Bridging the 50-State Survey 

of Fishing, Hunting, and WildlifeAssociated Recreation with 

Previous National Survey of 

Fishing, Hunting, and WildlifeAssociated Recreation Trends

Final Methodology Overview

MARCH 2020

NATIONAL

THE ROCKVILLE INSTITUTE, FOR 

STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES
Suggested Citation:

Rockville Institute. 2020. Bridging the 50-State Surveys of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated 

Recreation with Previous National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation 

Trends. Final Methodology Overview: National.
 National // 1

In 2016, the Rockville Institute conducted the 50-State Survey 

of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation 

(FHWAR); see more details in Rockville Institute (2018). 

Concurrently, the Census Bureau conducted the 2016 

National Survey of FHWAR; see more details in U.S. 

Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 

and U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Census Bureau 

(2018). The two surveys were based on samples of addresses 

intended to be representative of the United States population 

living in households, and used questionnaires as nearly 

identical as possible. Both surveys identified likely sportspersons and wildlife watchers within sampled households, 

and individual participation surveys covered all of calendar 

year 2016. However, differences in sample design, sample 

selection process and mode of data collection resulted in 

estimates that were substantially different between the surveys.

Estimates from the 2016 National Survey of FHWAR are 

directly comparable to those from previous surveys such as 

the 2011 National Survey of FHWAR; see U.S. Department of 

the Interior, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Department 

of Commerce U.S. Census Bureau (2014). Due to its modest 

sample size, it can only produce reliable estimates at the 

national and census division level. In contrast, the 50-State 

Survey of FHWAR produced state-level estimates, but these 

estimates are not directly comparable to those from previous 

surveys. The Rockville Institute therefore completed a project 

to create new state-level estimates that are calibrated to those 

of the 2016 National Survey of FHWAR. The dual purpose of 

these calibrated estimates is to maintain the fine level of 

granularity of the 50-State Survey of FHWAR but enable 

comparison to previous National Surveys of FHWAR.

Through this bridging project, the Rockville Institute 

created new state-level tables showing adjusted survey 

estimates by state of residency of the participants. These 

tables show the estimated demographics, participation, 

days, trips and expenditures, for fishing, hunting and 

wildlife-related activities for residents of each of the 50 

states and DC. The tables correspond to Tables 5, 15, 22, 

28, 30, 33, 35, and 36 in the state reports released by the 

Rockville Institute in 2018, with the exception of Tables 28 

and 33, where we report an extended set of statistics 

compared to those reported in the 50-State Survey of 

FHWAR report.

The calibration procedure used to create these tables involved 

a combination of data harmonization and statistical modeling 

of the differences between the two surveys. The procedure 

consisted of the following major steps. First, the estimated 

demographic compositions of both surveys were aligned at 

the census division level, using survey calibration methods. 

Second, a statistical model was developed to account for the 

differences in participation rates in hunting, fishing and 

wildlife-related activities between the two surveys. This 

“bridging model” was used to predict state-level participating 

rates that are consistent with those obtained using the 

Census Bureau methodology. By combining these predicted 

participation rates with the harmonized population estimates, 

calibrated estimates of the numbers of participants in each 

state were obtained. Third, the characteristics of the 

participants’ activities, such as the number and type of 

activities, days of participation and types of associated 

expenditures, were adjusted by means of estimated products 

or ratios of these characteristics between the two surveys. 

Finally, applying these products or ratios to the calibrated 

estimates of the participant numbers made it possible to 

produce the calibrated tables of estimates mentioned above. 

For more details about the bridging project, see Rockville 

Institute (2020).

OVERVIEW
 National // 2

References

• Rockville Institute. 2018. 2016 50-State Survey of Fishing, 

Hunting, and Wildlife-Related Recreation: National.

• Rockville Institute. 2020. Bridging the 50-State Surveys 

of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation 

with Previous National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and 

Wildlife-Associated Recreation Trends. Final Methodology 

Report. 

• U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, and U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Census 

Bureau. 2014. 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, 

and Wildlife-Related Recreation.

• U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, and U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Census 

Bureau. 2018. 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, 

and Wildlife-Related Recreation.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 3

APPENDIX A: POINT ESTIMATES

The tables in Appendix A depict the calibrated point 

estimates, subject to rounding error. The format of the 

calibrated tables in this appendix matches closely the 

format used in the 50-State Survey of FHWAR reports. 

Summary statistics reported in the calibrated tables are 

described below, by table.

Table 5 

Fishing and hunting, participation, days, and trips

• Total fishing participation and total hunting participation: 

product-type statistics derived using model predictions for 

percent participation in the population and total population 

based on adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR weights.

• Total freshwater, freshwater except Great Lakes, Great 

Lakes, and saltwater fishing participation, total big game, 

small game, migratory birds, and other animals hunting 

participation: product-type statistics derived using total 

fishing participation, total hunting participation, percent 

participation of freshwater, freshwater except Great Lakes, 

Great Lakes, and saltwater fishing in all fishing, and percent 

participation of big game, small game, migratory birds, 

and other animals hunting in all hunting (columns 

denoted by %).

• Total fishing (all and subcategories) days/trips of 

participation and total hunting (all and subcategories) 

days/trips of participation: product-type statistics derived 

using total number of fishing (all and subcategories) 

participants, total number of hunting (all and subcategories) participants, and days/trips per participant 

(not displayed).

• Percent participation (columns denoted by %): statistics 

constructed using full adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR 

final weights, using data from the fishing or hunting survey 

for the fishing and hunting sections, respectively.

Table 15

Fishing and hunting, demographics

• Total population (all and subcategories): composite 

statistics constructed using 2-way composite factors to 

adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR final weights, using 

data from both the fishing and the hunting surveys.

• Total number of anglers and total number of hunters: 

product-type statistics derived using model predictions for 

percent participation in the population (columns denoted 

by % Pop.), and total population based on adjusted 

50-State Survey of FHWAR final weights.

• Total number of sportspersons: ratio-type statistics derived 

using total number of anglers and percent anglers in 

sportspersons (not displayed).

• Total population, sportspersons, anglers, hunters, by 

demographics: product-type statistics, derived using total 

population, sportspersons, anglers, hunters participation, 

and percent demographic-specific participation in total 

participation (columns denoted by %).

• Percent demographic-specific population, sportspersons, 

anglers, hunters participation in total participation 

(columns denoted by %): composite statistics constructed 

using 2-way composite factors to adjusted 50-State Survey 

of FHWAR final weights, using data from the fishing and 

hunting surveys.

• Percent demographic-specific anglers and hunters 

participation in the total demographic-specific population 

(columns denoted by % Pop.): ratio-type statistics, derived 

using total demographic-specific anglers and hunters 

participation and total demographic-specific population.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 4

• Percent total and demographic-specific sportspersons 

participation in the total and demographic-specific population (column denoted by % Pop.): ratio-type 

statistics, derived using total population and sportspersons participation.

Table 22

Fishing and hunting, spenders and expenses

• Total fishing and hunting expenditure (all and subcategories) 

amount, total fishing expenditure (all and subcategories) 

amount, total hunting expenditure (all and subcategories) 

amount, and total unspecified expenditure amount: 

product-type statistics derived using expenditure 

amount per participant (columns denoted by Average 

Per Sportsperson), and total sportspersons participation 

(all and subcategories), total anglers participation 

(all and subcategories), total hunters participation 

(all and subcategories) and total sportspersons 

participation, respectively.

• Expenditure amount per participant (columns denoted 

by Average Per Sportsperson) and expenditure amount 

per spender (columns denoted by Average Per Spender):

> Fishing section: statistics constructed using full adjusted 

50-State Survey of FHWAR final weights, using data 

from the fishing survey only.

> Hunting section: statistics constructed using full adjusted 

50-State Survey of FHWAR final weights, using data 

from the hunting survey only.

> Fishing and hunting, and unspecified sections: except 

for some expenses and spenders noted in the table 

footnotes, these are composite statistics constructed using 

2-way composite factors to adjusted 50-State Survey of 

FHWAR final weights, using data from the fishing and 

hunting surveys.

• Total fishing and hunting (all and subcategories) number 

of spenders, total fishing (all and subcategories) number 

of spenders, total hunting (all and subcategories) number 

of spenders, and total unspecified number of spenders: 

product-type statistics derived using the percent spenders 

in total participation (not displayed), and total 

sportspersons participation (all and subcategories), 

total anglers participation (all and subcategories), total 

hunters participation (all and subcategories) and total 

sportspersons participation, respectively.

Table 28

Wildlife watching, participation, days, and trips

• Total wildlife watching participation: product-type 

statistics derived using model predictions for percent 

participation in the population, and total population 

based on adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR final weights.

• Total away from home (all and subcategories) and 

around the home (all and subcategories) wildlife watching 

participation: product-type statistics derived using total 

wildlife watching participation, and percent participation 

of away from home (all and subcategories) and around 

the home (all and subcategories) wildlife watching in all 

wildlife watching (columns denoted by %).

• Total wildlife watching (all and subcategories) days/trips 

of participation: product-type statistics derived using 

total number of wildlife watching (all and subcategories) 

participants and days/trips per participant (not displayed).

• Percent participation (columns denoted by %): statistics 

constructed using full adjusted 50-State Survey of 

FHWAR final weights, using data from the wildlife 

watching survey.

• Percent participation in the total population (column 

denoted by % Pop.): ratio-type statistics, derived 

using total population from Table 30 and wildlife 

watching participation.

Table 30

Wildlife watching, demographics

• Total population (all and subcategories): composite statistics 

constructed using full adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR 

final weights, using data from the wildlife watching survey. 

