41 50 Alaska 60 64 7 84 31 40 Arizona 103 100 -3 81 -19 -21 Arkansas 249 298 20 322 8 29 California 195 294 51 129 -56 -34 Colorado 286 411 44 235 -43 -18 Connecticut 30 43 43 33 -23 10 Delaware 16 28 75 11 -61 -31 Florida 191 159 -17 188 18 -2 Georgia 329 322 -2 342 6 4 Hawaii 16 20 25 15 -25 -6 Idaho 160 215 34 156 -27 -3 Illinois 256 264 3 245 -7 -4 Indiana 206 262 27 215 -18 4 Iowa 156 203 30 139 -32 -11 Kansas 71 114 61 159 39 124 Kentucky 209 282 35 264 -6 26 Louisiana 203 228 12 212 -7 4 Maine 158 172 9 156 -9 -1 Maryland 102 111 9 126 14 24 Massachusetts 85 76 -11 58 -24 -32 Michigan 757 855 13 680 -20 -10 Minnesota 336 486 45 493 1 47 Mississippi 305 352 15 295 -16 -3 Missouri 411 457 11 423 -7 3 Montana 202 161 -20 206 28 2 Nebraska 67 77 15 89 16 33 Nevada 28 28 (Z) 25 -11 -11 New Hampshire 62 66 6 71 8 15 New Jersey 101 75 -26 111 48 10 New Mexico 87 73 -16 112 53 29 New York 666 596 -11 664 11 (Z) North Carolina 288 266 -8 224 -16 -22 North Dakota 58 59 2 74 25 28 Ohio 390 322 -17 422 31 8 Oklahoma 130 226 74 212 -6 63 Oregon 223 254 14 226 -11 1 Pennsylvania 969 816 -16 956 17 -1 Rhode Island 16 20 25 6 -70 -63 South Carolina 184 245 33 217 -11 18 South Dakota 69 79 14 75 -5 9 Tennessee 231 277 20 262 -5 13 Texas 739 775 5 888 15 20 Utah 151 118 -22 171 45 13 Vermont 93 91 -2 94 3 1 Virginia 328 332 1 322 -3 -2 Washington 197 233 18 187 -20 -5 West Virginia 308 352 14 269 -24 -13 Wisconsin 672 584 -13 606 4 -10 Wyoming 123 109 -11 110 1 -11 (Z) Less than 0.5 percent 6 Due to sample size considerations, hunting at the state level is divided into big game and non-big game hunting. Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 35 Table 51. State Non-Big Game Hunting Participation Trends (In-state participation, numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 9,065 8,445 -7 7,098 -16 -22 Alabama 226 160 -29 170 6 -25 Alaska 33 38 17 27 -29 -17 Arizona 112 105 -6 103 -2 -8 Arkansas 190 255 34 268 5 41 California 378 391 4 188 -52 -50 Colorado 121 141 17 107 -24 -12 Connecticut 39 31 -20 24 -24 -39 Delaware 21 27 30 10 -64 -53 Florida 162 81 -50 120 49 -26 Georgia 199 218 10 201 -8 1 Hawaii 5 10 80 8 -18 48 Idaho 91 111 22 85 -23 -7 Illinois 332 312 -6 141 -55 -58 Indiana 253 213 -16 170 -20 -33 Iowa 277 292 6 183 -37 -34 Kansas 218 241 11 231 -4 6 Kentucky 289 252 -13 180 -28 -38 Louisiana 262 290 11 230 -21 -12 Maine 72 91 28 71 -22 -1 Maryland 97 86 -11 83 -3 -14 Massachusetts 71 45 -37 35 -23 -52 Michigan 421 493 17 245 -50 -42 Minnesota 295 349 18 342 -2 16 Mississippi 226 261 15 214 -18 -6 Missouri 331 344 4 207 -40 -38 Montana 74 74 (Z) 62 -16 -16 Nebraska 153 148 -3 130 -12 -15 Nevada 41 36 -13 37 5 -9 New Hampshire 40 45 11 27 -40 -34 New Jersey 93 48 -49 67 41 -28 New Mexico 41 39 -5 48 22 16 New York 362 285 -21 342 20 -5 North Carolina 265 276 4 177 -36 -33 North Dakota 73 52 -28 104 99 42 Ohio 486 347 -29 337 -3 -31 Oklahoma 195 179 -8 157 -12 -19 Oregon 84 115 37 86 -25 2 Pennsylvania 628 458 -27 500 9 -20 Rhode Island 16 13 -18 6 -53 -62 South Carolina 132 163 23 142 -12 8 South Dakota 129 154 20 219 42 71 Tennessee 278 279 (Z) 226 -19 -19 Texas 704 519 -26 797 54 13 Utah 71 63 -11 93 48 31 Vermont 61 49 -20 34 -31 -45 Virginia 275 187 -32 153 -18 -44 Washington 134 147 10 101 -31 -24 West Virginia 212 198 -7 135 -32 -36 Wisconsin 335 343 3 239 -30 -29 Wyoming 35 52 48 44 -14 28 (Z) Less than 0.5 percent 36 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Number of Fishing and Hunting Days The number of fishing days rose 9% from 1991 to 2001 nationally. At the state level there were significant drops in only two states: Pennsylvania’s 25% and Michigan’s 24% decreases. Four states had significant increases: Utah’s 96%, Minnesota’s 66%, Colorado’s 47%, and Florida’s 28% (with freshwater’s 35% increase and saltwater’s 33%). Table 52. State Freshwater Fishing Days Trend (In-state participation, numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 439,536 515,115 17 466,984 -9 6 Alabama 11,215 14,256 27 9,877 -31 -12 Alaska 2,086 3,602 73 2,110 -41 1 Arizona 4,074 4,689 15 4,246 -9 4 Arkansas 11,002 9,661 -12 13,006 35 18 California 18,712 28,987 55 19,385 -33 4 Colorado 6,284 8,232 31 9,267 13 47 Connecticut 3,460 3,880 12 3,516 -9 2 Delaware 569 980 72 609 -38 7 Florida 15,465 18,409 19 20,840 13 35 Georgia 15,341 12,857 -16 13,076 2 -15 Hawaii 207 189 -9 194 3 -6 Idaho 3,157 4,411 40 4,070 -8 29 Illinois 16,808 20,459 22 16,133 -21 -4 Indiana 12,306 15,811 28 14,192 -10 15 Iowa 6,062 7,062 16 7,485 6 23 Kansas 4,981 6,355 28 5,662 -11 14 Kentucky 9,895 9,631 -3 12,394 29 25 Louisiana 12,026 18,493 54 8,419 -54 -30 Maine 3,960 4,108 4 3,422 -17 -14 Maryland 4,354 4,290 -1 4,269 (Z) -2 Massachusetts 6,011 6,746 12 4,560 -32 -24 Michigan 25,319 28,709 13 19,320 -33 -24 Minnesota 18,080 27,002 49 30,083 11 66 Mississippi 8,338 8,213 -1 8,466 3 2 Missouri 15,136 14,682 -3 13,279 -10 -12 Montana 3,156 2,617 -17 4,068 55 29 Nebraska 2,734 3,004 10 3,204 7 17 Nevada 1,218 1,976 62 1,575 -20 29 New Hampshire 2,720 3,139 15 2,871 -9 6 New Jersey 5,911 6,021 2 5,553 -8 -6 New Mexico 1,943 2,836 46 2,485 -12 28 New York N.A. 21,010 N.A. 17,379 -17 N.A. North Carolina 13,015 15,831 22 12,073 -24 -7 North Dakota 993 1,321 33 2,186 65 120 Ohio 18,880 17,848 -5 19,882 11 5 Oklahoma 12,079 14,674 21 12,741 -13 5 Oregon 6,490 7,118 10 7,895 11 22 Pennsylvania 24,313 20,901 -14 18,313 -12 -25 Rhode Island 1,049 1,347 28 649 -52 -38 South Carolina 9,329 11,342 22 8,713 -23 -7 South Dakota 1,722 2,748 60 2,984 9 73 Tennessee 13,690 11,317 -17 15,035 33 10 Texas 29,092 37,575 29 25,650 -32 -12 Utah 2,672 3,926 47 5,238 33 96 Vermont 2,258 1,951 -14 2,321 19 3 Virginia 10,504 9,282 -12 10,849 17 3 Washington 8,583 10,975 28 9,800 -11 14 West Virginia 4,107 5,040 23 4,152 -18 1 Wisconsin 21,257 17,130 -19 22,042 29 4 Wyoming 2,348 2,415 3 2,497 3 6 N.A. Not available (Z) Less than 0.5 percent Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 37 Table 53. State Saltwater Fishing Days Trend (In-state participation, numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 74,696 103,034 38 90,838 -12 22 Alabama 1,173 1,561 33 1,340 -14 14 Alaska 1,066 1,949 83 1,531 -21 44 California 5,499 7,302 33 8,345 14 52 Connecticut 1,226 1,747 42 1,398 -20 14 Delaware 759 1,612 112 698 -57 -8 Florida 22,634 25,140 11 30,123 20 33 Georgia 606 993 64 467 -53 -23 Hawaii 2,189 2,901 33 2,567 -12 17 Louisiana 2,612 2,083 -20 4,673 124 79 Maine 843 989 17 727 -26 -14 Maryland 2,526 5,264 108 3,169 -40 25 Massachusetts 3,282 3,954 20 3,304 -16 1 Mississippi 807 1,443 79 988 -32 22 New Hampshire 293 314 7 320 2 9 New Jersey 6,071 10,366 71 5,114 -51 -16 New York 3,598 5,151 43 4,430 -14 23 North Carolina 3,525 5,677 61 3,402 -40 -3 Oregon 1,072 870 -19 953 10 -11 Rhode Island 1,091 947 -13 1,508 59 38 South Carolina 1,556 2,451 58 2,013 -18 29 Texas 6,823 13,030 91 7,538 -42 10 Virginia 1,853 5,156 178 3,279 -36 77 Washington 3,557 2,135 -40 2,941 38 -17 38 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends The number of hunting days nationally declined a statistically insignificant 3% from 1991 to 2001. Three states had significant increases: Utah with 81% (27% big game hunting, 235% non-big game hunting), Minnesota with 61% (117% big game, 29% non-big game), and Arkansas with 53% (80% big game, 46% non-big game). Four states had significant losses: Michigan’s -40% (-29% big game, -48% non-big game), California’s -34% (-42% big game, -26% non-big game), Illinois’ -34% (24% big game, -63% non-big game), and Virginia’s -33% (-17% big game, -54% non-big game). Table 54. State Big Game Hunting Days Trend (In-state participation, numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 128,411 153,784 20 153,191 (Z) 19 Alabama 3,705 5,276 42 6,658 26 80 Alaska 612 748 22 944 26 54 Arizona 886 681 -23 860 26 -3 Arkansas 3,194 4,631 45 5,740 24 80 California 2,225 2,773 25 1,285 -54 -42 Colorado 1,934 3,004 55 1,634 -46 -16 Connecticut 491 607 24 522 -14 6 Delaware 162 407 151 158 -61 -2 Florida 2,820 4,189 49 3,493 -17 24 Georgia 4,419 5,323 20 6,131 15 39 Hawaii 191 193 1 285 48 49 Idaho 1,248 2,085 67 1,384 -34 11 Illinois 2,632 3,628 38 3,274 -10 24 Indiana 3,212 3,602 12 2,696 -25 -16 Iowa 1,188 1,764 48 1,449 -18 22 Kansas 681 1,184 74 1,570 33 131 Kentucky 2,032 2,380 17 2,828 19 39 Louisiana 3,138 3,348 7 4,365 30 39 Maine 1,496 2,529 69 2,021 -20 35 Maryland 1,434 1,321 -8 1,350 2 -6 Massachusetts 558 702 26 683 -3 22 Michigan 9,219 11,227 22 6,532 -42 -29 Minnesota 2,245 2,883 28 4,869 69 117 Mississippi 5,767 6,210 8 7,196 16 25 Missouri 3,513 5,127 46 4,591 -10 31 Montana 1,983 1,235 -38 1,797 46 -9 Nebraska 479 703 47 763 9 59 Nevada 213 172 -19 169 -2 -21 New Hampshire 688 783 14 1,127 44 64 New Jersey 1,222 1,169 -4 2,813 141 130 New Mexico 600 387 -36 711 84 19 New York 8,297 8,166 -2 10,864 33 31 North Carolina 4,145 4,286 3 5,117 19 23 North Dakota 346 390 13 574 47 66 Ohio 3,505 3,927 12 4,290 9 22 Oklahoma 1,719 2,877 67 3,465 20 102 Oregon 1,905 2,781 46 2,500 -10 31 Pennsylvania 9,606 8,973 -7 8,816 -2 -8 Rhode Island 187 424 127 65 -85 -65 South Carolina 2,703 4,750 76 3,757 -21 39 South Dakota 458 684 49 534 -22 17 Tennessee 3,544 4,340 22 4,112 -5 16 Texas 7,667 11,122 45 8,868 -20 16 Utah 983 830 -16 1,252 51 27 Vermont 1,037 1,158 12 1,218 5 17 Virginia 5,216 5,132 -2 4,305 -16 -17 Washington 1,780 2,829 59 1,841 -35 3 West Virginia 3,364 3,933 17 3,167 -19 -6 Wisconsin 6,936 5,804 -16 7,505 29 8 Wyoming 826 1,105 34 1,001 -9 21 (Z) Less than 0.5 percent Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 39 Table 55. State Non-Big Game Hunting Days Trend (In-state participation, numbers in thousands) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 118,709 126,140 6 108,659 -14 -8 Alabama 2,309 1,981 -14 1,689 -15 -27 Alaska 349 496 42 305 -39 -13 Arizona 762 1,151 51 1,067 -7 40 Arkansas 2,452 4,494 83 3,590 -20 46 California 3,428 5,630 64 2,532 -55 -26 Colorado 883 1,561 77 1,253 -20 42 Connecticut 369 344 -7 296 -14 -20 Delaware 254 397 56 92 -77 -64 Florida 1,948 816 -58 1,807 121 -7 Georgia 1,806 2,106 17 2,811 33 56 Hawaii 56 130 132 107 -18 91 Idaho 1,034 1,805 75 1,028 -43 -1 Illinois 4,416 3,422 -23 1,614 -53 -63 Indiana 4,383 2,745 -37 3,056 11 -30 Iowa 3,031 3,906 29 2,875 -26 -5 Kansas 2,324 3,498 51 2,682 -23 15 Kentucky 4,326 3,519 -19 2,586 -27 -40 Louisiana 3,751 4,328 15 2,665 -38 -29 Maine 1,020 1,344 32 813 -40 -20 Maryland 926 515 -44 615 19 -34 Massachusetts 939 745 -21 729 -2 -22 Michigan 6,479 7,619 18 3,378 -56 -48 Minnesota 3,350 4,403 31 4,323 -2 29 Mississippi 3,185 2,886 -9 2,852 -1 -10 Missouri 3,813 4,078 7 3,046 -25 -20 Montana 715 864 21 868 (Z) 21 Nebraska 1,903 1,846 -3 1,691 -8 -11 Nevada 391 491 26 429 -13 10 New Hampshire 517 640 24 452 -29 -13 New Jersey 1,246 612 -51 675 10 -46 New Mexico 536 305 -43 1,110 264 107 New York 5,427 4,214 -22 5,077 20 -6 North Carolina 2,945 4,996 70 2,935 -41 (Z) North Dakota 994 683 -31 1,278 87 29 Ohio 5,818 5,220 -10 7,685 47 32 Oklahoma 2,040 2,580 26 3,847 49 89 Oregon 783 1,730 121 796 -54 2 Pennsylvania 6,645 5,199 -22 6,257 20 -6 Rhode Island 175 114 -35 66 -42 -62 South Carolina 1,552 2,217 43 1,417 -36 -9 South Dakota 1,588 1,730 9 2,366 37 49 Tennessee 3,952 5,110 29 4,231 -17 7 Texas 8,679 9,092 5 8,310 -9 -4 Utah 431 823 91 1,442 75 235 Vermont 880 598 -32 484 -19 -45 Virginia 3,925 2,009 -49 1,817 -10 -54 Washington 1,848 2,685 45 1,396 -48 -24 West Virginia 3,067 2,924 -5 2,734 -6 -11 Wisconsin 4,749 4,942 4 3,035 -39 -36 Wyoming 310 597 93 450 -25 45 Note: These day estimates are sums of days of small game, migratory bird, and other animal hunting, which is an overestimate, since different kinds of hunting can be done on the same day. The typical overestimate is 6%, based on 1991 data. (Z) Less than 0.5 percent Trends in State Fishing and Hunting Expenditures The state trend information for expenditures in this report covers trip-related expenditures by state where each purchase took place and all fishing and hunting expenditures (trip-related and equipment purchases) by state residents. The 1991 Survey did not ask for the state in which equipment was purchased, so the 1991-2001 total expenditure trend data cannot be presented by state where expenditures took place. 