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In 2022, outdoor recreation in the forms of fishing, hunting, wildlife watching, boating, and target shooting resulted in an estimated $394 billion in economic impact, according to a new survey released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
The survey, which has been conducted every five years since 1955, took into account costs associated with equipment, travel, licenses, and fees. Of the more than 100,000 participants surveyed, 57 percent participated in wildlife watching, 15 percent fished, and 6 percent hunted last year. Combined, these trips equaled a record 14 billion days spent boating, target shooting, and participating in wildlife-associated recreation.
“Time spent in nature is an important part of the human experience and can provide lifelong memories, connections to others, healthy activities, and a sense of rest and healing,” said USFWS Director Martha Williams. “These numbers demonstrate how important our public lands and wild places are not just for the well-being of people who enjoy them, but as an economic engine that provides thousands of jobs and sustains businesses, economies and communities throughout the nation.”
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So we’re part of this incredible tradition that stretches back to the first peoples. Whether you prefer to look at the eclipse or not—some Tribes do not—it’s still part of the continuity of humanity that we all share.”
