In terms of total numbers, Texas led the nation with 1.1 million residents hunting at some point during the year, while Florida led in total fishing participation with 2.8 million anglers.  California saw 6.2 million of its residents observe wildlife in 2006.
The National Survey is an important tool that measures in economic and participatory terms the value that wildlife has in Americans? hearts and to the nation?s economy.  Wildlife related recreation rejuvenates our spirit, connects us with nature and gets us outside pursuing healthy activities,? said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H Dale Hall.
 
Results for Southwest States
Participation by State Where Activity Took Place
 Sportspersons
Wildlife-Watching Participants
State
Fishing Participants
Hunting Participants
Around-the-Home Participants
Away-from-Home Participants
Oklahoma
612,000
250,000
976,000
376,000
Texas
2,500,000
1,115,000
3,775,000
992,000
Arizona
418,000
156,000
924,000
622,000
New Mexico
249,000
96,000
422,000
480,000
 
Activities by State Where Spending Took Place
State
Fishing
Hunting
Wildlife Watching
Oklahoma
$499,468,000
$464,809,000
$318,679,000
Texas
$3,224,181,000
$2,299,837,000
$2,902,385,000
Arizona
$888,460,000
$498,430,000
$825,844,000
New Mexico
$295,874,000
$159,030,000
$352,714,000

The survey shows that 32 percent of state residents in Texas, 27 percent of state residents in Arizona, 39 percent of state residents in New Mexico, and 50 percent of state residents in Oklahoma have participated in wildlife activities within the year.  The survey also shows that 16 percent of sportsman in Texas, 9 percent in Arizona, 14 percent in New Mexico and 22 percent in Oklahoma participated in ether fishing or hunting activities at some point during the year.
In 2006, more than 87 million Americans, or 38 percent of the United States? population age 16 and older hunted, fished or observed wildlife.  They spent $120 billion that year pursuing those activities.  Further broken down by category, 30 million (or 13 percent) fished and spent a total of $41 billion on their activities, 12.5 million (or 5 percent) hunted and spent a total of $23 billion, and 71 million (or 31 percent) observed wildlife and spent a total of $45 billion.
 
        The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation has been conducted every 5 years since 1955 and is one of the nation?s most important wildlife recreation databases.  It is considered to be the definitive source of information concerning participation and expenditures associated with hunting, fishing and other forms of wildlife-related recreation nationwide.
 
The National Survey is conducted at the request of state fish and wildlife agencies, and is funded by grants from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Acts? Multi-state Conservation Grant Program. A wide range of individuals and groups depend on the National Survey to analyze participation rates, as well as the economic impacts of expenditures, demographic characteristics, and trends in participation and activities.
 
It is important to note that the National Survey counts only participants who actually went hunting, fishing or observed wildlife in 2006 and does not represent the total number of anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers in the United States. Many people who consider themselves hunters, anglers or wildlife watchers do not participate every year. For example, examination of survey data shows that over the five year period from 2002 to 2006, a cumulative total of 44.4 million people fished and 18.6 million hunted.
This 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation State Overview report, as well as previous surveys and reports, can be found at <http://federalaid.fws.gov/surveys/surveys.html>.  The Service expects to publish the final National Survey in November 2007.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 97-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 548 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.