National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife ... - All About Birds
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife ... - All About Birds
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife ... - All About Birds
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IntroductionThe <strong>National</strong> <strong>Survey</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Fishing</strong>,<strong>Hunting</strong>, <strong>and</strong> <strong>Wildlife</strong>-AssociatedRecreation reports results from interviewswith U.S. residents about theirfishing, hunting, <strong>and</strong> wildlife watching.This report focuses on 2011 participation<strong>and</strong> expenditures <strong>of</strong> persons 16years <strong>of</strong> age <strong>and</strong> older.However, in addition to 2011 numbers,we also provide trend information inthe Highlights sections <strong>and</strong> AppendixC <strong>of</strong> the report. The 2011 numbersreported can be compared with those inthe 1991, 1996, 2001, <strong>and</strong> 2006 <strong>Survey</strong>reports because they used similar methodologies.However, the 2011 estimatesshould not be directly compared withresults from <strong>Survey</strong>s conducted earlierthan 1991 because <strong>of</strong> changes in methodologyto improve accuracy.The report also provides informationon participation in wildlife-relatedrecreation in 2010, particularly <strong>of</strong>persons 6 to 15 years <strong>of</strong> age. The 2010information is provided in AppendixB. Information about the scope <strong>and</strong>coverage <strong>of</strong> the 2011 <strong>Survey</strong> can befound in Appendix D. The remainder<strong>of</strong> this section defines important termsused in the <strong>Survey</strong>.<strong>Wildlife</strong>-Related Recreation<strong>Wildlife</strong>-related recreation is fishing,hunting, <strong>and</strong> wildlife-watching activities.These categories are not mutuallyexclusive because many individualsparticipated in more than one activity.<strong>Wildlife</strong>-related recreation is reportedin two major categories: (1) fishing<strong>and</strong> hunting, <strong>and</strong> (2) wildlife watching,which includes observing, photographing,<strong>and</strong> feeding fish or wildlife.<strong>Fishing</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Hunting</strong>This <strong>Survey</strong> reports information aboutresidents <strong>of</strong> the United States wh<strong>of</strong>ished or hunted in 2011, regardless <strong>of</strong>whether they were licensed. The fishing<strong>and</strong> hunting sections report informationfor three groups: (1) sportspersons, (2)anglers, <strong>and</strong> (3) hunters.SportspersonsSportspersons are those who fishedor hunted. Individuals who fishedor hunted commercially in 2011 arereported as sportspersons only if theyalso fished or hunted for recreation. Thesportspersons group is composed <strong>of</strong> thethree subgroups shown in the diagrambelow: (1) those that fished <strong>and</strong> hunted,(2) those that only fished, <strong>and</strong> (3) thosethat only hunted.The total number <strong>of</strong> sportspersons isequal to the sum <strong>of</strong> people who onlyfished, only hunted, <strong>and</strong> both hunted<strong>and</strong> fished. It is not the sum <strong>of</strong> allanglers <strong>and</strong> all hunters because thosepeople who both fished <strong>and</strong> hunted areincluded in both the angler <strong>and</strong> hunterpopulation <strong>and</strong> would be incorrectlycounted twice.SportspersonsAnglersFishedonlyFished<strong>and</strong>huntedHuntersHuntedonlyAnglersAnglers are sportspersons who onlyfished plus those who fished <strong>and</strong>hunted. Anglers include not onlylicensed hook <strong>and</strong> line anglers, butalso those who have no license <strong>and</strong>those who use special methods suchas fishing with spears. Three types <strong>of</strong>fishing are reported: (1) freshwater,excluding the Great Lakes, (2) GreatLakes, <strong>and</strong> (3) saltwater. Since manyanglers participated in more than onetype <strong>of</strong> fishing, the total number <strong>of</strong>anglers is less than the sum <strong>of</strong> the threetypes <strong>of</strong> fishing.HuntersHunters are sportspersons who onlyhunted plus those who hunted <strong>and</strong>fished. Hunters include not onlylicensed hunters using rifles <strong>and</strong>shotguns, but also those who haveno license <strong>and</strong> those who engagein hunting with archery equipment,muzzleloaders, other primitive firearms,or pistols or h<strong>and</strong>guns.Four types <strong>of</strong> hunting are reported:(1) big game, (2) small game,(3) migratory bird, <strong>and</strong> (4) otheranimals. Since many hunters participatedin more than one type <strong>of</strong> hunting,the sum <strong>of</strong> hunters for big game,small game, migratory bird, <strong>and</strong> otheranimals exceeds the total number <strong>of</strong>hunters.<strong>Wildlife</strong> WatchersSince 1980, the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Survey</strong> hasincluded information on wildlifewatchingactivities in addition t<strong>of</strong>ishing <strong>and</strong> hunting. However, unlikethe 1980 <strong>and</strong> 1985 <strong>Survey</strong>s, the<strong>National</strong> <strong>Survey</strong>s since 1991 havecollected data only for those activitieswhere the primary purpose was wildlife2 2011 <strong>National</strong> <strong>Survey</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Fishing</strong>, <strong>Hunting</strong>, <strong>and</strong> <strong>Wildlife</strong>-Associated Recreation U.S. Fish <strong>and</strong> <strong>Wildlife</strong> Service <strong>and</strong> U.S. Census Bureau