A report compiled every five years by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows big nationwide increases in the number of hunters and target shooters.
The preliminary report of the latest National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (FHWAR), compiled twice per decade since 1955, was released last week by the Department of Interior. The data revealed that 46.2 million people aged 6 or over went target shooting, 39.9 million people fished, 14.4 million hunted, and 148.3 million participated in at least one type of wildlife-watching activity in the United States in 2021.
In doing so, Americans pumped a whopping $394.8 billion into the economy during wildlife-related recreation while enjoying the outdoors. This is a huge leap from the $156 billion reported by the last survey in 2016. Of note, the previous survey found that there were only 11.4 million active hunters and 32 million target shooters, while the most recent saw those populations climb to 14.4 million (a 26-percent increase) and 46.2 million (a 44-percent increase), respectively.
While wildlife watching was by far the most popular outdoor activity in the survey, hunters forked over more cash per person. The survey found that the cost of hunting was higher than other outdoor activities, with the average hunter spending an estimated $3,264 in equipment and trip expenses, whereas anglers came in at $2,558 and wildlife watchers at $2,188.
Further, hunters and anglers since 1937 have had to pick up the tab for conservation efforts via a Congressionally mandated excise tax of up to 11 percent built into the gear they purchase. Over $25 billion has been raised to preserve habitat and protect game species through such efforts. Meanwhile, bird watchers and the like do not have to pay such a hidden tax on their hobby.
"The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service report is an encouraging reminder of the integral part the firearm industry, hunting and recreational shooting fulfills in our national and local economies," Mark Oliva, public affairs director of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, told Guns.com in an email. "The $394 billion spent on outdoor recreation represents support for good-paying jobs at factories that are continually working to keep up with the record demand that this report indicates. In addition to supporting jobs, the money spent on equipment, licenses, and fees doesn’t account for the money spent in local economies for food, hotels, fuel, and other expenses incurred during these trips by outdoor recreationalists.
"This is truly a report card on the significance Americans place on ensuring that we have healthy public lands and waters for wildlife to flourish and for everyone to enjoy," said Oliva.
Banner image: A bowhunter equipped with a S&W revolver as a sidearm. (Photo: Smith & Wesson)