Note that the total population estimates in Tables 15 and 30 

differ due to demographic harmonization without state 

targets estimated from the National Survey of FHWAR 

(information not available); see Rockville Institute (2020) 

for more details about the demographic harmonization.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 5

• Total number of wildlife watchers: product-type statistics 

derived using model predictions for percent participation 

in the population (columns denoted by % Pop.) and 

total population based on adjusted 50-State Survey of 

FHWAR weights.

• Total number of away from home or around the home 

wildlife watchers: product-type statistics derived using 

total number of wildlife watchers, and percent away 

from home or around the home wildlife watchers in 

all wildlife watchers (columns denoted by % Pop. in 

Table 35; not displayed).

• Total population, wildlife watchers, away from home, 

around the home, by demographics: product-type statistics, 

derived using total population, wildlife watchers, away 

from home, around the home participation, and percent 

demographic-specific participation in total participation 

(columns denoted by %).

• Percent demographic-specific population, wildlife watchers, 

away from home, around the home participation in total 

participation (columns denoted by %): composite statistics 

constructed using full adjusted 50-State Survey of 

FHWAR final weights, using data from the wildlife 

watching survey.

• Percent demographic-specific wildlife watchers, participation in the total demographic-specific population (column 

denoted by % Pop.): ratio-type statistics, derived using total 

demographic-specific wildlife watchers participation and 

total demographic-specific population.

• Percent total and demographic-specific away from home 

and around the home participation in the total and 

demographic-specif­ic population (columns denoted 

by % Pop.): ratio-type statistics, derived using total population and away from home and around the 

home participation, respectively.

Table 33

Wildlife watching, spenders and expenditures — three 

versions for all wildlife watchers, away from home wildlife 

watchers, and around the home wildlife watchers

• Total wildlife watching expenditure (all and subcategories) 

amount: product-type statistics derived using total 

number of wildlife watching (all and subcategories) 

participants and expenditure amount per participant 

(columns denoted by Average Per Wildlife Watcher).

• Expenditure amount per participant (columns denoted by 

Average Per Wildlife Watcher) and expenditure amount 

per spender (columns denoted by Average Per Spender): 

statistics constructed using full adjusted 50-State Survey 

of FHWAR final weights, using data from the wildlife 

watching survey only.

• Total wildlife watching (all and subcategories) number of 

spenders: product-type statistics derived using total number 

of wildlife watching (all and subcategories) participants 

and the percent spenders in total participation 

(columns denoted by Percent of Wildlife Watchers).

• Percent spenders in total participation (columns denoted 

by Percent of Wildlife Watchers): statistics constructed 

using full adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR final weights, 

using data from the wildlife watching survey only.

Table 35

Wildlife watchers participating in fishing and hunting

• Total number of wildlife watchers: product-type statistics 

derived using model predictions for percent participation 

in the population (columns denoted by % Pop. in Table 

30), and total population based on adjusted 50-State 

Survey of FHWAR final weights (displayed in Table 30).

• Total number of away from home or around the home 

wildlife watchers: product-type statistics derived using 

total number of wildlife watchers, and percent away 

from home or around the home wildlife watchers in all 

wildlife watchers (columns not displayed).

• Total number of wildlife watchers, away from home, 

around the home who did not fish or hunt, fished or 

hunted, fished, hunted: product-type statistics, derived 

using total number of wildlife watchers, and percent 

sportsperson-specific category in the corresponding total 

participation (columns denoted by %).

• Percent sportsperson-specific category in the corresponding total participation (columns denoted by %): statistics 

constructed using full adjusted 50-State Survey of 

FHWAR final weights, using data from the wildlife 

watching survey.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 6

Table 36

Sportspersons participating in wildlife watching

• Total number of sportspersons: ratio-type statistics 

derived using total number of anglers, percent anglers 

in sportspersons (not displayed).

• Total number of anglers or total number of hunters: 

product-type statistics derived using model predictions 

for percent participation in the population (columns 

denoted by % Pop. in Table 15), and total population 

based on adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR final 

weights (displayed in Table 15).

• Total number of sportspersons, anglers, or hunters who 

did not wildlife watch, wildlife watch, wildlife watch 

away from home, wildlife watch around the home: 

product-type statistics, derived using total number of 

sportspersons, anglers, or hunters, and percent wildlife 

watcher-specific category in the corresponding total 

participation (columns denoted by %).

• Percent wildlife watcher-specific category in the corresponding total participation (columns denoted by %): 

composite statistics constructed using 3-way composite 

factors to adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR final 

weights, using data from the fishing, hunting, and 

wildlife watching surveys.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 7

Table 5 Anglers and Hunters, Days of Participation and Trips in the United States, by Type of Fishing and Hunting: 2016 

(Population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

 PARTICIPANTS DAYS OF PARTICIPATION TRIPS

# % # % # %

ALL FISHING 34,709 100 618,381 100 393,187 100

All freshwater 29,073 84 501,856 81 306,370 78

Freshwater, except Great Lakes 28,585 82 479,860 78 296,085 75

Great Lakes 1,958 6 22,007 4 10,283 3

Saltwater 11,300 33 116,510 19 86,838 22

ALL HUNTING 10,592 100 216,601 100 165,154 100

Big game 8,397 79 142,517 66 87,317 53

Small game 4,284 40 54,294 25 40,233 24

Migratory birds 2,222 21 29,445 14 19,804 12

Other animals 2,102 20 29,528 14 17,841 11

NOTE: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 8

Table 15 Anglers and Hunters, by Selected Characteristics: 2016

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

POPULATION SPORTSPERSONS ANGLERS HUNTERS

Total % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. %

TOTAL 254,686 100 39,174 15 100 34,709 14 100 10,592 4 100

RESIDENCE DENSITY

Urban 208,695 82 27,393 13 70 25,148 12 72 6,042 3 57

Rural 45,991 18 11,782 26 30 9,561 21 28 4,551 10 43

RESIDENCE SIZE

Metropolitan Statistical 

Area (MSA)

235,104 92 34,307 15 88 30,723 13 89 8,664 4 82

1,000,000 or more 144,917 57 18,282 13 47 16,604 11 48 4,115 3 39

250,000 to 999,999 53,488 21 8,753 16 22 7,980 15 23 2,140 4 20

50,000 to 249,999 36,699 14 7,272 20 19 6,139 17 18 2,409 7 23

Outside MSA 19,582 8 4,867 25 12 3,987 20 11 1,929 10 18

SEX

Male 121,775 48 24,204 20 62 21,095 17 61 7,757 6 73

Female 132,911 52 14,970 11 38 13,614 10 39 2,836 2 27

AGE

16 to 17 years 8,541 3 1,865 22 5 1,668 20 5 321 4 3

18 to 24 years 28,351 11 4,150 15 11 3,681 13 11 1,429 5 13

25 to 34 years 43,977 17 7,597 17 19 6,897 16 20 2,154 5 20

35 to 44 years 40,455 16 7,340 18 19 6,754 17 19 1,783 4 17

45 to 54 years 42,969 17 6,626 15 17 5,630 13 16 1,780 4 17

55 to 64 years 42,022 16 6,116 15 16 5,299 13 15 1,601 4 15

65 years and older 48,372 19 5,480 11 14 4,780 10 14 1,524 3 14

65 to 74 years 28,895 11 3,671 13 9 3,211 11 9 1,022 4 10

75 and older 19,477 8 1,809 9 5 1,569 8 5 502 3 5

ETHNICITY

Hispanic 42,603 17 4,231 10 11 4,081 10 12 1,103 3 10

Non-Hispanic 212,083 83 34,943 16 89 30,629 14 88 9,489 4 90

RACE

White 190,982 75 32,488 17 83 28,391 15 82 9,229 5 87

African American 30,815 12 2,880 9 7 2,778 9 8 408 1 4

All Others 32,889 13 3,807 12 10 3,540 11 10 955 3 9

(continued on next page)
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 9

Table 15 Anglers and Hunters, by Selected Characteristics: 2016 (continued) 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

(continued from previous page)

POPULATION SPORTSPERSONS ANGLERS HUNTERS

Total % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. %

ANNUAL 

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Less than $20,000 22,269 9 2,562 12 7 2,233 10 6 655 3 6

$20,000 to $29,999 17,710 7 1,734 10 4 1,489 8 4 405 2 4

$30,000 to $39,999 18,351 7 3,224 18 8 2,858 16 8 964 5 9

$40,000 to $49,999 16,174 6 2,522 16 6 2,257 14 7 686 4 6

$50,000 to $74,999 36,512 14 5,936 16 15 5,306 15 15 1,643 4 16

$75,000 to $99,999 27,409 11 4,316 16 11 3,755 14 11 1,290 5 12

$100,000 to $149, 999 32,485 13 5,824 18 15 5,172 16 15 1,660 5 16

$150,000 or more 30,217 12 6,523 22 17 6,010 20 17 1,543 5 15

Not reported 53,559 21 6,534 12 17 5,629 11 16 1,746 3 16

EDUCATION

8 years or less 9,001 4 861 10 2 784 9 2 165 2 2

9 to 12 years 73,644 29 11,483 16 29 9,815 13 28 3,074 4 29

1 to 3 years of college 72,559 28 12,068 17 31 10,566 15 30 3,899 5 37

4 years or more 

of college

99,482 39 14,763 15 38 13,543 14 39 3,455 3 33

NOTE: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses. Percent population (% Pop.) columns show the percentage of each row’s population who participated in the 

activity named by the column (the percentage of the population living in urban areas who fished, etc.). Columns labeled “%”under Sportspersons, Anglers, and Hunters show the 

percentage of each column’s participants who are described by the row heading (the percentage of anglers who lived in urban areas, etc.).
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 10

