USDA Forest Service Update							
July 2007   

SUBJECT:  Economic Impacts of Hunting, Fishing, 
and Viewing Report
							

SUMMARY:  This report quantified local and national economic effects of trips to National Forest System (NFS) lands made for the primary purpose of hunting, fishing, and viewing activities.  The study estimated that hunting, fishing, and viewing on NFS lands resulted in annual expenditures of $1.7 billion, supported 40,600 jobs, and contributed $192 million in federal income tax receipts for local communities alone.  In addition, this study estimated the cumulative economic effects derived from these activities on NFS lands; which indicated an annual expenditure of $7.7 billion, supported 189,000 jobs, and contributed $874 million in federal income tax receipts.  These results clearly demonstrate the importance NFS wildlife and fisheries resources to the American public in pursuit of quality-of-life enhancing experiences, as well as the positive impact of their expenditures, particularly to rural economies. 

BACKGROUND:  NFS lands include 80% of the lower 48's elk and bighorn sheep habitat, 28+ million acres of wild turkey habitat, 5 million acres of wetlands, 2 million acres of lakes, 200,000 miles of fishable streams, and 50 % of the nation's premier trout and salmon habitat.  Over 36 million visits per year to NFS lands are for the purpose of hunting, fishing, or viewing these resources. The average economic contributions of fishing, hunting and wildlife-viewing activities for the years 2000-2003 are quantified.  Estimates of visitor use were attained from the National Visitor Use Monitoring Program (NVUM) conducted by the Forest Service (FS) Recreation and Heritage staff. Economic contributions were first gauged within a 50 mile radius of  each NFS unit, representing the economic contribution to local communities, but only marginally includes equipment such as binoculars, fishing tackle, firearms, etc that are likely purchased for other purposes.  A broader analysis, including 2001 data from the US Fish and Wildlife Service included all expenditures made in-state for wildlife-based recreation on NFS lands, representing the economic contribution statewide.  A portion of annual equipment expenditures were pro-rated to each trip.  

Table 1. Economic contributions from hunting, fishing and viewing activities. 

Hunting
Fishing
Viewing

local area
cumulative
local area
cumulative
local area
cumulative
Visits in millions
15.5
15.2
5.6
Expenditures ( in millions)
$894
$4200
$592
$2,200
$168
$1,300
Full and part-time jobs supported
21,500
97,000
14,500
57,500
4,700
34,500
Federal tax (in millions) 
$111
$502
$66
$263
$15
$109

Contact:   Anne Zimmermann, Director Wildlife, Fish, Rare Plants, 202-205-1167 
                  Dave Schmid, National Fish Program Leader, 202-205-0951