Survey Shows More People Hunting and Fishing

New national numbers indicate more people are hunting and fishing, which appears to be a reversal of a long downward trend.

The Interior Department uses federal census data to compile a survey every five years on the number of hunters and anglers. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar released preliminary results of the latest survey Wednesday, while he was in Milwaukee. The results show the number of anglers has increased 11 percent, while hunters are up 9 percent, compared to the year 2006. Salazar says that should be good news for the outdoor sports industry, “Hunters and anglers, wildlife watchers, kyakers, hikers, bikers, all of the people of the outdoor contribute huge amounts to the economy of the United States.”

Salazar says he is happy the new numbers show a reversal of a downward trend in the number of people fishing and hunting. Later data from the survey will show the geographic and demographic make-up of the hunters and anglers.The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says it has not compiled numbers yet for 2011. Over the last 18 years, the number of hunters is down, while the number of people fishing is pretty constant. A federal study shows fishing and hunting on an upswing.