Table 22 Expenditures for Fishing and Hunting: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

AMOUNT

(thousands of $)

AVERAGE PER 

SPORTSPERSON

($) 1

AVERAGE PER 

SPENDER

($) 1

NUMBER OF

SPENDERS

(thousands)

FISHING AND HUNTING 124,908,827 3,189 3,431 36,402

Food and lodging 17,809,740 455 619 28,773

Transportation 10,886,487 278 380 28,642

Other trip costs 2 15,702,666 401 583 26,941

Equipment (fishing, hunting) 21,059,139 538 804 26,203

Auxiliary equipment 3 7,334,545 187 578 12,690

Special equipment 4 37,941,268 969 9,346 4,060

Magazines, books, and DVDs 267,404 7 66 4,024

Membership dues/contributions 613,628 16 107 5,719

Other 5 13,293,989 339 532 24,982

FISHING 61,508,492 1,772 1,860 33,063

Food and lodging 14,196,660 409 524 27,094

Transportation 7,774,849 224 286 27,176

Other trip costs 2 13,457,213 388 468 28,775

Fishing equipment 9,834,707 283 400 24,577

Auxiliary equipment 3 1,998,388 58 327 6,110

Special equipment 4 10,299,846 297 4,765 2,161

Magazines, books, and DVDs 134,325 4 52 2,587

Membership dues/contributions 196,108 6 70 2,810

Other 5 3,616,397 104 181 19,953

HUNTING 33,744,329 3,186 3,193 10,567

Food and lodging 3,402,783 321 433 7,851

Transportation 2,691,428 254 352 7,653

Other trip costs 2 2,342,477 221 614 3,813

Hunting equipment 8,760,462 827 1,184 7,401

Auxiliary equipment 3 2,111,863 199 441 4,791

Special equipment 4 6,774,160 640 9,267 731

Magazines, books, and DVDs 81,645 8 65 1,260

Membership dues/contributions 208,498 20 132 1,578

Other 5 7,371,012 696 717 10,275

UNSPECIFIED 6 21,939,113 560 4,134 5,307

1 Average expenditures are annual estimates.

2 Includes boating costs, equipment rental, guide fees, access fees, heating and cooking fuel, and ice and bait (for fishing only).

3 Includes sleeping bags, packs, duffel bags, tents, binoculars and field glasses, special fishing and hunting clothing, foul weather gear, boots and waders, maintenance and repair 

of equipment, processing and taxidermy costs, and electronic equipment such as a GPS device.

4 Includes big-ticket items bought primarily for hunting and fishing, including boats, campers, cabins, trail bikes, dune buggies, 4 x 4 vehicles, ATVs, 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, 

pickups, vans, travel and tent trailers, motor homes, house trailers, recreational vehicles (RVs) and other special equipment.

5 Includes land leasing and ownership, licenses, stamps, tags, permits, and plantings (for hunting only).

6 Respondent could not specify whether expenditure was primarily for either fishing or hunting.

NOTE: Individual estimates do not add to total because of multiple responses, nonreponse, the independent bridging of fishing and hunting participation, and the bridging of 

sportspersons participation relative to fishing participation.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 11

Table 28 Wildlife Watchers: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

 PARTICIPANTS

DAYS OF 

PARTICIPATION TRIPS

# %

% 

Pop. # % # %

WILDLIFE WATCHERS 87,990 100 35 7,237,671 100 737,441 100

Away from home 37,791 43 15 1,353,283 19 737,484 100

Observe wildlife 35,341 40 14 1,022,097 14 x x

Photograph wildlife 23,161 26 9 597,938 8 x x

Feed wildlife 12,453 14 5 652,160 9 x x

Around the home 85,278 97 33 5,884,420 81 x x

Observe wildlife 58,426 66 23 4,633,880 64 x x

Photograph wildlife 38,046 43 15 653,665 9 x x

Feed wildlife 58,029 66 23 x x x x

Visit parks or natural areas 1 27,598 31 11 596,888 8 x x

Maintain plantings or natural areas 18,428 21 7 x x x x

x Not applicable 

1 Includes visits only to parks or natural areas within one mile of home.

NOTE: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses. Percent population (% Pop.) columns show the percentage of each row’s population who participated in the 

activity named by the column (the percentage of the population who observed wildlife away from home, etc.). Columns labeled “%” show the percentage of each column’s participants who are described by the row heading (the percentage of wildlife watchers who observed wildlife away from home, etc.).
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 12

Table 30 Wildlife Watchers, by Selected Characteristics: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

POPULATION TOTAL AWAY FROM HOME AROUND THE HOME

Total % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. %

TOTAL 254,686 100 87,990 35 100 37,791 15 100 85,278 33 100

RESIDENCE DENSITY

Urban 208,695 82 69,858 33 79 31,570 15 84 67,330 32 79

Rural 45,991 18 18,132 39 21 6,221 14 16 17,948 39 21

RESIDENCE SIZE

Metropolitan Statistical 

Area (MSA)

232,848 91 79,559 34 90 34,683 15 92 76,895 33 90

1,000,000 or more 145,049 57 47,825 33 54 21,133 15 56 45,962 32 54

250,000 to 999.999 53,233 21 19,109 36 22 8,213 15 22 18,555 35 22

50,000 to 249,999 34,566 14 12,626 37 14 5,337 15 14 12,378 36 15

Outside MSA 21,838 9 8,430 39 10 3,108 14 8 8,383 38 10

SEX

Male 121,775 48 43,039 35 49 18,841 15 50 41,352 34 48

Female 132,911 52 44,950 34 51 18,950 14 50 43,926 33 52

AGE

16 to 17 years 8,541 3 2,438 29 3 756 9 2 2,374 28 3

18 to 24 years 28,351 11 8,626 30 10 4,452 16 12 8,426 30 10

25 to 34 years 43,977 17 14,692 33 17 6,522 15 17 13,959 32 16

35 to 44 years 40,455 16 13,939 34 16 6,657 16 18 13,319 33 16

45 to 54 years 42,969 17 16,805 39 19 8,095 19 21 16,269 38 19

55 to 64 years 42,022 16 15,629 37 18 5,973 14 16 15,220 36 18

65 years and older 48,372 19 15,859 33 18 5,335 11 14 15,710 32 18

65 to 74 years 28,895 11 9,894 34 11 3,696 13 10 9,793 34 11

75 and older 19,477 8 5,967 31 7 1,640 8 4 5,917 30 7

ETHNICITY

Hispanic 42,603 17 12,284 29 14 4,950 12 13 11,737 28 14

Non-Hispanic 212,083 83 75,705 36 86 32,841 15 87 73,541 35 86

RACE

White 193,018 76 69,266 36 79 28,878 15 76 67,184 35 79

African American 31,047 12 8,509 27 10 3,747 12 10 8,095 26 9

All Others 30,621 12 10,214 33 12 5,165 17 14 10,000 33 12

(continued on next page)
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 13

Table 30 Wildlife Watchers, by Selected Characteristics: 2016 (continued) 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

(continued from previous page)

POPULATION TOTAL AWAY FROM HOME AROUND THE HOME

Total % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. %

ANNUAL 

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Less than $20,000 22,269 9 8,053 36 9 3,697 17 10 7,951 36 9

$20,000 to $29,999 17,710 7 6,007 34 7 2,510 14 7 5,906 33 7

$30,000 to $39,999 18,351 7 6,568 36 7 2,790 15 7 6,361 35 7

$40,000 to $49,999 16,174 6 4,493 28 5 2,108 13 6 4,238 26 5

$50,000 to $74,999 36,512 14 12,934 35 15 5,917 16 16 12,481 34 15

$75,000 to $99,999 27,409 11 8,954 33 10 4,211 15 11 8,610 31 10

$100,000 to $149, 999 32,485 13 12,029 37 14 5,183 16 14 11,528 35 14

$150,000 or more 30,217 12 11,770 39 13 5,766 19 15 11,368 38 13

Not reported 53,559 21 17,183 32 20 5,607 10 15 16,833 31 20

EDUCATION

8 years or less 9,643 4 2,525 26 3 893 9 2 2,526 26 3

9 to 12 years 73,021 29 23,598 32 27 8,807 12 23 22,681 31 27

1 to 3 years of college 73,827 29 25,526 35 29 11,805 16 31 24,479 33 29

4 years or more 

of college

98,195 39 36,340 37 41 16,285 17 43 35,592 36 42

NOTE: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses and nonresponse. Percent population (% Pop.) columns show the percentage of each row’s population who 

participated in the activity named by the column (the percentage of the population living in urban areas who participated, etc.). Columns labeled “%”under TOTAL, Away From 

Home, and Around the Home show the percentage of each column’s participants who are described by the row heading (the percentage of those who lived in urban areas, etc.).
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 14

Table 33A Expenditures for All Wildlife Watching: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

AMOUNT

(thousands of $)

AVERAGE PER 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHER

($) 1

AVERAGE PER 

SPENDER

($) 1

NUMBER OF 

SPENDERS

(thousands)

PERCENT OF 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHERS

ALL EXPENDITURES 133,858,542 1,521 1,949 68,680 78

TRIP-RELATED EXPENDITURES 49,537,603 563 1,477 33,531 38

Food and lodging 25,862,248 294 856 30,215 34

Food 13,716,871 156 458 29,938 34

Lodging 12,145,465 138 814 14,919 17

Transportation 16,524,354 188 530 31,159 35

Other trip costs 2 7,150,913 81 389 18,396 21

EQUIPMENT AND OTHER EXPENDITURES 84,320,939 958 1,340 62,941 72

Wildlife-watching equipment 19,552,076 222 342 57,181 65

Binoculars, spotting scopes 1,764,103 20 178 9,901 11

Film and photo processing 596,217 7 102 5,864 7

Cameras, special lenses, video cameras, and 

other photographic equipment, including 

memory cards

4,701,107 53 356 13,220 15

Day packs, carrying cases, and special clothing 3,365,337 38 207 16,286 19

Bird food 5,136,040 58 132 38,995 44

Food for other wildlife 1,726,355 20 113 15,239 17

Nest boxes, bird houses, bird feeders, 

and bird baths

1,958,648 22 79 24,749 28

Other equipment (including field guides) 304,268 3 41 7,346 8

Auxiliary equipment 3 4,633,619 53 335 13,816 16

Special equipment 4 37,126,146 422 5,405 6,869 8

Magazines, books, and DVDs 660,362 8 67 9,897 11

Membership dues and contributions 1,595,163 18 109 14,641 17

Land leasing and ownership 18,016,570 205 4,899 3,677 4

Plantings 2,737,004 31 239 11,452 13

1 Average expenditures are annual estimates.

2 Includes equipment rental and fees for guides, pack trips, public land use and private land use, boat fuel, other boating costs, and heating and cooking fuel.

