I read an interesting survey conducted in January and February of this year on fishing and boating. Some of the information gathered will amaze you. The survey sampled individuals and households and used several variables including gender, age, income, household size, region and population density.

The survey was conducted by Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation in partnership with the Outdoor Foundation.

From 2006 through 2010, we lost 4 million anglers.  In 2006 there were 49.7 million anglers and last year that number dropped to 45.4 million.

The greatest number of anglers in any region of the U.S. live in the southeast. Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana make up only 13 percent of anglers in the U.S. 

Let’s take a look at who these anglers are. This caught me by surprise; the largest percentage of anglers by income had an income of over $100,000. Another surprise was that the largest bracket using education as a guide was those that had from 1-3 years of college or graduated. This group accounted for 60 percent of the fishermen.

The largest ethnic group was Caucasian. Males comprised 68 percent of the participants, and the largest age group was those over 45 years. Even with millions of participants involved in fishing, the average angler only spent 20 days per year fishing. 

Other activities helped contribute to interest in fishing and included 21 percent from target shooting, 18 percent from wildlife viewing, 22 percent from hunting,16 percent from RV camping and 22 percent from hiking.

Participants in fishing were at higher levels if the household had adults with children than those without children. This group accounted for 20 percent of the anglers. 

Fishing from a boat was the most popular, followed by shorelines and riverbanks. 

Fishermen are known to make excuses and so it was with why they did not go fishing. Thirty-one percent said it was too hot or cold to go fishing. Followed by  30 percent who said there was not enough vacation time and 25 percent blamed it on too much time spent at work.  Spending time with the family was cited by 23 percent. Another 19 percent claimed they did not have the right gear and 17 percent said there was no one to go with.  Being honest, I can say I have used some of these myself before.

The largest increase of anglers, 18 percent, was among young women and girls. But on the downward side, this group along with kids from 6-12, accounted for 19.4 percent of the decrease. If you made it to age 45, you were in the largest group of continuing participants.

   Freshwater angling held the interest of most of the anglers. Out of this group, 32 percent were female. The freshwater angler spent 17 days per year fishing.  Sixty percent of anglers traveled less than one hour to go fishing.

The largest group of saltwater anglers called the southeast home. Most of the fly fishing takes place in California, Oregon and Washington. Eighty percent of all fly fishing was done by males, and 73 percent of these were over 25 years of age.

Boating statistics also held some surprises. Of the 20 million boat owners, the largest group had an income over $100,000 and only 5 percent had income under $50,000.  With all the boats seen at marinas, 60 percent of boat owners still keep their boat at home. 

The bass boat was the most popular for 21 percent of the owners, 13 percent had canoes, 12 percent pontoons and only 8 percent owned ski boats.

Most new boats are bought at dealerships and used boats are bought from friends.

Thirty-seven percent of those with an income over $100,000 financed their new boat purchase, but only 23 percent making $50,000 or less financed.

Outdoor Trivia

How good are you with the compass?  Declination is the difference between magnetic north and true north. Enidís declination is 4 degrees and 41 minutes east of true of true north. Were you able to find the North Star? Find the Big Dipper, the two stars away from the handle point to the North Star.  Follow a line from these two stars away from the lip of the bowl about 5 times the distance between the pointer stars.

How big is big? What is the largest animal on earth? What is the largest crocodile on record?



Duck Numbers are Strong

From a survey in May and June, it is estimated  there are 45.6 million ducks which is an increase of 11 percent over last year and 35 percent above the long term average. Full wetlands and good upland cover supported a strong breeding population. Habitat conditions were called excellent. This winter and coming spring also look promising. 

A count of ponds in the prairies showed 8.1 million ponds, which is 22 percent over last year.

Only scaup and American Widgeon showed a big increase.  Blue-winged teal and pintails are a bright spot. Pintail numbers surpassed the four million mark for the first time since 1980.

Mallards are 9 million strong and redheads are at 1.3 million.

Even though the numbers are good, the demand for bio-fuels caused a loss of 20 percent of CRP grounds in North Dakota and another 1 million acres are expected to be lost by 2013.



OUTDOOR CALENDAR



Oct. 8

• Panhandle counties waterfowl season opens

Oct. 10

• Crow season opens

Oct. 14

• Antelope archery season closes

Oct.14-16

• Youth deer gun season

Oct. 21

• Bear archery season closes

Oct. 22

• Bear muzzleloader season opens

• Deer muzzleloader season opens



Contact Augustin at outdoors4u@sbcglobal.net