In view of recent discussions on wildlife uses/users, thought you all might
be interested in this report.

Peggi
>============================================================
>
>August 27, 1997 Hugh Vickery 202-208-5634
>
>SERVICE RELEASES PRELIMINARY STATE-BY-STATE REPORT ON
>WILDLIFE-RELATED RECREATION
>
>Michigan had the largest number of hunters in the country, Florida led
>the country in anglers, and California had the largest number of wildlife
>watchers, according to the preliminary state overview from the 1996
>National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.
>
>Meanwhile, the survey revealed that residents of the West North Central
>region--which includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and
>the Dakotas-had the highest participation rates of any region for
>hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching.
>
>The survey, which has been conducted every 5 years since 1955, was done
>for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the Census Bureau. As part of
>the survey, the Census Bureau initially screened 80,000 households. From
>this, the bureau chose 28,000 sportsmen and -women and 14,400
>wildlife-watching participants 16 years of age and older for detailed
>surveys throughout the year.
>
>The preliminary national results released earlier this summer showed that
>more than 39 million Americans 16 and older either hunted or fished in
>1996 while 63 million enjoyed watching-2- wildlife. In all, 40 percent
>of the adult population enjoyed some form of wildlife-related recreation.
>
>"America's love affair with wildlife continues to be strong," said
>Service Director Jamie Rappaport Clark. "Whether they're anglers,
>hunters, or wildlife watchers, Americans enjoy wildlife and, equally
>importantly, commit their time and resources to its conservation. Our
>economy also benefits from the $100 billion spent on wildlife-related
>recreation."
>
>In the state-by-state breakout, Michigan had 934,000 hunters 16 years and
>older, edging out Texas and Pennsylvania, which had 913,000 and 879,000
>respectively. Wisconsin was fourth with 665,000 hunters trailed by New
>York with 642,000.
>
>Florida led the way with 2.9 million anglers 16 and older, followed
>closely by California with 2.7 million. Texas had 2.6 million, Michigan
>1.8 million and New York 1.7 million.
>
>The survey revealed that 5.7 million Californians 16 and older enjoyed
>observing, photographing, or feeding wildlife around their homes while
>2.4 million took trips away from home to enjoy these activities. Texas,
>Pennsylvania, New York, and Illinois also were home to millions of adults
>who enjoy watching wildlife.
>
>From a regional standpoint, 25 percent of the adults in the West North
>Central region fished, 14 percent hunted, and 37 percent participated in
>wildlife watching. That represented the highest participation in each
>category for any region in the country.
>
>The final national report will be issued in November. The 50 state
>reports will be issued as they become available starting in November.
>Copies of the preliminary report can be obtained by calling the Service's
>publications unit at 304-876-7660.
>
>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency
>responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife
>and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
>The Service manages 511 national wildlife refuges covering 92 million
>acres, as well as 68 national fish hatcheries.
>
>The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, manages migratory bird
>populations, stocks recreational fisheries, conserves and restores
>wildlife habitat such as wetlands, administers the Endangered Species
>Act, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It
>also oversees the Federal Aid program that funnels Federal excise taxes
>on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies. This
>program is a cornerstone of the Nation's wildlife management efforts,
>funding fish and wildlife restoration, boating access, hunter education,
>shooting ranges, and related projects across America.
>
>-FWS-
>
>
>
>============================================================
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>
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>or observations concerning the content of the information should be
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>
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>
>.-
>
>
Ben & Peggi Rodgers
Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz 122 W, 37 N)
USA
woodduck at cruzio.com
http://www2.cruzio.com/~woodduck/


"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
It sings because it has a song"