40 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Fishing Trip-Related and Total Expenditures by State Nationally trip-related expenditures for fishing increased from 1991 to 1996 (13%) and decreased from 1996 to 2001 (-16%), making the 1991 to 2001 comparison (-5%) statistically insignificant. Although state resident total expenditures also saw an increase from 1991 to 1996 (37%) and a decrease from 1996 to 2001 (-17%), unlike trip-related expenditures there was a significant difference (14%) comparing 1991 to 2001. The inclusion of equipment expenditures literally made a significant difference. Focusing on the 1991 to 2001 trip-related expenditures comparison, anglers in two states increased their expenditures significantly: Florida (34%) and Minnesota (32%). Six states experienced significant decreases: New York (-43%), Indiana (-40%), Arkansas (-35%), Illinois (-35%), Michigan (-26%), and Ohio (-25%). Looking at the state resident fishing expenditures total (which include both trip-related and equipment expenditures), nine states saw a significant increase from 1991 to 2001 and four states a significant decrease. The states with increases were Nevada (126%), Montana (118%), North Dakota (102%), Utah (99%), Colorado (86%), New Hampshire (65%), Florida (59%), Wyoming (56%), and Rhode Island (42%). The states with decreases were Michigan (-43%), Alaska (-32%), Washington (-26%), and Iowa (-24%). Table 56. State Trip-Related Fishing Expenditure Trends (In-state expenditures, in thousands, 2001 dollars) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 15,396,151 17,380,775 13* 14,656,001 -16* -5 Alabama 332,656 407,730 23 355,883 -13 7 Alaska 311,389 495,717 59 423,139 -15 36 Arizona 203,936 207,236 2 140,567 -32 -31 Arkansas 282,023 202,475 -28 182,772 -10 -35* California 1,078,873 1,632,823 51* 1,116,707 -32 4 Colorado 220,432 303,747 38 303,412 (Z) 38 Connecticut 81,030 113,382 40 100,286 -12 24 Delaware 52,008 88,234 70 30,547 -65 -41 Florida 1,563,048 1,831,307 17 2,087,721 14 34* Georgia 330,307 348,211 5 245,288 -30 -26 Hawaii 93,333 107,933 16 66,198 -39 -29 Idaho 97,270 147,741 52 115,142 -22 18 Illinois 316,403 328,385 4 204,724 -38* -35* Indiana 251,941 226,380 -10 152,287 -33 -40* Iowa 94,359 120,687 28 104,706 -13 11 Kansas 98,130 88,462 -10 80,360 -9 -18 Kentucky 211,025 249,580 18 220,918 -11 5 Louisiana 437,731 432,809 -1 397,183 -8 -9 Maine 150,284 161,575 8 94,931 -41 -37 Maryland 202,064 298,123 48 245,088 -18 21 Massachusetts 249,887 267,611 7 217,216 -19 -13 Michigan 696,455 653,074 -6 516,682 -21 -26* Minnesota 593,970 746,501 26 785,922 5 32* Mississippi 177,719 191,413 8 117,694 -39 -34 Missouri 402,385 386,460 -4 317,368 -18 -21 Montana 157,789 194,444 23 148,042 -24 -6 Nebraska 59,518 52,866 -11 60,000 13 1 Nevada 53,079 82,767 56 76,293 -8 44 New Hampshire 79,952 77,495 -3 75,876 -2 -5 New Jersey 476,156 530,377 11 373,755 -30 -22 New Mexico 83,863 118,077 41 89,623 -24 7 New York 669,267 676,325 1 378,967 -44* -43* North Carolina 490,302 561,324 14 449,830 -20 -8 North Dakota 27,134 34,631 28 57,066 65 110 Ohio 508,991 325,717 -36* 379,730 17 -25* Oklahoma 255,375 293,220 15 211,301 -28 -17 Oregon 266,167 299,258 12 256,958 -14 -3 Pennsylvania 345,743 332,379 -4 282,022 -15 -18 Rhode Island 51,465 49,856 -3 69,274 39 35 South Carolina 313,809 339,670 8 316,887 -7 1 South Dakota 50,791 87,024 71 85,428 -2 68 Tennessee 336,685 242,477 -28 263,252 9 -22 Texas 1,029,347 1,311,286 27 866,813 -34* -16 Utah 125,397 133,478 6 170,530 28 36 Vermont 58,153 47,165 -19 59,094 25 2 Virginia 260,098 353,107 36 276,985 -22 6 Washington 370,026 