Wildlife and recreation

• Over the next 50 years, until 2040, migratory water fowl hunting in the U.S. is expected to increase 50%, while non-consumptive wildlife use is expected to increase over 100%, from 1989 levels.  Maintenance of the status quo, or small decreases, are predicted for big and small game hunting over the same period.
• Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife.
• Nearly 34 million people 16 years old and older annually participate in wildlife-associated recreation in the 13 Southern states.
• Since 1955, in the South, the number of licensed anglers and hunters has more than doubled to more than 23 million.
• Forest products companies employ more than 90 wildlife scientists and have spent over $100 million in the past decade to improve forest habitat for wildlife.  Wildlife conservation programs have been initiated on commercial timberlands in every region of the country.
• American's forest products companies have donated more than 1 million acres of land  valued at over $400 million  for conservation, recreation, or social causes.
• Over the past decade, forest products companies have spent more than $100 million on wildlife and environmental research.
• As a result of careful forest management, the whitetail deer population has grown from 4.5 million to over 16 million in the past 30 years; wild turkeys have gone from near extinction to more than 4 million today.
• In the 1970's, scientists knew of only 200 pairs of Northern Spotted Owls.  There are now more than 3,510 owl pairs.
• The Nature Conservancy now owns or controls some 760 square miles of forested mountains, bogs, riverbanks and old growth stands in 28 states.
• Big game hunting on National Forest lands generated $438 million in retail sales, $1.2 billion in total multiplier effects, $315 million in salaries and wages, and 13,323 jobs annually for the U.S. economy in 1994.
• Big game hunting in the U.S. provided tax revenues by generating $13.8 million in state sales tax and $3.5 million in state income tax revenues, and $37 million in federal income tax revenues in 1994.
• Small game hunting generated $119 million in retail sales, $336.7 million in total multiplier effects, $85.6 million in salaries and wages, and 3,618 jobs annually for the U.S. economy in 1994.
• Small game hunting provided tax revenues by generating $3.8 million in state sales tax and $0.9 million in state income tax revenues, and $10 million in federal income tax revenues in 1994.
• Hunting for migratory birds generated $66.7 million in retail sales, $188.8 million in total multiplier effects, $48 million in salaries and wages, and 2,030 jobs annually for the U.S. economy in 1994.
• Hunting for migratory birds provided tax revenues by generating $2.1 million in state sales tax and $0.5 million in state income tax revenues, and $5.6 million in federal income tax revenues in 1994.
• Wildliferelated activities on National Forest lands generate $1.8 billion in retail sales, $5.1 billion in total multiplier effects, $1.3 billion in salaries and wages, 55,237 jobs, $57.2 million in state sales tax revenues, $14.3 million in state income tax revenues, and $155.5 million in federal income tax revenues in 1994.