Hunting, fishing and other outdoors activities
Surveys by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service show hunting, fishing and other outdoors activities pump $3.3 billion into the state’s economy annually. That includes $2.4 billion from fishing and hunting and $930 million from wildlife watching (observing, feeding, photographing). In terms of participants, anglers account for 1.5 million and hunters, 335,000 and wildlife watchers, 2.4 million. Data provided by the National Shooting Sports Foundation says the industry provides more than 35,000 jobs – 9,376 from hunting and 25,000 from fishing.
A recent NCWRC report says hunting and fishing has a “huge impact” on the state’s economy.
“Numbers of resident hunters are increasing and North Carolina is ranked 10th in the nation for the number of non-resident hunters…Just this year Bassmaster magazine ranked four of our lakes among the top bass fishing spots in the nation. The American Sportfishing Association ranks North Carolina No. 4 in visiting non-resident anglers’ destinations, and Field & Stream magazine ranks our whitetail deer hunting some of the best in the country.”
North Carolina joins a recent short-term trend in increased numbers of anglers and hunters. The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, & Wildlife-Associated Recreation, conducted every five years, reports that 90 million Americans participated in wildlife-related activities in 2011, up 3 percent from five years earlier.
“The increase was primarily among those who fished and hunted,” the survey said. “The data shows that 33.1 million people fished, 13.7 million hunted and 71.8 million participated in wildlife-watching activity…”
The Outdoor Industry Association reports that “Outdoor recreation is essential to the American economy. Every year Americans spend $646 billion on outdoor recreation – on gear, vehicles, trips, travel-related expenses…This creates jobs, supports communities, generates tax revenue and helps drive the economy…”