3 Includes tents, tarps, frame packs and other backpacking equipment, other camping equipment, and other auxiliary equipment.

4 Includes boats, campers, cabins, trail bikes, dune buggies, 4 x 4 vehicles, ATVs, 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, pickups, vans, travel and tent trailers, motor homes, house trailers, 

recreational vehicles (RVs) and other special equipment.

NOTE: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses and nonresponse.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 15

Table 33B Expenditures for Away-from-home Wildlife Watching: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

AMOUNT

(thousands of $)

AVERAGE PER 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHER

($) 1

AVERAGE PER 

SPENDER

($) 1

NUMBER OF 

SPENDERS

(thousands)

PERCENT OF 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHERS

ALL EXPENDITURES 85,560,208 2,264 2,502 34,198 90

TRIP-RELATED EXPENDITURES 54,335,424 1,438 1,633 33,273 88

Food and lodging 30,558,912 809 966 31,643 84

Food 15,024,728 398 484 31,049 82

Lodging 15,534,222 411 828 18,762 50

Transportation 17,207,969 455 556 30,950 82

Other trip costs 2 6,568,543 174 402 16,324 43

EQUIPMENT AND OTHER EXPENDITURES 31,224,783 826 2,181 14,318 38

Wildlife-watching equipment 3,035,382 80 287 10,563 28

Binoculars, spotting scopes 369,933 10 201 1,840 5

Film and photo processing 93,078 2 98 946 3

Cameras, special lenses, video cameras, and 

other photographic equipment, including 

memory cards

815,333 22 293 2,780 7

Day packs, carrying cases, and special clothing 591,197 16 214 2,767 7

Bird food 468,793 12 126 3,719 10

Food for other wildlife 317,290 8 88 3,614 10

Nest boxes, bird houses, bird feeders, 

and bird baths

197,456 5 97 2,040 5

Other equipment (including field guides) 182,302 5 49 3,704 10

Auxiliary equipment 3 852,103 23 218 3,909 10

Special equipment 4 10,231,665 271 9,703 1,054 3

Magazines, books, and DVDs 253,424 7 83 3,038 8

Membership dues and contributions 503,182 13 101 4,993 13

Land leasing and ownership 16,348,988 433 9,951 1,643 4

Plantings — — — — —

— No sample data 

1 Average expenditures are annual estimates.

2 Includes equipment rental and fees for guides, pack trips, public land use and private land use, boat fuel, other boating costs, and heating and cooking fuel.

3 Includes tents, tarps, frame packs and other backpacking equipment, other camping equipment, and other auxiliary equipment.

4 Includes boats, campers, cabins, trail bikes, dune buggies, 4 x 4 vehicles, ATVs, 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, pickups, vans, travel and tent trailers, motor homes, house trailers, 

recreational vehicles (RVs) and other special equipment.

NOTE: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses and nonresponse.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 16

Table 33C Expenditures for Around-the-home Wildlife Watching: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

AMOUNT

(thousands of $)

AVERAGE PER 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHER

($) 1

AVERAGE PER 

SPENDER

($) 1

NUMBER OF 

SPENDERS

(thousands)

PERCENT OF 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHERS

ALL EXPENDITURES 39,620,804 465 734 54,011 63

TRIP-RELATED EXPENDITURES x x x x x

Food and lodging x x x x x

Food x x x x x

Lodging x x x x x

Transportation x x x x x

Other trip costs 2 x x x x x

EQUIPMENT AND OTHER EXPENDITURES 39,620,804 465 734 54,011 63

Wildlife-watching equipment 10,046,826 118 207 48,626 57

Binoculars, spotting scopes 586,114 7 116 5,057 6

Film and photo processing 208,589 2 91 2,300 3

Cameras, special lenses, video cameras, and 

other photographic equipment, including 

memory cards

1,870,482 22 348 5,367 6

Day packs, carrying cases, and special clothing 1,098,804 13 151 7,290 9

Bird food 4,026,474 47 113 35,697 42

Food for other wildlife 861,987 10 91 9,490 11

Nest boxes, bird houses, bird feeders, 

and bird baths

1,328,030 16 64 20,816 24

Other equipment (including field guides) 66,431 1 33 2,012 2

Auxiliary equipment 3 1,353,784 16 234 5,778 7

Special equipment 4 20,033,446 235 6,068 3,302 4

Magazines, books, and DVDs 186,929 2 47 3,984 5

Membership dues and contributions 569,996 7 80 7,151 8

Land leasing and ownership 5,634,726 66 4,826 1,167 1

Plantings 1,795,096 21 264 6,808 8

— No sample data x Not applicable 

1 Average expenditures are annual estimates.

2 Includes equipment rental and fees for guides, pack trips, public land use and private land use, boat fuel, other boating costs, and heating and cooking fuel.

3 Includes tents, tarps, frame packs and other backpacking equipment, other camping equipment, and other auxiliary equipment.

4 Includes boats, campers, cabins, trail bikes, dune buggies, 4 x 4 vehicles, ATVs, 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, pickups, vans, travel and tent trailers, motor homes, house trailers, 

recreational vehicles (RVs) and other special equipment.

NOTE: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses and nonresponse.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 17

Table 35 Wildlife Watchers Participating in Fishing or Hunting: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

TOTAL AWAY FROM HOME AROUND THE HOME

# % # % # %

ALL WILDLIFE WATCHERS 87,990 100 37,791 100 85,278 100

Did not fish or hunt 59,334 67 22,495 60 57,603 68

Fished or hunted 28,656 33 15,296 40 27,674 32

Fished 25,603 29 13,583 36 25,021 29

Hunted 11,311 13 6,976 18 10,731 13

NOTE: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses and nonresponse.
National // Appendix A: Point Estimates // 18

Table 36 Sportspersons Participating in Wildlife Watching: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

SPORTSPERSONS ANGLERS HUNTERS

# % # % # %

ALL SPORTSPERSONS 39,174 100 34,709 100 10,592 100

Did not watch wildlife 11,220 29 9,879 28 2,663 25

Watched wildlife 27,873 71 24,752 71 7,917 75

Away from home 16,630 42 14,785 43 5,171 49

Around the home 25,813 66 22,997 66 7,222 68

NOTE: Detail does not add to total because of multiple responses and nonresponse.
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 19

APPENDIX B: STANDARD ERRORS

The tables in Appendix B depict the standard errors, subject 

to rounding error, corresponding to the calibrated point 

estimates reported in the tables in Appendix A. Summary 

statistics reported in these calibrated tables are described 

below, by table.

Table 5

Fishing and hunting, participation, days, and trips

• Standard errors of total fishing participation and total 

hunting participation: product-type statistics derived using 

model point estimates and standard errors of percent 

participation in the population and survey point estimates 

and standard errors of total population based on adjusted 

50-State Survey of FHWAR weights.

• Standard errors of total freshwater, freshwater except Great 

Lakes, Great Lakes, and saltwater fishing participation, 

total big game, small game, migratory birds, and other 

animals hunting participation: product-type statistics 

derived using point estimates and standard errors of 

total fishing participation, point estimates and standard 

errors of total hunting participation, point estimates and 

standard errors of percent participation of freshwater, 

freshwater except Great Lakes, Great Lakes, and saltwater 

fishing in all fishing, and point estimates and standard 

errors of percent participation of big game, small game, 

migratory birds, and other animals hunting in all hunting 

(columns denoted by %).

• Standard errors of total fishing (all and subcategories) 

days/trips of participation and total hunting (all and 

subcategories) days/trips of participation: product-type 

statistics derived using point estimates and standard 

errors of total number of fishing (all and subcategories) 

participants, point estimates and standard errors of total 

number of hunting (all and subcategories) participants, 

and point estimates and standard errors of days/trips 

per participant (not displayed).

• Standard errors of percent participation (columns denoted 

by %): statistics constructed using full adjusted 50-State 

Survey of FHWAR final and replicate weights, using data 

from the fishing or hunting survey for the fishing and 

hunting sections, respectively.

Table 15

Fishing and hunting, demographics

• Standard errors of total population (all and subcategories): 

composite statistics constructed using 2-way composite 

factors to adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR final and 

replicate weights, using data from both the fishing and 

the hunting surveys.

