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St. Louis Business & Technology News
"When you think Saint Louis, think Saint Louis Front Page," a weekly publication covering the news and events in the greater St. Louis area. 
How To Reach Us:St. Louis Front Page P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com To advertise, contact: advertising@slfp.com |
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Wildlife Is Big Business in Missouri ST. LOUIS, MO (SLFP.com), December 16, 2007 - Figures from the latest national survey of wildlife-related recreation show Missouri near the top of the heap for participation in hunting, fishing and wildlife watching. The survey also shows the Show-Me State's wild resources constitute an economic powerhouse. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has conducted a survey every five years since 1955 to determine trends in recreational activities that focus on wildlife. "The National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Associated Recreation" divides activities into hunting, fishing and wildlife watching. The latest survey was conducted in 2006. Preliminary national survey results are available now. The FWS will release final results from each state in the months ahead. The 2006 survey showed that more than 87 million Americans (38 percent of the population 16 and older) hunted, fished or watched wildlife that year. They spent $120 billion on wildlife-related activities. Thirty million Americans (13 percent) fished in 2006, 12.5 million (5 percent) hunted that year and 71 million (28 percent) watched wildlife. The survey counted only people who engaged in wildlife-related recreation in 2006. The real number of wildlife-related recreationists is larger than the preceding figures imply, because not all hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers pursue their chosen activities every year. For example, cumulative survey data show that 44.4 million Americans fished and 18.6 million hunted between 2002 and 2006. Missouri ranked fifth in the nation in both the percentage and total number of state residents 16 and older who hunted - 613,000/13 percent. The Show-Me State was fourth in the percentage of its population that fished (21 percent) and fifth in the percentage of residents who engage in wildlife watching (45 percent). Missouri's strong showing in wildlife-related recreation was mirrored in regional statistics. The West North-Central Region, which encompasses Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and North and South Dakota, led the nation in participation in fishing (21 percent) and hunting (12 percent). The survey showed that wildlife-related recreation is big business. Anglers spent $42 billion on their activities nationwide, and hunters spent $23 billion exclusively for hunting. American sportsmen and women spent another $11 billion on items used for both hunting and fishing. Wildlife watching accounted for more than $45 billion in expenditures. The economic impact of wildlife-related recreation was especially prominent in Missouri. The Show-Me State led its region in the number of participants (613,000) and total expenditures ($1.1 billion) for hunting. Missourians also topped regional totals for wildlife watching, with 2.8 million participants spending $847 million. Missouri's fishing participation (1.1 million) and expenditures ($1.1 billion) were exceeded only in Minnesota, where 1.4 million anglers spent $2.5 billion. Missouri, whose population was the nation's 16th largest in 2006, ranked 15th in wildlife-related expenditures. The survey found a statistically insignificant decline of 4 percent in the number of active hunters nationwide between 2001 and 2006. The steepest declines were among migratory bird hunters and small-game hunters. Big-game hunter numbers remained stable. Nationwide, hunting expenditures declined by 3 percent compared to 2001. Equipment accounted for 47 percent of hunters' expenses. Food, lodging and trip costs made up an additional 29 percent. Licenses and fees made up 3 percent of what hunters spent on their sport. Angler numbers declined 12 percent, but their expenditures for fishing equipment increased by 4 percent, and they spent 7 percent more than in 2001 on fuel, lodging and other trip-related expenses. Thirty-one percent of Americans 16 and older fed, watched or photographed wildlife in 2006. That is an 8 percent increase from 2001. Their expenditures increased 21 percent since 1996. The biggest increases in spending compared to 2001 were for equipment (20 percent) and trip-related expenses (38 percent). More than half (51 percent) of wildlife-watchers' expenditures were for equipment. Trip-related expenses accounted for 28 percent, and "other expenditures" 21 percent. The great majority of wildlife watching activities (67.8 million participants) took place around people's homes. Another 23 million Americans traveled away from home to watch or photograph wildlife. Although many states have declining participation in wildlife-related activities, Missouri Department of Conservation Public Involvement Coordinator David Thorne said that preliminary results from the survey show Missourians' participation in hunting and wildlife viewing have increased, and their participation in fishing decreased only slightly compared to 2001. Expenditures by Missourians have increased greatly compared to 2001 for all kinds of wildlife recreation. "Fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing have important economic impacts in Missouri, helping the economy and supporting jobs," said Thorne.  
The Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group. |
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