A new interactive Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) website offers a county-level view of the $2.5 billion spent in Oregon by fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing enthusiasts in 2008.
The economic data, which is available at state, regional and county levels, is the result of a survey conducted by Travel Oregon and ODFW that shows residents and nonresidents spent more than $1 billion on trips and $1.5 billion on equipment and activity-related purchases at Oregon-based retailers and suppliers.
The new website provides easily accessible data valuable to businesses dependent on tourism, destination marketing organizations, conservation groups, tourism managers and recreation retailers and suppliers. With the data, local decision makers will be able to more accurately evaluate the impact of changes in regulations, habitat, invasive species, land use, fish passage and other activities that could affect fish and wildlife recreation. Data is available on three types of wildlife recreation expenditures: travel-generated, local recreation and equipment purchases.
The study is based on responses from resident and nonresident anglers, hunters, shellfish harvesters and wildlife viewers.
Nearly 2.8 million Oregon residents and nonresidents participated in fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and shellfish harvesting in Oregon in 2008. Of the total number of participants, 631,000 fished, 282,000 hunted, 175,000 harvested shellfish and 1.7 million participated in outdoor recreation where wildlife viewing was a planned activity.
Click here for a full pdf copy of the survey which can be found on the Research page of the Travel Oregon Industry website