U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Launch Major National Survey On Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife Watching

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will soon be conducting the 12th
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.
Hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts across the nation will be
asked to participate in interviewing set to begin April 1. The survey,
which has been conducted every five years since 1955, will involve 53,000
households.

“We appreciate the anglers, hunters, birdwatchers and other citizens
throughout the United States who voluntarily participate in the survey
when contacted,” said Acting Director Rowan Gould, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. “The survey results help wildlife and natural resource managers
quantify how much Americans value wildlife resources in terms of both
participation and expenditures.”

The survey is funded by the Multistate Conservation Grant Program
authorized by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement
Act of 2000. The survey provides the only comprehensive statistical
database available on participation and expenditures for hunting, fishing
and wildlife-watching in all 50 states. The information is collected by
the U.S. Census Bureau, primarily through telephone interviews to be
conducted April to June and September to October in 2011, and January to
March in 2012. Those contacted will be asked about their participation
and expenditures in several categories of wildlife-associated recreation.
The results will be available in a national report and in 50 individual
state reports.

“The last survey published in 2006 revealed 87.5 million Americans enjoyed
some form of wildlife-related recreation and spent more than $122.3
billion pursuing their activities,” said Hannibal Bolton, assistant
director for the Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program.
“The survey is a critical information resource for federal and state
wildlife agencies, outdoor and tourist industries, local governments,
planners, conservation groups, journalists and others interested in
wildlife and outdoor recreation.”

Participation is voluntary and all responses are strictly confidential.
Data collected is used for statistical purposes only and no participant
can be identified from information contained in the database and follow-up
reports. Representative samples will be based on the initial contacts and
include 19,000 anglers and hunters and 10,000 wildlife watchers (wildlife
photographers, feeders, and observers).

Preliminary survey findings will be available in the spring of 2012. Final
reports will be issued beginning in the fall of 2012. The reports, when
completed, will be posted at .

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to work with others
to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats
for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader
and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our
scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources,
dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more
information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit
www.fws.gov.

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