National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife ... - All About Birds

Migratory Bird HuntingIn 2011, 2.6 million migratory birdhunters devoted 23 million days on 21million trips for hunting birds such asdoves, ducks, and geese. Hunters averaged9 days pursuing migratory birdsfor the year.Migratory bird-related spending fortrips and equipment was $1.8 billion in2011. Of this amount, $942 million wasspent on hunting trips. An estimated$316 million or 34 percent of all tripexpenditures were on food and lodging,and $390 million (41 percent) were ontransportation. Other trip expenses were$235 million (25 percent) of the totaltrip-related expenditures for migratorybird hunters.Equipment purchases for migratorybird hunting totaled $866 million in2011. Of this amount, $767 million wasspent on hunting equipment (firearms,ammunition, etc.) and $59 million onauxiliary equipment, 89 and 7 percentof total equipment purchases, respectively.Hunting Other AnimalsNearly 2.2 million hunters reportedspending 34 million days on 25 milliontrips pursuing other animals such asgroundhogs, feral pigs, raccoons, foxes,and coyotes. They averaged 16 days ofhunting.These hunters spent $858 million in2011 on trips and equipment for thepursuit of other animals. Trip-relatedcosts totaled $653 million. Of that, foodand lodging were $259 million or 40percent of all trip costs; transportationwas $324 million, 50 percent of tripexpenses; and other trip expenses were$70 million, 11 percent of all trip costs.Equipment expenditures for huntingother animals totaled $205 million. Forthe pursuit of other animals, huntersspent $189 million on hunting equipment(firearms, ammunition, etc.) and$6 million on auxiliary equipment, 92and 3 percent of total equipment expenditures,respectively.Comparative Hunting HighlightsIn 2011 big game hunters pursuedbig game an average of 18 days on14 trips. Small game hunters pursuedsmall game an average of 11 days on10 trips. Migratory bird hunters huntedmigratory birds an average of 9 dayson 8 trips. Individuals hunting otheranimals did so an average of 16 days on11 trips.Average spending on trips and equipmentwas about twice as high for biggame hunting than for any other typeof hunting. For hunting big game,participants spent an average of $1,457for the year. By comparison, spendingon small game hunting by participantsaveraged $568, spending on migratorybird hunting by participants averaged$700, and spending on other animalhunting averaged $396.During 2011 trip expenditures for allhunting averaged $762 per hunter, adaily average of $37. In pursuit of biggame, hunters averaged trip expendituresof $627, which was $34 per day.Hunters spent an average of $350 whileMigratory BirdsHunters. .........Days ............Trips ............Trips and equipmentexpenditures .....2.6 million23 million21 million$1.8 billionEquipmentTrip-relatedMigratory Bird Trip and Equipment Expenditures(Total expenditures: $1.8 billion)$0.9 billion$0.9 billionSource: Tables 1 and 20.Other AnimalsHunters. .........Days ............Trips ............Trips and equipmentexpenditures .....Source: Tables 1 and 21.2.2 million34 million25 million$0.9 billionEquipmentTrip-relatedTrip and Equipment Expenditures for Hunting Other Animals(Total expenditures: $0.9 billion)$0.2 billion$0.7 billionU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Census Bureau 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation 25