• Standard errors of total number of anglers and total 

number of hunters: product-type statistics derived using 

model point estimates and standard errors for percent 

participation in the population (columns denoted by 

% Pop.) and survey point estimates and standard errors 

of total population based on adjusted 50-State Survey 

of FHWAR final and replicate weights.

• Standard errors of total number of sportspersons: ratio-type 

statistics derived using point estimates and standard errors 

of total number of anglers and point estimates and standard 

errors of percent anglers in sportspersons (not displayed).

• Standard errors of total population, sportspersons, anglers, 

hunters, by demographics: product-type statistics, derived 

using point estimates and standard errors of total population, 

sportspersons, anglers, hunters participation, and point 

estimates and standard errors of percent demographicspecific participation in total participation (columns 

denoted by %).
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 20

• Standard errors of percent demographic-specific population, 

sportspersons, anglers, hunters participation in total 

participation (columns denoted by %): composite statistics 

constructed using 2-way composite factors to adjusted 

50-State Survey of FHWAR final and replicate weights, 

using data from the fishing and hunting surveys.

• Standard errors of percent demographic-specific anglers 

and hunters participation in the total demographic-specific 

population (columns denoted by % Pop.): ratio-type 

statistics, derived using point estimates and standard 

errors of total demographic-specific anglers and hunters 

participation and total demographic-specific population.

• Standard errors of percent total and demographicspecific sportspersons participation in the total and 

demographic-specif­ic population (column denoted 

by % Pop.): ratio-type statistics, derived using point 

estimates and standard errors of total population 

and sportspersons participation.

Table 22

Fishing and hunting, spenders and expenses

• Standard errors of total fishing and hunting expenditure 

(all and subcategories) amount, total fishing expenditure 

(all and subcategories) amount, total hunting expenditure 

(all and subcategories) amount, and total unspecified 

expenditure amount: product-type statistics derived 

using point estimates and standard errors of expenditure 

amount per participant (columns denoted by Average Per 

Sportsperson), and point estimates and standard errors 

of total sportspersons participation (all and subcategories), 

point estimates and standard errors of total anglers 

participation (all and subcategories), point estimates and 

standard errors of total hunters participation (all and 

subcategories) and point estimates and standard errors 

of total sportspersons participation, respectively.

• Standard errors of expenditure amount per participant 

(columns denoted by Average Per Sportsperson) and 

expenditure amount per spender (columns denoted by 

Average Per Spender):

> Fishing section: statistics constructed using full adjusted 

50-State Survey of FHWAR final and replicate weights, 

using data from the fishing survey only.

> Hunting section: statistics constructed using full adjusted 

50-State Survey of FHWAR final and replicate weights, 

using data from the hunting survey only.

> Fishing and hunting, and unspecified sections: except 

for some expenses and spenders noted in the table 

footnotes, these are composite statistics constructed 

using 2-way composite factors to adjusted 50-State 

Survey of FHWAR final and replicate weights, using 

data from the fishing and hunting surveys.

• Standard errors of total fishing and hunting (all and 

subcategories) number of spenders, total fishing (all and 

subcategories) number of spenders, total hunting (all and 

subcategories) number of spenders, and total unspecified 

number of spenders: product-type statistics derived using 

the point estimates and standard errors of percent spenders 

in total participation (not displayed), and point estimates 

and standard errors of total sportspersons participation 

(all and subcategories), point estimates and standard errors 

of total anglers participation (all and subcategories), point 

estimates and standard errors of total hunters participation 

(all and subcategories) and point estimates and standard 

errors of total sportspersons participation, respectively.

Table 28

Wildlife watching, participation, days, and trips

• Standard errors of total wildlife watching participation: 

product-type statistics derived using model point estimates 

and standard errors of percent participation in the population, 

and survey point estimates and standard errors of total 

population based on adjusted 50-State Survey of 

FHWAR final and replicate weights.

• Standard errors of total away from home (all and subcategories) and around the home (all and subcategories) 

wildlife watching participation: product-type statistics 

derived using point estimates and standard errors of 

total wildlife watching participation, point estimates and 

standard errors of percent participation of away from home 

(all and subcategories) and point estimates and standard 

errors of around the home (all and subcategories) wildlife 

watching in all wildlife watching (columns denoted by %).
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 21

• Standard errors of total wildlife watching (all and subcategories) days/trips of participation: product-type 

statistics derived using point estimates and standard errors 

of total number of wildlife watching (all and subcategories) 

participants and point estimates and standard errors of 

days/trips per participant (not displayed).

• Standard errors of percent participation (columns denoted 

by %): statistics constructed using full adjusted 50-State 

Survey of FHWAR final and replicate weights, using data 

from the wildlife watching survey.

• Standard errors of percent participation in the total 

population (column denoted by % Pop.): ratio-type 

statistics, derived using point estimates and standard 

errors of total population from Table 30 and point estimates 

and standard errors of wildlife watching participation.

Table 30

Wildlife watching, demographics

• Standard errors of total population (all and subcategories): 

composite statistics constructed using full adjusted 

50-State Survey of FHWAR final and replicate weights, 

using data from the wildlife watching survey. Note that the 

standard errors of total population estimates in Tables 15 

and 30 differ due to demographic harmonization without 

state targets estimated from the National Survey of FHWAR 

(information not available); see Rockville Institute (2020) 

for more details about the demographic harmonization.

• Standard errors of total number of wildlife watchers: 

product-type statistics derived using model point 

estimates and standard errors of percent participation in 

the population (columns denoted by % Pop.) and survey 

standard error of total population based on adjusted 

50-State Survey of FHWAR final and replicate weights.

• Standard errors of total number of away from home or 

around the home wildlife watchers: product-type statistics 

derived using point estimates and standard errors of 

total number of wildlife watchers and point estimates and 

standard errors of percent away from home or around the 

home wildlife watchers in all wildlife watchers (columns 

denoted by % Pop. in Table 35).

• Standard errors of total population, wildlife watchers, 

away from home, around the home, by demographics: 

product-type statistics, derived using point estimates 

and standard errors of total population, wildlife watchers, 

away from home, around the home participation and point 

estimates and standard errors of percent demographicspecific participation in total participation (columns 

denoted by %).

• Standard errors of percent demographic-specific population, 

wildlife watchers, away from home, around the home 

participation in total participation (columns denoted 

by %): composite statistics constructed using full adjusted 

50-State Survey of FHWAR final and replicate weights, 

using data from the wildlife watching survey.

• Standard errors of percent demographic-specific wildlife 

watchers in the total demographic-specific population 

(column denoted by % Pop.): ratio-type statistics, derived 

using point estimates and standard errors of total 

demographic-specific wildlife watchers participation 

and point estimates and standard errors of total 

demographic-specific population.

• Standard errors of percent total and demographic-specific 

away from home and around the home participation in 

the total and demographic-specif­ic population (columns 

denoted by % Pop.): ratio-type statistics, derived using point 

estimates and standard errors of total population and away 

from home and around the home participation, respectively.

Table 33

Wildlife watching, spenders and expenditures — three 

versions for all wildlife watchers, away from home wildlife 

watchers, and around the home wildlife watchers

• Standard errors of total wildlife watching expenditure (all 

and subcategories) amount: product-type statistics derived 

using point estimates and standard errors of total number 

of wildlife watching (all and subcategories) participants 

and point estimates and standard errors of expenditure 

amount per participant (columns denoted by Average 

Per Wildlife Watcher).
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 22

• Standard errors or expenditure amount per participant 

(columns denoted by Average Per Wildlife Watcher) 

and expenditure amount per spender (columns denoted 

by Average Per Spender): statistics constructed using 

full adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR final and replicate 

weights, using data from the wildlife watching 

survey only.

• Standard errors of total wildlife watching (all and 

subcategories) number of spenders: product-type 

statistics derived using point estimates and standard 

errors of total number of wildlife watching (all and 

subcategories) participants and point estimates and 

standard errors of the percent spenders in total 

participation (columns denoted by Percent of 

Wildlife Watchers).

• Standard errors of percent spenders in total participation 

(columns denoted by Percent of Wildlife Watchers): 

statistics constructed using full adjusted 50-State Survey 

of FHWAR final and replicate weights, using data from 

the wildlife watching survey only.

Table 35

Wildlife watchers participating in fishing and hunting

• Standard errors of total number of wildlife watchers: 

product-type statistics derived using model point estimates 

and standard errors of percent participation in the population 

(columns denoted by % Pop. in Table 30) and survey point 

estimates and standard errors of total population based 

on adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR final and replicate 

weights (displayed in Table 30).

• Standard errors of total number of away from home or 

around the home wildlife watchers: product-type statistics 

derived using point estimates and standard errors of total 

number of wildlife watchers and point estimates and 

standard errors of percent away from home or around 

the home wildlife watchers in all wildlife watchers 

(columns not displayed).

• Standard errors of total number of wildlife watchers, 

away from home, around the home who did not fish 

or hunt, fished or hunted, fished, hunted: product-type 

statistics, derived using point estimates and standard 

errors of total number of wildlife watchers and point 

estimates and standard errors of percent sportspersonspecific category in the corresponding total participation 

(columns denoted by %).

• Standard errors or percent sportsperson-specific category 

in the corresponding total participation (columns denoted 

by %): statistics constructed using full adjusted 50-State 

Survey of FHWAR final and replicate weights, using data 

from the wildlife watching survey.

Table 36

Sportspersons participating in wildlife watching

• Standard errors of total number of sportspersons: ratio-type 

statistics derived using point estimates and standard errors 

of total number of anglers and point estimates and standard 

errors of percent anglers in sportspersons (not displayed).

