Economic Activity Generated by Missouri Wildlife Watchers

Wildlife viewing is an important economic activity in Missouri.

Using data from the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, all wildlife watching activities in Missouri by those 16 years of age and older, generates $448,755,690 in retail sales each year.

These expenditures have an economic impact of $937,795,501, support 7,850 jobs with $200,070,083 in earnings, and generate $22,095,502 in state sales taxes.

It is interesting to note that the retail sales, economic impact, and state sales taxes generated by wildlife viewing activities are slightly higher than for the activity of hunting in Missouri.

Nonresident wildlife viewers contribute $117,792,624 to the overall wildlife viewing expenditures, and generate $229,607,674 in economic impact. The expenditures of nonresident wildlife viewers support 2,030 jobs and $6,575,202 in state sales taxes.

On the average, each Missouri resident wildlife viewer spends about $80.91 annually on wildlife watching near the home, and $401.46 each year for wildlife watching away from home. Nonresident wildlife viewers spend slightly more per year in Missouri, on wildlife watching away from their homes, than Missouri residents, at $537.81.

More information about the economic impacts of wildlife-related recreation, hunting, and fishing, in addition to participation and demographics information, is in a report entitled "The 2001 Economic Benefits of Hunting, Fishing, and Wildlife Watching in Missouri" available at: http://www.southwickassociates.com/freereports/default.aspx