Wetlands Increase Hunting, Fishing and Recreation Spending

75% of Wisconsin’s wildlife species depend on wetlands for some portion of their life cycle, including important game species such as deer, bear, ducks, geese, pheasant, grouse, walleye, musky, bass, and northern pike. Communities that maintain healthy wetlands on public and private lands can realize a greater portion of the $3.8 billion dollars in annual retail sales and the 72,000 jobs associated with Wisconsin’s hunting and outdoor recreation economy.

Fishing in a backwater slough of the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge.

Additional Resources on the Economic Impact of Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Recreation

• 2006 Economic Contributions of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Watching in Wisconsin, Southwick Associates (2006). Enter the report name into the search field on this webpage.
• Economic Impact of Waterfowl Hunting in the United States, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2006).
• Hunting in America - An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Southwick Associates (2007). Enter the report name into the search field on this webpage.
• Sportfishing in America - An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse, American Sportfishing Association, Southwick Associates (2007). Enter the report name into the search field on this webpage.

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