• Standard errors of total number of anglers or total number 

of hunters: product-type statistics derived using model 

point estimates and standard errors of percent participation 

in the population (columns denoted by % Pop. in Table 15) 

and survey point estimates and standard errors of total 

population based on adjusted 50-State Survey of FHWAR 

weights (displayed in Table 15).

• Standard errors of total number of sportspersons, anglers, 

or hunters who did not wildlife watch, wildlife watch, 

wildlife watch away from home, wildlife watch around the 

home: product-type statistics, derived using point estimates 

and standard errors of total number of sportspersons, 

anglers, or hunters and point estimates and standard 

errors of percent wildlife watcher-specific category in the 

corresponding total participation (columns denoted by %).

• Standard errors of percent wildlife watcher-specific 

category in the corresponding total participation (columns 

denoted by %): composite statistics constructed using 

3-way composite factors to adjusted 50-State Survey of 

FHWAR final and replicate weights, using data from the 

fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching surveys.
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 23

Table 5 SE Standard Errors of Anglers and Hunters, Days of Participation and Trips in the United States, 

by Type of Fishing and Hunting: 2016 

(Population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

 PARTICIPANTS DAYS OF PARTICIPATION TRIPS

# % # % # %

ALL FISHING 1,926.38 0.00 49,743.60 0.00 30,722.20 0.00

All freshwater 1,722.31 1.74 45,724.29 2.41 27,787.19 3.30

Freshwater, except Great Lakes 1,696.98 1.74 44,039.80 2.37 27,081.54 3.22

Great Lakes 343.75 0.94 5,108.65 0.66 2,366.70 0.45

Saltwater 1,226.96 3.04 15,356.97 2.41 12,562.51 3.30

ALL HUNTING 749.39 0.00 20,770.53 0.00 16,758.44 0.00

Big game 638.69 2.22 13,805.33 3.29 9,624.71 2.95

Small game 415.01 2.68 6,643.83 2.00 5,151.42 2.12

Migratory birds 278.27 2.17 7,598.04 3.06 3,803.55 1.80

Other animals 273.18 2.17 5,632.06 2.00 3,666.68 1.50
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 24

Table 15 SE Standard Errors of Anglers and Hunters, by Selected Characteristics: 2016

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

POPULATION SPORTSPERSONS ANGLERS HUNTERS

Total % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. %

TOTAL 264.67 0.00 2,201.54 0.86 0.00 1,926.38 0.76 0.00 749.39 0.29 0.00

RESIDENCE DENSITY

Urban 2,664.18 1.02 1,731.10 0.85 2.02 1,561.31 0.76 2.02 557.20 0.27 3.38

Rural 2,597.92 1.02 1,032.12 2.67 2.02 878.16 2.24 2.02 481.08 1.19 3.38

RESIDENCE SIZE

Metropolitan Statistical 

Area (MSA)

1,149.10 0.43 1,958.29 0.84 0.88 1,733.78 0.74 0.91 636.53 0.27 1.63

1,000,000 or more 2,565.91 1.00 1,275.91 0.91 1.93 1,167.15 0.83 2.07 465.90 0.33 3.44

250,000 to 999,999 1,973.88 0.77 730.69 1.49 1.38 703.44 1.43 1.58 258.35 0.51 1.98

50,000 to 249,999 1,770.76 0.70 642.56 1.99 1.27 583.56 1.78 1.37 277.60 0.82 2.07

Outside MSA 1,080.07 0.43 438.69 2.63 0.88 384.08 2.26 0.91 219.33 1.24 1.63

SEX

Male 1,074.38 0.43 1,517.09 1.26 1.72 1,342.19 1.11 1.89 607.08 0.50 2.46

Female 1,111.97 0.43 1,076.61 0.82 1.72 1,000.84 0.76 1.89 328.06 0.25 2.46

AGE

16 to 17 years 562.44 0.22 294.51 3.74 0.70 282.65 3.55 0.77 73.09 0.89 0.66

18 to 24 years 1,093.92 0.43 597.12 2.18 1.41 579.80 2.11 1.57 318.69 1.14 2.86

25 to 34 years 1,367.49 0.54 885.49 2.08 1.98 840.74 1.97 2.16 422.61 0.97 3.73

35 to 44 years 1,724.85 0.68 700.49 1.90 1.45 660.54 1.78 1.57 227.32 0.59 1.79

45 to 54 years 1,159.18 0.45 617.71 1.50 1.26 553.30 1.34 1.32 209.44 0.50 1.58

55 to 64 years 1,253.15 0.49 526.70 1.33 1.02 470.82 1.18 1.06 187.09 0.46 1.41

65 years and older 1,367.12 0.53 506.69 1.10 1.03 456.08 0.98 1.07 191.05 0.40 1.49

65 to 74 years 1,024.10 0.40 381.33 1.39 0.82 350.51 1.28 0.87 141.26 0.50 1.15

75 and older 806.17 0.31 264.15 1.41 0.62 242.06 1.29 0.65 114.76 0.60 1.03

ETHNICITY

Hispanic 2,111.76 0.83 782.56 1.90 1.91 780.02 1.89 2.15 416.86 0.99 3.88

Non-Hispanic 2,074.14 0.83 2,100.52 1.00 1.91 1,856.56 0.89 2.15 786.40 0.37 3.88

RACE

White 2,793.03 1.10 1,968.31 1.06 1.88 1,732.37 0.93 2.08 764.03 0.41 3.75

African American 1,648.34 0.65 428.18 1.48 1.01 415.11 1.43 1.11 115.36 0.38 1.06

All Others 2,318.92 0.91 672.95 2.20 1.63 658.84 2.14 1.81 402.27 1.24 3.75

(continued on next page)
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 25

Table 15 SE Standard Errors of Anglers and Hunters, by Selected Characteristics: 2016 (continued) 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

(continued from previous page)

POPULATION SPORTSPERSONS ANGLERS HUNTERS

Total % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. %

ANNUAL 

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Less than $20,000 1,395.56 0.55 368.48 1.80 0.87 336.82 1.64 0.90 120.74 0.57 1.06

$20,000 to $29,999 1,097.21 0.43 286.96 1.73 0.69 242.87 1.47 0.66 114.92 0.66 1.05

$30,000 to $39,999 1,216.02 0.48 533.07 3.13 1.28 531.08 3.07 1.46 366.33 2.03 3.41

$40,000 to $49,999 1,267.44 0.50 365.67 2.57 0.86 342.20 2.38 0.92 109.48 0.75 0.93

$50,000 to $74,999 1,510.48 0.59 572.47 1.71 1.19 539.54 1.60 1.30 209.79 0.60 1.65

$75,000 to $99,999 1,401.04 0.55 477.16 1.92 1.05 446.14 1.77 1.14 166.40 0.65 1.32

$100,000 to $149, 999 1,090.03 0.43 628.74 2.03 1.37 585.12 1.88 1.47 292.21 0.92 2.53

$150,000 or more 1,711.41 0.67 701.07 2.62 1.53 674.01 2.50 1.69 262.90 0.92 2.26

Not reported 1,972.58 0.77 685.33 1.36 1.48 597.60 1.18 1.47 272.10 0.52 2.29

EDUCATION

8 years or less 1,146.59 0.45 196.33 2.50 0.49 194.20 2.43 0.55 38.67 0.49 0.35

9 to 12 years 2,732.77 1.07 890.25 1.34 1.57 803.02 1.20 1.70 313.34 0.45 2.13

1 to 3 years of college 2,699.87 1.06 941.46 1.44 1.67 866.17 1.31 1.84 451.84 0.65 3.39

4 years or more 

of college

2,413.39 0.94 1,077.62 1.14 1.76 1,012.47 1.07 1.96 374.70 0.39 2.69

NOTE: Percent population (% Pop.) columns show the percentage of each row’s population who participated in the activity named by the column (the percentage of the population living in urban areas who fished, etc.). Columns labeled “%”under Sportspersons, Anglers, and Hunters show the percentage of each column’s participants who are described 

by the row heading (the percentage of anglers who lived in urban areas, etc.).
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 26

Table 22 SE Standard Errors of Expenditures for Fishing and Hunting: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

AMOUNT

(thousands of $)

AVERAGE PER 

SPORTSPERSON

($) 1

AVERAGE PER 

SPENDER

($) 1

NUMBER OF

SPENDERS

(thousands)

FISHING AND HUNTING 10,874,719.89 212.35 220.83 2,254.57

Food and lodging 1,825,466.15 39.03 51.88 1,841.35

Transportation 1,032,640.87 21.27 27.22 1,846.23

Other trip costs 2 2,425,401.22 57.76 82.62 1,787.83

Equipment (fishing, hunting) 1,690,352.61 30.86 43.96 1,763.74

Auxiliary equipment 3 1,438,379.01 35.23 101.35 1,017.06

Special equipment 4 4,928,939.16 113.62 798.66 436.35

Magazines, books, and DVDs 32,109.75 0.73 5.51 434.96

Membership dues/contributions 70,812.84 1.58 9.03 663.14

Other 5 1,709,465.53 39.31 60.79 1,684.95

FISHING 6,304,257.72 152.93 157.92 1,865.43

Food and lodging 1,731,867.28 44.50 55.14 1,603.43

Transportation 899,801.19 22.78 28.12 1,607.32

Other trip costs 2 2,430,598.14 66.74 78.77 1,681.68

Fishing equipment 906,437.13 20.88 28.70 1,510.60

Auxiliary equipment 3 324,307.90 8.79 45.97 733.58

Special equipment 4 1,869,954.23 51.37 938.01 339.68

Magazines, books, and DVDs 25,001.37 0.69 5.24 353.14

Membership dues/contributions 26,074.45 0.68 6.37 408.68

Other 5 781,522.56 21.79 39.18 1,414.84

HUNTING 3,493,890.07 241.44 242.21 747.79

Food and lodging 383,945.65 28.31 35.51 603.96

Transportation 289,745.61 20.67 26.48 598.90

Other trip costs 2 367,210.10 31.01 77.09 369.94

Hunting equipment 918,600.81 64.17 76.42 597.18

Auxiliary equipment 3 240,144.98 17.79 28.91 427.87

Special equipment 4 1,520,430.25 136.57 1,610.69 119.73

Magazines, books, and DVDs 13,161.49 1.12 7.33 167.65

Membership dues/contributions 36,485.61 3.16 17.87 195.15

Other 5 1,053,895.71 86.68 89.14 730.69

UNSPECIFIED 6 3,746,174.21 90.44 629.17 609.48

1 Average expenditures are annual estimates.

2 Includes boating costs, equipment rental, guide fees, access fees, heating and cooking fuel, and ice and bait (for fishing only).