367,309 -1 340,322 -7 -8 West Virginia 72,002 70,877 -2 64,115 -10 -11 Wisconsin 618,202 496,268 -20 508,636 2 -18 Wyoming 107,163 124,771 16 94,289 -24 -12 *Significant difference at the 90% level of significance. (Z) Less than 0.5 percent Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 41 Table 57. State Resident Fishing Expenditure Trends (In-state expenditures, in thousands, 2001 dollars) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 31,175,168 42,710,679 37* 35,632,132 -17* 14* Alabama 582,304 851,693 46 598,037 -30 3 Alaska 310,916 243,383 -22 212,738 -13 -32* Arizona 389,470 361,957 -7 324,426 -10 -17 Arkansas 371,918 244,918 -34* 385,217 57* 4 California 2,334,734 4,189,242 79* 2,149,634 -49* -8 Colorado 415,068 725,154 75* 770,233 6 86* Connecticut 328,896 315,557 -4 327,512 4 (Z) Delaware 103,293 202,820 96* 92,418 -54* -11 Florida 2,150,972 3,142,568 46 3,423,204 9 59* Georgia 694,900 1,367,724 97* 611,235 -55* -12 Hawaii 98,174 99,257 1 97,187 -2 -1 Idaho 189,093 265,451 40 228,926 -14 21 Illinois 1,444,641 2,219,810 54* 1,145,764 -48* -21 Indiana 525,677 901,890 72* 468,909 -48* -11 Iowa 416,950 473,252 14 318,518 -33* -24* Kansas 375,323 311,553 -17 330,607 6 -12 Kentucky 609,609 809,932 33 550,903 -32 -10 Louisiana 892,062 1,012,401 13 646,717 -36* -28 Maine 182,827 149,214 -18 157,926 6 -14 Maryland 367,532 750,949 104* 494,919 -34 35 Massachusetts 590,512 797,485 35 460,028 -42* -22 Michigan 1,672,278 1,666,469 (Z) 958,598 -42* -43* Minnesota 1,100,120 1,688,978 54* 1,243,224 -26 13 Mississippi 342,009 605,738 77* 316,900 -48* -7 Missouri 571,004 711,659 25 757,224 6 33 Montana 92,560 114,626 24 201,969 76* 118* Nebraska 192,148 213,264 11 179,595 -16 -7 Nevada 104,160 366,708 252* 235,357 -36* 126* New Hampshire 113,071 247,526 119* 186,257 -25 65* New Jersey 868,961 1,324,141 52* 712,408 -46* -18 New Mexico 146,722 203,779 39 195,631 -4 33 New York 1,127,415 1,585,969 41 919,978 -42* -18 North Carolina 750,802 1,488,085 98* 922,464 -38 23 North Dakota 90,369 154,287 71* 182,109 18 102* Ohio 1,120,020 1,078,212 -4 904,493 -16 -19 Oklahoma 548,646 600,010 9 492,682 -18 -10 Oregon 599,686 701,382 17 588,733 -16 -2 Pennsylvania 880,765 1,063,284 21 761,512 -28* -14 Rhode Island 82,580 169,342 105* 116,918 -31 42* South Carolina 518,163 841,669 62* 495,895 -41* -4 South Dakota 113,382 183,401 62* 100,882 -45* -11 Tennessee 641,126 555,662 -13 467,108 -16 -27 Texas 1,918,111 3,414,000 78* 2,125,366 -38 11 Utah 200,466 214,001 7 398,344 86* 99* Vermont 83,510 153,274 84* 72,158 -53* -14 Virginia 560,407 1,021,051 82* 688,345 -33* 23 Washington 1,312,102 763,399 -42* 964,827 26 -26* West Virginia 141,972 214,125 51* 145,730 -32 3 Wisconsin 860,632 1,056,844 23 840,828 -20 -2 Wyoming 86,151 107,993 25 134,391 24 56* *Significant difference at the 90% level of significance. (Z) Less than 0.5 percent 42 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Hunting Trip-Related and Total Expenditures by State Nationally trip-related expenditures for hunting increased significantly from 1991 to 1996 (30%) and decreased insignificantly from 1996 to 2001 (-10%), making the 1991 to 2001 comparison a significant increase of 17%. Similarly, for state resident total expenditures, there was a significant increase from 1991 to 1996 (45%) and an insignificant decrease from 1996 to 2001 (-12%), winding up with a significant increase from 1991 to 2001 of 29%. Focusing on the 1991 to 2001 trip-related expenditures comparison, hunters in two states increased their expenditures significantly: Arkansas (82%) and Texas (46%). One state experienced a significant decrease: Michigan (-36%). Regarding the state resident hunting trip-related and equipment expenditures, seven states saw a significant increase from 1991 to 2001 and three states a significant decrease. The states with increases were Utah (173%), Oregon (169%), New Mexico (130%), Alabama (79%), South Carolina (68%), Tennessee (62%), Minnesota (58%). The