Utah Wildlife Recreation: Participation &

Economic Contributions (1996 – 2006)

Dana E. Dolsen, Human Dimensions

Coordinator, Utah Wildlife Resources

USFWS National

Survey of Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife-

Associated Recreation

Presented at the

2010

Utah Tourism

Conference

Logan, Utah

Total 2001 – 2006 Economic Contributions of

Fishing, Hunting, & Wildlife Viewing in Utah

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

Hunt/Fish

2001

Total

Impacts

2006

Total

Impacts

Total Impacts:

$2.3 billion in 2006

$2.6 billion in 2001

Fishing and Hunting –

$1.23 billion combined in 2006

$1.57 billion combined in 2001

Wildlife Viewing –

$1.0 billion in 2006

$1.04 billion in 2001Hunt/Fish View

$ Billions1.57

1.04

1.23

1.0

Utah’s Economy Ripple Effects:

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1996 2001 2006

Days of Hunting Wildlife in Utah:

1996 - 2006

T

O

T

A

L

T

O

T

A

L

U

T

A

H

U

T

A

H NON

UT

NON

UT

1.7 m

2.5 mNumbers in

THOUSANDS

Days hunted in Utah decreased by a million in 2006 vs. 2001,

dropping about a third of a million days compared to 1996!

1.4 m

NON

UT

T

O

T

A

L

U

T

A

H

Outdoor Recreation Participants in U.S.

2006-2008 Hunting & Shooting Sports*

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

2006 2007 2008

Bow

Handgun

Rifle

Shotgun

Sport Clays

Trap/Skeet

Handgun-Target

Rifle-Target

Archery

-2.5%

1 Yr. Change (2007-08)

10.7%

-2.7%

2.2%

4.1%

8.7%

13.9%

5.4%

7.7%

*Outdoor Foundation 2009 Topline Report

1.4 mill

1.2 mill

1 mill

800 k

600 k

400 k

200 k

Utah Hunting Expenditures:

1996 - 2006

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

1996 2001 2006

Numbers in

THOUSANDS

$189.5 m

$306.2 m

Hunting expenditures in Utah decreased in 2006 from 2001,

But still far exceeded ($85 million more) those of 1996!

$274.4 m

Days of Angling in Utah:

1996 - 2006

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

1996 2001 2006

Numbers in

THOUSANDS

Fewer days by Utah anglers in 2006 vs. 2001, 2006 > 1996!

T

O

T

A

L

T

O

T

A

L

U

T

U

T

A

H

N

SNON

UT

NON

UT

5.2 m

3.9 m

T

O

T

A

L

U

T NON

UT

3.8 m

Outdoor Recreation Participants in U.S.

2006-2008 Fishing Activities*

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

2006 2007 2008

Fly Fishing

OtherFreshwaterFishing

1 Yr. Change (2007-08)

3.2%

-8.0%

43,100 43,859

40,331

6,071 5,756 5,941

*Outdoor Foundation 2009 Topline Report

Numbers shown in millions

Utah Angling Expenditures:

1996 - 2006

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

1996 2001 2006

Numbers in

THOUSANDS

Still $145 million more spent on angling in Utah during 2006

than in 1996; down $16 million from 2001.

$214 m

$398.3 m $376.5 m

That’s the news on consumptive wildlife tourism, now let’s look at wildlife viewing!

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

Total Number

2006 Wildlife Viewers

2007 Wildlife Viewers

2008 Wildlife Viewers

2006 Bird Watchers

2007 Bird Watchers

2008 Bird Watchers

Outdoor Recreation Participants in U.S.

2006-08 Wildlife Viewers & Bird Watchers*

*Outdoor Foundation

2009 Topline Report

11,070

11,783

12,417

20,294

22,97424,113

Numbers shown in millions

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

1996 2001 2006

Days of Viewing Wildlife Away from

Home in Utah: 1996 - 2006

T

O

T

A

L

T

O

T

A

LU

T

U

TNON

UT

NON

UT

2.8 m

4.4 m

Numbers in

THOUSANDS

Days viewing wildlife in Utah increased from 1996 to 2001,

but then returned to almost the 1996 level in 2006!

NON

UT

U

T

A

H

T

O

T

A

L

3.0 m

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Youth

(6-17)

Young

Adults

(18-24)

Adults

(25-44)

Adults

(45+)

2007 Wildlife Viewers

2008 Wildlife Viewers

2007 Bird Watchers

2008 Bird Watchers

U.S. Outdoor Recreation Participant Ages:

2009 Wildlife Viewing vs. Bird Watching*

*Outdoor Foundation

2009 Topline Report

Wow! Very good participation, but the real economic benefit to Utah, is especially rural!

Utah Viewing Trip-Related

Expenditures: 1996 - 2006

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1996 2001 2006

Numbers in

THOUSANDS

$236 m

$682 m

Viewing expenditures in Utah almost tripled from 1996 in

2001 and stayed relatively high in 2006!

$543 m

Wildlife Viewing Economic Contribution

An In-Depth Look at the Impact in Utah

•Equipment Purchase

•State Tax Revenue

•Retail Sales

•Jobs Generated

Viewing Equipment Expenditures

in Utah: 1996 - 2006

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

1996 2001 2006

Numbers in

THOUSANDS

$83.4 m

$404.2 m

Viewers in 2006 spent half as much on equipment as they

did in 2001, yet this is still almost three times 1996!

$220.7 m

1996 - 2006 Economic Contributions of

Wildlife Viewing on Utah Tax Revenues

05,000,000

10,000,00

0

15,000,00

0

20,000,00

0

25,000,00

0

30,000,00

0

35,000,00

0

40,000,00

0

45,000,00

0

50,000,00

0

55,000,00

0

60,000,00

0

1996 2001 2006

* $55.8 million total tax revenues generated in 2006; $18M more than 2001, more than 3 times that of 1996!

* $29.4 million in Utah sales/fuel tax was generated in 2001; $18.7 million more than in 1996 ($10.7 million).

* $9.5 million was generated in Utah income tax in 2001; $4.7 million more than in 1996 ($4.8 million).

SALES/

FUEL

TAX

INC

OME

TAX

10.715.5

29.4

55.8$60 million

$55 million

$50 million

$45 million

$40 million

$35 million

$30 million

$25 million

$20 million

$15 million

$10 million

$ 5 million

0

TOTAL

TAX

TOTAL

TAX

4.8 9.5

38.9

Important Impacts

1996 - 2001 Economic Contributions of

Wildlife Viewing on Utah Retail Sales

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Sales

1996

2001

2006

Important Impact

* In both 2006 & 2001 Utah wildlife viewing retail sales generated $555 million (+/- $1M),

~ $330M more than in 1996 ($225.8 M).

555.7

225.8

555.0

1996 & 2001 Economic Contributions of Wildlife Viewing on Utah Jobs

Created/Maintained

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

Jobs

1996

2001

2006

Important Impact

* In 2006, over 10

thousand Utah jobs

were created/sustained

6K less than in 2001

(16,374) almost 4K

more jobs than in 1996

(6,749).

6,749

16,374

10,569

So, the sage tourism manager in

Utah will look closely at taking

advantage of this naturally

aligned feature. Optimize your

attractiveness by adding the value

of wildlife recreation

opportunities to your client

marketing.

Working together, we will bring

in new clientele, as well as stretch

the average length of visits. After

all, what is your ROI (return on

your investment) to offer great

Wildlife Tourism in Utah?

Wildlife is valuable to everyone!

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. William Shakespeare