3 Includes sleeping bags, packs, duffel bags, tents, binoculars and field glasses, special fishing and hunting clothing, foul weather gear, boots and waders, maintenance and repair 

of equipment, processing and taxidermy costs, and electronic equipment such as a GPS device.

4 Includes big-ticket items bought primarily for hunting and fishing, including boats, campers, cabins, trail bikes, dune buggies, 4 x 4 vehicles, ATVs, 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, 

pickups, vans, travel and tent trailers, motor homes, house trailers, recreational vehicles (RVs) and other special equipment.

5 Includes land leasing and ownership, licenses, stamps, tags, permits, and plantings (for hunting only).

6 Respondent could not specify whether expenditure was primarily for either fishing or hunting.
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 27

Table 28 SE Standard Errors of Wildlife Watchers: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

 PARTICIPANTS

DAYS OF 

PARTICIPATION TRIPS

# %

% 

Pop. # % # %

WILDLIFE WATCHERS 3,615.12 0.00 1.42 703,897.64 0.00 268,974.36 0.00

Away from home 2,069.90 1.56 0.81 279,175.90 2.73 266,947.14 0.00

Observe wildlife 2,001.55 1.57 0.79 220,021.75 2.29 x x

Photograph wildlife 1,609.85 1.48 0.63 205,827.43 2.43 x x

Feed wildlife 1,075.47 1.08 0.42 269,492.83 3.32 x x

Around the home 3,533.52 0.52 1.39 485,252.02 2.73 x x

Observe wildlife 2,773.41 1.58 1.09 409,719.37 3.00 x x

Photograph wildlife 2,043.41 1.50 0.80 61,527.44 0.66 x x

Feed wildlife 2,771.78 1.61 1.09 x x x x

Visit parks or natural areas 1 1,694.95 1.43 0.67 68,507.02 0.74 x x

Maintain plantings or natural areas 1,427.85 1.38 0.56 x x x x

x Not applicable 

1 Includes visits only to parks or natural areas within one mile of home.

NOTE: Percent population (% Pop.) columns show the percentage of each row’s population who participated in the activity named by the column (the percentage of the 

population who observed wildlife away from home, etc.). Columns labeled “%” show the percentage of each column’s participants who are described by the row heading (the 

percentage of wildlife watchers who observed wildlife away from home, etc.).
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 28

Table 30 SE Standard Errors of Wildlife Watchers, by Selected Characteristics: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

POPULATION TOTAL AWAY FROM HOME AROUND THE HOME

Total % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. %

TOTAL 264.67 0.00 3,615.12 1.42 0.00 2,069.72 0.81 0.00 3,533.55 1.39 0.00

RESIDENCE DENSITY

Urban 2,664.18 1.02 3,070.00 1.53 1.24 1,835.31 0.90 1.63 2,987.70 1.49 1.25

Rural 2,597.93 1.02 1,319.87 3.63 1.24 703.56 1.71 1.63 1,302.28 3.59 1.25

RESIDENCE SIZE

Metropolitan Statistical 

Area (MSA)

1,784.68 0.68 3,365.14 1.47 0.91 1,943.42 0.84 1.09 3,284.93 1.43 0.94

1,000,000 or more 3,225.61 1.26 2,473.53 1.86 1.71 1,467.82 1.06 2.39 2,415.55 1.81 1.74

250,000 to 999.999 2,579.88 1.01 1,467.01 3.26 1.41 896.56 1.84 2.06 1,446.20 3.20 1.44

50,000 to 249,999 1,832.56 0.72 965.47 3.40 0.93 577.06 1.86 1.32 966.12 3.38 0.96

Outside MSA 1,733.13 0.68 871.39 5.03 0.91 444.56 2.33 1.09 871.51 5.02 0.94

SEX

Male 1,074.38 0.43 1,977.97 1.65 1.01 1,250.97 1.04 1.87 1,936.72 1.62 1.06

Female 1,111.97 0.43 2,048.47 1.57 1.01 1,255.93 0.95 1.87 2,031.67 1.55 1.06

AGE

16 to 17 years 562.44 0.22 468.01 5.79 0.52 223.81 2.68 0.58 463.76 5.73 0.53

18 to 24 years 1,093.92 0.43 911.33 3.42 0.96 661.68 2.41 1.63 910.02 3.41 0.99

25 to 34 years 1,367.49 0.54 1,098.33 2.70 1.04 780.71 1.83 1.84 1,081.99 2.65 1.07

35 to 44 years 1,724.85 0.68 1,094.19 3.08 1.06 812.01 2.13 1.92 1,075.42 3.01 1.08

45 to 54 years 1,159.18 0.45 955.57 2.46 0.75 791.70 1.91 1.74 946.77 2.43 0.78

55 to 64 years 1,253.15 0.49 985.40 2.59 0.85 558.97 1.40 1.20 985.82 2.58 0.89

65 years and older 1,367.12 0.53 980.84 2.23 0.83 552.93 1.18 1.24 980.33 2.22 0.86

65 to 74 years 1,024.10 0.40 677.98 2.64 0.62 407.17 1.48 0.94 680.14 2.64 0.64

75 and older 806.17 0.31 518.43 2.95 0.52 248.83 1.32 0.62 515.50 2.93 0.53

ETHNICITY

Hispanic 2,111.76 0.83 1,242.47 3.25 1.29 774.82 1.91 1.92 1,228.94 3.19 1.32

Non-Hispanic 2,074.14 0.83 3,311.15 1.60 1.29 1,939.57 0.93 1.92 3,249.52 1.57 1.32

RACE

White 2,775.63 1.09 3,107.57 1.69 1.42 1,779.94 0.95 2.16 3,055.71 1.66 1.48

African American 1,616.20 0.63 921.50 3.29 0.97 709.97 2.37 1.80 920.76 3.26 1.01

All Others 2,336.46 0.92 1,110.59 4.43 1.17 695.62 2.61 1.68 1,110.17 4.40 1.21

(continued on next page)
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 29

Table 30 SE Standard Errors of Wildlife Watchers, by Selected Characteristics: 2016 (continued) 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

(continued from previous page)

POPULATION TOTAL AWAY FROM HOME AROUND THE HOME

Total % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. % Total

% 

Pop. %

ANNUAL 

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Less than $20,000 1,395.56 0.55 820.62 4.33 0.85 577.40 2.79 1.43 817.59 4.30 0.88

$20,000 to $29,999 1,097.21 0.43 589.31 3.94 0.61 452.20 2.70 1.14 573.71 3.84 0.61

$30,000 to $39,999 1,216.02 0.48 718.38 4.58 0.76 488.57 2.85 1.23 715.11 4.52 0.78

$40,000 to $49,999 1,267.44 0.50 602.87 4.32 0.65 354.55 2.42 0.89 577.51 4.12 0.65

$50,000 to $74,999 1,510.48 0.59 896.08 2.86 0.82 646.75 1.89 1.48 870.70 2.77 0.82

$75,000 to $99,999 1,401.04 0.55 758.81 3.23 0.75 540.89 2.12 1.30 756.34 3.19 0.78

$100,000 to $149, 999 1,090.03 0.43 823.60 2.82 0.75 559.66 1.80 1.28 809.89 2.76 0.77

$150,000 or more 1,711.41 0.67 910.43 3.73 0.88 742.34 2.68 1.78 896.54 3.65 0.90

Not reported 1,972.58 0.77 1,298.77 2.70 1.24 834.35 1.60 2.06 1,278.40 2.65 1.26

EDUCATION

8 years or less 1,865.32 0.73 523.20 7.42 0.58 412.10 4.63 1.08 523.83 7.43 0.60

9 to 12 years 3,210.31 1.26 1,488.31 2.48 1.28 828.93 1.25 1.79 1,465.15 2.43 1.32

1 to 3 years of college 3,263.61 1.29 1,637.73 2.69 1.43 1,096.49 1.64 2.35 1,598.10 2.61 1.45

4 years or more 

of college

3,326.21 1.30 2,020.05 2.41 1.55 1,254.08 1.40 2.34 1,999.92 2.38 1.59

NOTE: Percent population (% Pop.) columns show the percentage of each row’s population who participated in the activity named by the column (the percentage of the 

population living in urban areas who participated, etc.). Columns labeled “%”under TOTAL, Away From Home, and Around the Home show the percentage of each column’s 

participants who are described by the row heading (the percentage of those who lived in urban areas, etc.).
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 30

Table 33A SE Standard Errors of Expenditures for All Wildlife Watching Both In and Out of National: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

AMOUNT

(thousands of $)

AVERAGE PER 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHER

($) 1

AVERAGE PER 

SPENDER

($) 1

NUMBER OF 

SPENDERS

(thousands)

