CHEYENNE - The number of people who hunt and fish continues to decline, both nationally and in Wyoming. But, as a percentage of total state population, more people participate in wildlife-oriented recreation in Wyoming than in most other states.
This is according to data recently released from a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey on hunting, fishing and wildlife watching. Conducted every five years, this study provides national and state-specific information on outdoor recreation participation and expenditures.
Over the past 10 years, the number of adult hunters in the United States dropped from 14 million to 12.5 million. The number of anglers dropped from more than 35 million to just under 30 million.
In Wyoming, the number of hunters dropped from 69,000 in 1996 to 52,000 in 2006. The number of Wyoming anglers declined from 114,000 to 98,000 during the same period.
Conversely, the study shows a dramatic and steady increase in wildlife watching, both nationwide and in Wyoming. From 1996 through 2006, the total number of people who feed, photograph and observe wildlife in the United States increased from 63 million to more than 71 million. In Wyoming, during that same period, wildlife-watcher numbers increased from 143,000 to 194,000.
The study also measures how much people spend on outdoor recreation. In 2006, hunters spent $138 million in Wyoming on goods and services related to hunting. Anglers spent $373 million. And wildlife watchers spent $392 million. Nationwide, hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers spent more than $120 billion.
Though hunter and angler numbers are declining, more people participate in outdoor recreation in Wyoming than in most other states. Wyoming ranks second in the nation for the percentage of residents who fish . Wyoming ranks fifth in the nation for percentage of hunters and third in the nation for percentage of wildlife watchers.
“If you care about our hunting and fishing traditions, and if you care about the future of wildlife conservation, you should be concerned about this study’s findings, because participation in these activities continues to drop,” said Terry Cleveland, director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “In Wyoming, and in most other states, hunters and anglers are paying most of the costs for wildlife conservation through license fees, special taxes on hunting and fishing equipment and through voluntary participation in sportsmen-oriented conservation groups.”
“Declining numbers of hunters and anglers means declining revenue for state wildlife agencies, which means less money for the research, management and habitat work that helps keep our wildlife populations
healthy,” said Cleveland. “These declines are a reflection of broader changes going on in our society, and it’s a shame that fewer people are taking part in some of our most important outdoor traditions.”
“We need to encourage more people to participate in hunting and fishing. At the same time, we need to look for new ways to involve more people in wildlife conservation, beyond the traditional hunter and angler crowd.”
In Wyoming, about 90 percent of the Game and Fish Department’s revenue comes from hunters and anglers. In recent years, the Wyoming Legislature has appropriated some limited general-fund money for disease research, sage grouse conservation and capital facilities construction, but the department remains almost entirely self-funded through fees and taxes on sportsmen.
More specific data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study is available at: http://www.fws.gov/.