THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE PUBLIC FORUM             Saturday, March 22, 2003

 Several hunters have requested verification of the figures I used in my March 1 letter regarding watchable wildlife.  The January 23 edition of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Utah Wildlife News, stated, "More than $555 million was spent on wildlife-watching activities in Utah in 2001, according to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation.  The survey also found that wildlife-watching expenditures in Utah more than doubled in five years.  In 1996, $236,626,000 was spent on wildlife-watching activities in the state.  By 2001 that figure has climbed considerably, with $555,710,000 spent on wildlife-watching activities in Utah that year.

The survey was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  It found that 82 million U.S. residents (39 percent of the population 16 years of age and older) participated in wildlife recreation activities in 2001.  These included 34 million anglers, 13 million hunters and 66 million wildlife watchers. The survey found that wildlife-watching expenditures amounted to $38 billion, with individuals spending an average of $374 annually.

In my original letter, I said that the money wildlife watchers contribute to the national and state economies is considerable, refuting the charge that only hunters pay for the privilege of participating in wildlife activities.   Clearly, wildlife watchers outnumber and outspend hunters.

Denise Boggs, Executive Director, Utah Environmental Congress