The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is celebrating the 2013 National Hunting and Fishing Day (NHFD) on Saturday.
Wildlife-related recreation generates billions of dollars for the nation’s economy each year. According to the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Report, $2.9 billion was spent on wildlife-related recreation in Tennessee. The total does not reflect an additional $2.5 billion generated from the recreational boating program which the TWRA also administers.
“The TWRA is acutely aware and very proud to acknowledge the economic impact of hunters and anglers of Tennessee,” said Ed Carter, TWRA executive director. “It’s satisfying to see the details of the report and to give credit to those who have borne the cost of wildlife management over the decades. Their support has not only resulted in a number of wildlife success stories but has also contributed greatly to the quality of life in our state.”
The NHFD is an event celebrated in all 50 states annually on the fourth Saturday in September. It was established by the U.S. Congress in May 1972 passing a specific day to celebrate the conservation contributions of the nation’s hunters and anglers. By the late summer of the same year, all 50 governors and more than 600 mayors across the country had joined proclaiming state and local versions of National Hunting and Fishing Day.
The Tennessee state report, part of the 2011 survey, measures public participation in hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing and other wildlife dependent recreation, as well as how much money is spent pursuing these activities. The complete Tennessee report is available online at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/tennessee/economicimpact-tn.html.
A total of 826,000 people, 16 years and older spent a combined total of 17 million days fishing in Tennessee in 2011. In total, residents and non-residents combined to spend an estimated $1.1 billion.
An estimated 375,000 sportsmen combined for 9.8 million hunting days. More than $494 million was spent on hunting-related activities.
Two million people, 16 or older watched wildlife during the year in away-from-home activities or around-the-home activities. In total, an estimated $943 million was spent on wildlife watching in the state.