Outdoor lovers share similar interests
NW Hook & Bullet
This is the second of a two-part series about a 2006 wildlife-related survey.
Anglers are wildlife watchers, and so are hunters. Indeed, there is a significant overlap in these pursuits. Wildlife watchers are also a separate segment altogether.
When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation in 2007, the numbers provided an interesting glimpse into participation in these recreational pastimes. The survey includes participants in the sports ages 16-years and older.
The report indicated 68 percent of all hunters also wet a line in 2006. Likewise, 29 percent of anglers participated in the sport of hunting. Also, 57 percent of hunters, along with 52 percent of fishermen, were wildlife viewers. Only 25 percent of wildlife watchers hunted or fished during 2006.
These numbers are not surprising. Hunting is a more difficult sport to begin, money-wise. While some firearms are handed down from generation to generation, others must spend $300 plus for a rifle or shotgun. Ammunition is also expensive. The age of a beginning hunter is as low as 8, but this is rare.
Angling is much different. A rod, reel and line combination can be purchased for less than $20. Hooks, sinkers, bobbers and bait are reasonably priced, with worms being free, if recovered by turning a few spades of dirt in the garden.
Beginning anglers tend to be much younger. Many an angler was around the 2-year-old range when catching their first fish. This makes fishing a much more family-friendly sport than hunting.
Wildlife viewing is also inexpensive. Simply plant a few sunflowers in the garden and watch the birds visit the plants when the seeds are ripe and dry.
Take some of the seeds and put them in a pie tin and place it near a window for up-close bird watching. Toddlers are able to participate in this activity with great delight.
A big part of all of this is the fact anglers are wildlife viewers while they are fishing, and so are hunters. There have been hunters in a blind on an island in Potholes Reservoir who have thrown a line in the water at the same time.
Some of the figures from the survey are astounding. The total participants for wildlife-related recreation were 87.5 million and the expenditures were $122.3 billion.
Hunter numbers were 12.5 million and anglers 30 million. Hunters were in the field 220 million days and anglers 517 million. Expenditures totaled $22.9 billion for hunting and $42 billion for fishing.
Wildlife viewers totaled 71.1 million and they were divided into two segments: watching wildlife around the home and away from home. Around the home totaled 67.8 million and away from home 23 million. Total monies spent by this group totaled $45.7 billion.
Feeding birds and other wildlife accounted for 55.5 million wildlife viewers, while 44.5 million simply observed wildlife. In addition, 18.8 million photographed wildlife, and 14.5 million planted wildlife friendly vegetation. Some of these people, 13.3 million, visited public areas within a mile of their homes to participate.
Away from home is another designation for wildlife viewers used in the survey. In 2006, 23 million people traveled away from home to view, feed or photograph wildlife. This number is 32 percent of all wildlife watchers.
The survey noted closely observing wildlife was most popular with away-from-home participants. About 21.5 million or 9 percent of the U.S population, observed wildlife an average of 14 days in 2006.
Photographing wildlife was enjoyed by 11.7 million people, roughly 5 percent of the U.S. population. They averaged nine days per photographer.
According to the survey, approximately 7.1 million people fed wildlife an average of 11 days. About 83 percent of all away-from-home participants took trips within their resident state to participate in wildlife watching. Approximately 67 percent took trips only in their resident state, 16 percent took trips both inside and outside their resident state, and 17 percent took trips only to other states. Altogether, 33 percent of all away-from-home participants took at least some of their trips to other states.
It's obvious United States citizens enjoy their wildlife-related recreation. Some of us are consumptive, meaning we take wildlife and fish by hunting and fishing. Others are non-consumptive because they release fish or just observe wildlife. The overlying fact is wildlife-related recreation is big business and an important part of our economy.
My wife, Garnet and I enjoy all three aspects of outdoor recreation mentioned in the survey. We watch wildlife no matter where we are ... at home, while on the road or simply camping at Potholes State Park. It's common for us to stop the vehicle to put a binocular on a herd of deer or bald eagle perched in a tree.
We don't keep a log of all wildlife seen, but this would be a good practice for a young family. Each member could keep a list or there could be just one for the entire family. Birders, also known as bird watchers, typically keep annual lists and lifetime lists.
Wildlife viewing is the best way to excite youngsters at an early age about the wonders of the world outside the front door. Fishing and hunting will come later, if the person is interested.
Buy a pound of birdseed and put it in a pie tin where it can be observed from inside the house and watch the fun begin.
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