The 2006 Survey found that 87.5 million U.S. residents 16 years old and older participated in wildlife-related recreation. During that year, 30.0 million people fished, 12.5 million hunted, and 71.1 million participated in at least one type of wildlife-watching activity such as observing, feeding, or photographing fish and other wildlife in the United States. Wildlife recreationists’ avidity also is reflected in the $122.3 billion they spent in 2006 on their activities, which equated to 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Of the total amount spent, $37.4 billion was trip-related, $64.1 billion was spent on equipment, and $20.7 billion was spent on other items such as licenses and land leasing and ownership.

Sportspersons spent a total of $76.7 billion in 2006—$42.0 billion on fishing, $22.9 billion on hunting, and $11.7 billion on items used for both hunting and fishing.

Wildlife watchers spent $45.7 billion on their activities around the home and on trips away from home.

In South Carolina, trip related expendatures were $843,694 and total expendatures were $2,455,112

In Georgia, trip related expendatures were $754,626 and total expendatures were $3,542,304

The complete 168 page report is available at
http://library.fws.gov/nat_survey2006_final.pdf