The U.S. Census Bureau is randomly contacting 80,000 households across the country, including about 400 in Wyoming, to estimate participation, trends and expenditures for hunting, fishing and wildlife watching. The survey, officially called the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, is conducted every five years. Unlike the comprehensive nationwide census last year, this hunting and fishing survey is completely voluntary. But it is very important for Wyomingites to participate when called, Burkett said. The results give us an important snapshot of what people think about wildlife.
Participants remain anonymous with no survey responses identified by name.
The information is used for statistical purposes only, and the federal list of respondents is not sold to any business or other organization. Every time this survey is conducted the Game and Fish receives some questions if it s legitimate, Burkett said. We want folks to know it certainly is and encourage them to help out, because the survey provides a ton of information about the demographics of hunters and anglers. The April survey will identify which of the 80,000 households are home to hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers. Those outdoor recreationists will have follow-up interviews from September through January 2002 to learn their level of participation and expenditures.