states with decreases were California (-56%), Michigan (-51%), and Mississippi (-42%). Table 58. State Trip-Related Hunting Expenditure Trends (In-state expenditures, in thousands, 2001 dollars) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S., total 4,471,065 5,825,510 30* 5,252,391 -10 17* Alabama 116,555 128,690 10 185,360 44 59 Alaska 57,622 97,875 70 146,488 50 154 Arizona 50,362 73,582 46 64,291 -13 28 Arkansas 110,562 97,467 -12 200,929 106* 82* California 140,249 301,217 115* 154,412 -49* 10 Colorado 203,397 250,420 23 183,451 -27 -10 Connecticut 7,065 9,271 31 6,930 -25 -2 Delaware 4,128 8,842 114 3,108 -65 -25 Florida 110,317 132,959 21 115,085 -13 4 Georgia 137,942 117,057 -15 188,684 61 37 Hawaii 12,606 8,808 -30 7,999 -9 -37 Idaho 57,519 84,716 47 81,783 -3 42 Illinois 73,372 121,868 66 104,018 -15 42 Indiana 72,922 49,009 -33 43,894 -10 -40 Iowa 60,525 83,513 38 60,083 -28 -1 Kansas 57,654 99,386 72 95,568 -4 66 Kentucky 93,460 75,421 -19 61,891 -18 -34 Louisiana 106,393 139,647 31 109,978 -21 3 Maine 41,088 77,936 90 52,240 -33 27 Maryland 39,350 32,621 -17 31,202 -4 -21 Massachusetts 18,329 22,151 21 10,042 -55 -45 Michigan 246,638 317,738 29 156,703 -51* -36* Minnesota 110,061 141,378 28 171,040 21 55 Mississippi 124,073 194,472 57 126,653 -35 2 Missouri 106,817 161,239 51 102,319 -37 -4 Montana 137,407 111,990 -18 106,179 -5 -23 Nebraska 49,004 80,953 65 74,345 -8 52 Nevada 24,293 22,942 -6 20,194 -12 -17 New Hampshire 12,549 15,341 22 15,421 1 23 New Jersey 39,277 46,167 18 67,284 46 71 New Mexico 45,238 33,316 -26 58,503 76 29 New York 210,928 238,919 13 152,059 -36 -28 North Carolina 75,462 111,694 48 90,279 -19 20 North Dakota 31,767 26,506 -17 53,245 101 68 Ohio 88,190 91,038 3 112,104 23 27 Oklahoma 70,578 86,327 22 95,502 11 35 Oregon 73,166 141,902 94 105,253 -26 44 Pennsylvania 215,546 204,242 -5 187,713 -8 -13 Rhode Island 3,704 4,477 21 800 -82 -78 South Carolina 80,357 122,260 52 94,626 -23 18 South Dakota 62,328 120,286 93 112,206 -7 80 Tennessee 100,391 118,966 19 113,886 -4 13 Texas 367,820 503,040 37 535,668 6 46* Utah 53,867 40,621 -25 86,018 112 60 Vermont 42,440 31,276 -26 16,286 -48 -62 Virginia 110,011 103,028 -6 94,592 -8 -14 Washington 86,456 101,784 18 99,145 -3 15 West Virginia 69,912 75,669 8 62,354 -18 -11 Wisconsin 195,876 142,641 -27 159,396 12 -19 Wyoming 66,962 102,460 53 70,390 -31 5 *Significant difference at the 90% level of significance. Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 43 Table 59. State Resident Hunting Expenditure Trends (In-state expenditures, in thousands, 2001 dollars) 1991 1996 1991-1996 Percent Change 2001 1996-2001 Percent Change 1991-2001 Percent Change U.S. total 16,031,197 23,293,156 45* 20,611,025 -12 29* Alabama 358,648 600,645 67 642,336 7 79* Alaska 115,166 152,097 32 97,650 -36 -15 Arizona 199,681 235,054 18 224,791 -4 13 Arkansas 374,479 598,963 60 381,003 -36 2 California 836,095 1,144,663 37 364,008 -68* -56* Colorado 200,849 536,620 167* 182,990 -66* -9 Connecticut 56,335 96,721 72 69,313 -28 23 Delaware 26,710 34,883 31 18,154 -48 -32 Florida 420,874 528,179 25 540,767 2 28 Georgia 358,874 966,612 169* 503,047 -48 40 Hawaii 22,426 22,628 1 17,163 -24 -23 Idaho 127,332 204,145 60 166,780 -18 31 Illinois 425,044 589,824 39 527,368 -11 24 Indiana 316,715 312,624 -1 278,165 -11 -12 Iowa 221,821 250,257 13 184,830 -26 -17 Kansas 163,302 356,915 119 222,396 -38 36 Kentucky 307,458 383,676 25 383,789 (Z) 25 Louisiana 563,951 711,807 26 517,465 -27 -8 Maine 86,731 229,208 164* 117,605 -49 36 Maryland 209,848 108,933 -48* 141,895 30 -32 Massachusetts 147,497 156,902 6 113,461 -28 -23 Michigan 1,135,475 1,360,925 20 550,378 -60* -52* Minnesota 376,596 581,709 54 593,246 2 58* Mississippi 522,725 554,832 6 300,669 -46* -42* Missouri 440,993 740,985 68 486,198 -34 10 Montana 114,655 109,548 -4 160,346 46* 40 Nebraska 87,913 110,154 25 134,618 22 53 Nevada 84,949 128,219 51 147,992 15 74 New Hampshire 57,266 67,414 18 55,697 -17 -3 New Jersey 160,712 203,487 27 156,659 -23 -3 New Mexico 74,207 97,156 31 170,345 75 130* New York 655,838 967,054 47 948,523 -2 45 North Carolina 351,858 630,052 79 565,044 -10 61 North Dakota 67,301 102,482 52 78,267 -24 16 Ohio 496,224 550,998 11 645,319 17 30 Oklahoma 206,320 474,836 130 321,775 -32 56 Oregon 159,560 673,247 322* 429,277 -36 169* Pennsylvania 697,992 728,165 4 899,005 23 29 Rhode Island 27,021 26,838 -1 15,143 -44 -44 South Carolina 166,413 387,024 133* 279,013 -28 68* South Dakota 102,641 110,458 8 111,837 1 9 Tennessee 405,238 909,687 124* 654,682 -28 62* Texas 1,308,362 1,382,378 6 1,446,869 5 11 Utah 112,078 189,500 69 306,204 62 173* Vermont 62,642 107,743 72* 53,622 -50* -14 Virginia 332,568 478,236 44 338,494 -29 2 Washington 249,092 383,684 54 336,061 -12 35 West Virginia 214,606 263,480 23 199,449 -24 -7 Wisconsin 655,294 959,455 46 626,616 -35 -4 Wyoming 65,324 119,944 84 62,451 -48 -4 *Significant difference at the 90% level of significance. (Z) Less than 0.5 percent 44 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends Sportspersons Hunting and fishing are important to millions of Americans, with nearly one in five people participating in hunting and fishing in 2001. From 1991 to 2001 the number of Americans 16 years old and older who fished and hunted decreased 5%. The number of anglers decreased by 4% and the number of hunters decreased by 7%. Despite these drops in sportsperson numbers, the number of days afield increased 5% for sportspersons, 9% for anglers, and decreased a statistically insignificant 3% for hunters. The 1991-2001 trend can be broken up into two phases: the 1991-1996 trend and the 1996-2001 trend. The 1991- 1996 national trend for both hunting and fishing consisted of level numbers of participants and increases in days afield. The 1996-2001 national trend for both hunting and fishing consisted of decreases in participants and decreases in the number of days. Trends in overall fishing and hunting are better understood by an examination of the trends of sportsperson subgroups such as avid and casual anglers and hunters. Avid anglers and hunters, the 10% of all participants who fished or hunted the most days in a year, accounted for 40% to 50% of all days afield in 1991, 1996, and 2001. Another subgroup of anglers and hunters were the casual participants, those who fished or hunted one or two days in the year. Losing a casual participant would have little effect on overall days totals (unlike losing an avid participant), but would have the same effect as losing an avid or intermediate participant on overall participant numbers. The trends in casual angling and hunting have run counter to the trends in overall angling and hunting, with drops when overall trends were level and stability when overall trends were declining. Summary Fishing The number of freshwater anglers fell 8% from 1991 to 2001, while saltwater angling held relatively constant. Coldwater fishing participation fell 12% and warmwater fishing dropped 13%. The average days of avid anglers, 68 in 1991, 85 in 1996, and 73 in 2001, were about eight times more than the average days of nonavid anglers, 8 in 1991, 11 in 1996, and 10 in 2001. The percentage of casual anglers fell from 14% of all anglers in 1991 to 11% in 2001. They accounted for only 1% of all fishing days in each survey year. The intermediate group between avid and casual anglers was the bulk of total participants. The intermediate angler group made up over 75% of all anglers in the three surveyed years, although they contributed only slightly more than half the days. In 2001 their average days spent fishing were 11, which was less than the 16 days spent by the average angler. The increase in intermediate anglers from 1991 to 1996 compensated for the loss of casual and avid anglers, maintaining the overall number of anglers. In 2001 the number of intermediate anglers dropped, and avid and casual angling did not increase, so the number