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This Saturday is National Hunting and Fishing day and thousands events around the country will take place to support our favorite outdoor sports.
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The day started in 1973 and was signed into law by President Richard Nixon to “urge all citizens to join with outdoor sportsmen in the wise use of our natural resources and in insuring their proper management for the benefit of future generations.” By now we all know how important hunting and fishing are as tools for conservation, but its easy to overlook the economic impact of our sports. To welcome National Hunting and Fishing Day, Outdoor Life is highlighting facts compiled by the Wonders of Wildlife that show just how important hunting and fishing really are. To find out more about National Hunting and Fishing Day got to Wonders of Wildlife here.
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Hunting Facts
Excise taxes paid on sporting firearms, ammunition and archery equipment, benefit every state and have generated approximately $5.6 billion for wildlife conservation since 1939. The contribution for 2009 is a record — nearly $336 million, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Photo: Arthurr
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An average hunter spends $1,638 every year on the sport. Photo: Blaine Hansel
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Teenage girls are the fastest growing market in sport shooting.
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According to research, 72 percent more women are hunting with firearms today than just five years ago. And 50 percent more women are now target shooting.
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Americans hunt 228 million days per year.
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More than 38 million Americans hunt and fish.
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Hunters and anglers support more jobs nationwide than the number of people employed by Wal-Mart. Photo: Sven
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More Americans hunt and shoot than play golf.
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Firearms are involved in less than 1 percent of all accidental fatalities. More Americans are killed in accidents involving vending machines than guns. Photo: Meniscus
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Hunting gear sales are growing faster than all other sporting goods categories. Photo: Zach Morris
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Americans annually buy 1.1 billion shotshells.
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Non-resident hunting license, tag, stamp and permit sales have risen 41.2 percent since 1993. Top selling sporting goods: 1.) exercise equipment, 2.) golf gear, 3.) hunting gear.
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More than 44 million Americans six years of age and older enjoy fishing every year. Photo: Lsuff
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An average angler spends $1,046 every year on the sport.
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Over one quarter of all anglers are female.
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Through license sales and excise taxes on equipment, hunters and anglers pay for most fish and wildlife conservation programs. Photo: Allen C
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Anglers and boaters have paid $3.6 billion in excise taxes since 1952. Photo: Jerry
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Recreational anglers spend a staggering $41.5 billion a year to fish. This has tremendous economic impacts. Photo: MMnorthwoods
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Anglers spend almost $300 million a year just on ice.
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Anglers spend more than $1 billion a year on bait alone Photo: Cucu Lures
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The honorary chair for this year’s National Hunting and Fishing Day is the USA Shooting Team. Past chairs include Jeff Foxworthy, Tracy Byrd, Michael Waddell, Hank Williams Jr., Terry Bradshaw and many more.
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Use this Saturday to spend time hunting and fishing and introduce a kid to the outdoors. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Alex Robinson
Alex Robinson

Alex Robinson is Outdoor Life’s editor-in-chief. He oversees an ace team of writers, photographers, and editors who are scattered across the continent and cover everything from backcountry sheep hunting to trail running.

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