PERCENT OF 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHERS

ALL EXPENDITURES 13,482,900.36 140.02 177.42 3,025.05 1.24

TRIP-RELATED EXPENDITURES 4,845,920.16 50.02 105.61 1,871.00 1.44

Food and lodging 2,436,629.50 24.94 61.30 1,740.11 1.39

Food 1,312,902.87 13.49 33.81 1,735.72 1.39

Lodging 1,391,361.15 14.77 71.67 1,273.71 1.27

Transportation 1,775,092.70 18.66 41.14 1,810.98 1.46

Other trip costs 2 1,659,011.42 18.57 82.14 1,376.82 1.31

EQUIPMENT AND OTHER EXPENDITURES 10,226,927.13 109.45 153.52 2,849.37 1.36

Wildlife-watching equipment 1,326,653.45 12.01 17.81 2,657.95 1.41

Binoculars, spotting scopes 233,134.59 2.52 16.52 945.62 0.97

Film and photo processing 119,147.36 1.33 14.23 773.45 0.84

Cameras, special lenses, video cameras, and 

other photographic equipment, including 

memory cards

457,646.19 4.72 21.94 1,169.44 1.18

Day packs, carrying cases, and special clothing 353,882.23 3.71 13.20 1,371.68 1.36

Bird food 416,927.10 4.09 8.24 2,015.53 1.39

Food for other wildlife 241,179.45 2.62 10.79 1,346.54 1.36

Nest boxes, bird houses, bird feeders, 

and bird baths

171,200.81 1.72 4.69 1,477.31 1.22

Other equipment (including field guides) 42,413.12 0.46 3.94 901.30 0.97

Auxiliary equipment 3 619,200.59 6.70 34.19 1,320.38 1.36

Special equipment 4 4,716,704.28 50.77 577.46 839.24 0.90

Magazines, books, and DVDs 110,012.94 1.21 7.89 940.00 0.96

Membership dues and contributions 176,991.74 1.87 9.19 1,109.19 1.06

Land leasing and ownership 6,481,131.91 73.24 1,382.21 617.47 0.68

Plantings 355,288.79 3.83 23.93 1,004.12 1.01

1 Average expenditures are annual estimates.

2 Includes equipment rental and fees for guides, pack trips, public land use and private land use, boat fuel, other boating costs, and heating and cooking fuel.

3 Includes tents, tarps, frame packs and other backpacking equipment, other camping equipment, and other auxiliary equipment.

4 Includes boats, campers, cabins, trail bikes, dune buggies, 4 x 4 vehicles, ATVs, 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, pickups, vans, travel and tent trailers, motor homes, house trailers, 

recreational vehicles (RVs) and other special equipment.
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 31

Table 33B SE Standard Errors of Expenditures for Away-from-home Wildlife Watching Both In and Out of National: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

AMOUNT

(thousands of $)

AVERAGE PER 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHER

($) 1

AVERAGE PER 

SPENDER

($) 1

NUMBER OF 

SPENDERS

(thousands)

PERCENT OF 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHERS

ALL EXPENDITURES 18,121,742.43 463.92 507.34 2,013.85 1.96

TRIP-RELATED EXPENDITURES 5,682,898.60 128.30 143.26 2,036.09 2.41

Food and lodging 3,458,510.34 80.21 94.41 1,989.41 2.59

Food 1,917,304.26 45.89 54.62 1,968.71 2.63

Lodging 1,903,261.49 45.12 84.84 1,586.96 3.20

Transportation 1,834,119.86 41.70 48.42 1,996.78 2.80

Other trip costs 2 1,942,112.25 50.58 106.72 1,526.49 3.28

EQUIPMENT AND OTHER EXPENDITURES 14,735,985.99 387.88 994.40 1,502.02 3.40

Wildlife-watching equipment 851,490.51 22.13 66.32 1,313.79 3.13

Binoculars, spotting scopes 112,976.81 2.95 39.99 486.74 1.26

Film and photo processing 55,172.83 1.46 45.70 320.80 0.84

Cameras, special lenses, video cameras, and 

other photographic equipment, including 

memory cards

274,752.39 7.18 67.66 923.91 2.42

Day packs, carrying cases, and special clothing 177,367.76 4.62 39.14 693.33 1.79

Bird food 315,374.20 8.33 73.87 966.19 2.50

Food for other wildlife 186,421.09 4.92 43.03 965.00 2.50

Nest boxes, bird houses, bird feeders, 

and bird baths

100,881.85 2.66 31.87 708.08 1.85

Other equipment (including field guides) 61,432.56 1.61 11.92 788.76 2.02

Auxiliary equipment 3 243,238.77 6.33 64.09 1,063.60 2.76

Special equipment 4 5,983,503.12 157.87 4,516.17 324.04 0.84

Magazines, books, and DVDs 149,179.12 3.94 37.91 1,006.63 2.63

Membership dues and contributions 113,192.83 2.91 27.32 1,171.54 3.02

Land leasing and ownership 13,289,887.38 351.40 5,040.62 964.91 2.55

Plantings — — — — —

— No sample data 

1 Average expenditures are annual estimates.

2 Includes equipment rental and fees for guides, pack trips, public land use and private land use, boat fuel, other boating costs, and heating and cooking fuel.

3 Includes tents, tarps, frame packs and other backpacking equipment, other camping equipment, and other auxiliary equipment.

4 Includes boats, campers, cabins, trail bikes, dune buggies, 4 x 4 vehicles, ATVs, 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, pickups, vans, travel and tent trailers, motor homes, house trailers, 

recreational vehicles (RVs) and other special equipment.
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 32

Table 33C SE Standard Errors of Expenditures for Around-the-home Wildlife Watching Both In and Out of National: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

AMOUNT

(thousands of $)

AVERAGE PER 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHER

($) 1

AVERAGE PER 

SPENDER

($) 1

NUMBER OF 

SPENDERS

(thousands)

PERCENT OF 

WILDLIFE 

WATCHERS

ALL EXPENDITURES 5,629,574.27 63.20 99.56 2,744.26 1.86

TRIP-RELATED EXPENDITURES x x x x x

Food and lodging x x x x x

Food x x x x x

Lodging x x x x x

Transportation x x x x x

Other trip costs 2 x x x x x

EQUIPMENT AND OTHER EXPENDITURES 5,629,574.27 63.20 99.56 2,744.26 1.86

Wildlife-watching equipment 747,948.80 7.29 12.31 2,589.47 1.91

Binoculars, spotting scopes 99,660.40 1.13 16.31 786.74 0.89

Film and photo processing 76,136.73 0.89 27.55 361.28 0.41

Cameras, special lenses, video cameras, and 

other photographic equipment, including 

memory cards

314,006.25 3.57 40.14 806.63 0.91

Day packs, carrying cases, and special clothing 145,993.98 1.63 12.93 977.43 1.09

Bird food 354,620.76 3.67 7.85 2,228.96 1.96

Food for other wildlife 157,297.92 1.80 9.30 1,474.60 1.67

Nest boxes, bird houses, bird feeders, 

and bird baths

177,379.71 1.98 5.89 1,835.08 1.90

Other equipment (including field guides) 14,225.36 0.16 4.69 356.66 0.41

Auxiliary equipment 3 313,700.92 3.62 44.02 858.01 0.97

Special equipment 4 4,014,158.29 46.09 984.60 512.78 0.58

Magazines, books, and DVDs 34,934.24 0.40 7.35 493.64 0.55

Membership dues and contributions 68,752.06 0.76 8.74 788.04 0.86

Land leasing and ownership 2,705,096.00 31.63 2,450.81 336.64 0.39

Plantings 353,595.01 4.06 47.59 770.89 0.84

— No sample data x Not applicable 

1 Average expenditures are annual estimates.

2 Includes equipment rental and fees for guides, pack trips, public land use and private land use, boat fuel, other boating costs, and heating and cooking fuel.

3 Includes tents, tarps, frame packs and other backpacking equipment, other camping equipment, and other auxiliary equipment.

4 Includes boats, campers, cabins, trail bikes, dune buggies, 4 x 4 vehicles, ATVs, 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, pickups, vans, travel and tent trailers, motor homes, house trailers, 

recreational vehicles (RVs) and other special equipment.
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 33

Table 35 SE Standard Errors of Wildlife Watchers Participating in Fishing or Hunting: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

TOTAL AWAY FROM HOME AROUND THE HOME

# % # % # %

ALL WILDLIFE WATCHERS 3,615.12 0.00 2,069.72 0.00 3,533.55 0.00

Did not fish or hunt 2,714.36 1.36 1,514.17 2.33 2,668.21 1.40

Fished or hunted 1,676.63 1.36 1,215.21 2.33 1,654.46 1.40

Fished 1,574.13 1.33 1,118.26 2.21 1,561.19 1.37

Hunted 1,054.51 1.08 827.96 1.95 1,053.58 1.12
 National // Appendix B: Standard Errors // 34

Table 36 SE Standard Errors of Sportspersons Participating in Wildlife Watching: 2016 

(State population 16 years and older. Numbers in thousands)

SPORTSPERSONS ANGLERS HUNTERS

# % # % # %

ALL SPORTSPERSONS 2,201.54 0.00 1,926.38 0.00 749.39 0.00

Did not watch wildlife 815.77 1.32 750.64 1.48 284.48 2.02

Watched wildlife 1,649.71 1.32 1,466.72 1.48 599.00 2.01

Away from home 1,141.33 1.68 1,038.60 1.84 455.86 2.57

Around the home 1,553.00 1.42 1,389.95 1.59 571.29 2.42