of anglers decreased from 1996 to 2001. Also, days on the water by intermediate anglers went up 15% from 1991 to 2001, avid days went up 3% and casual days went down 26%, so the intermediate angler was largely responsible for the overall increase in angling days. Looking at percent comparisons of subgroup demographics with those of total participants, a generalization is that the demographics of casuals and intermediates in general followed those of participants as a whole, but the demographics of avids did not. ■ Avid anglers are more likely to live in a rural area ■ Avid anglers have lower income LaVonda Walton/USFWS Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, Casual, and Intermediate Participation Trends 45 Hunting The number of big game and migratory bird hunters in 2001 was the same as in 1991, while the number of small game and other animal hunters fell significantly. The 29% drop in small game hunting from 1991 to 2001 was led by the 47% drop in casual hunters’ pursuit of small game, although avid and intermediate hunters also cut back on small game hunting. The loss of small game habitat in many states could partially explain the drop. As for days, small game hunting days decreased 22% from 1991 to 2001, big game hunting days increased 25%, migratory bird hunting days increased 28%, and other animal days stayed the same. Overall, the increasing days hunting group (big game, migratory bird) counterbalanced the decreasing days group (small game, other animals) in the total hunting days trend. The average days of avid hunters were approximately six times greater than those of nonavid hunters. Avid hunters went 69 days in 1991, 72 days in 1996, and 70 days in 2001. The nonavid hunter hunted an average of 11 days in 1991, 13 days in 1996, and 12 days in 2001. The intermediate hunter group was about 75% of the total hunter group for the three surveyed years, and their average days were 14, compared to 18 for the average hunter. Casual participants in hunting fell from 16% of all hunters in 1991 to 13% in 2001. They accounted for 2% of all hunting days in 1991 and 1% in both 1996 and 2001. Demographic findings include ■ Casual hunters tend to live in urban areas more than intermediate and avid hunters. Casual hunters were equally split between urban and rural residences in 1996 and 2001 and in 1991 were more likely to live in urban areas than in rural areas. ■ Avid hunters are strongly rural-based. Rural hunters are twice as likely to be avid than are urban-based hunters. ■ The average age of hunters of every subgroup has increased. Younger people are not hunting as much in 2001 as they did in 1991. However, if younger people decide to hunt, they are more likely to be avid. ■ Avid hunters were more likely to have a household income below the national median than intermediate, casual, or hunters as a whole. There was a significant drop in casual participation from 1991 to 1996 which was compensated by an increase in intermediate hunting, maintaining the overall numbers of hunters. However, there was a drop in intermediate hunters from 1996 to 2001 which was not compensated by an increase in avid or casual hunting. The fact that in 2001 11% of anglers fished 1% of all days while 10% fished 47% of all days illustrates the diversity of fishing activity in the United States. Hunters were even more diverse, with 13% of all hunters hunting 1% of all days afield and 10% hunting 40% of all days in 2001. However, there is something they all have in common. While tens of millions of American sportspersons are widely varied in both the demographic qualities they possess and in the type and amount of hunting and fishing they do, they share an appreciation of and fervor for hunting and fishing. Ryan Hagerty/USFWS 46 Fishing and Hunting 1991-2001: Avid, C |
| Original Filename | nat_survey2001_trends.pdf |
| Date created | 2012-08-08 |
| Date modified | 2013-05-17 |
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