(Washington, DC) – Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D., (R-South Louisiana) issued the following statement after a comprehensive national survey of outdoor recreation showed a sharp increase in the number of hunters and anglers across the country over the last five years:

“I’m proud to see the numbers of hunters and anglers across the country on the rise. As we know in South Louisiana, hunting and fishing play an important role in our lifestyle and culture. The survey showed a large number of the population age 16 or older, over 13.7 million people, hunted while 33 million people fished this past year. Overall, more than 71 million people engaged in wildlife watching in 2011.

“From coastal wetlands to the numerous wildlife refuges and preserves throughout South Louisiana, wildlife conservation remains a top priority for our state. With more participation from citizens comes a higher demand for licenses. In turn, this revenue restores and improves many natural habitats for wildlife in South Louisiana while exposing more youth to the outdoors for recreational activities. I hope the number of hunters and anglers continues to rise across the nation and in our state.”   

###