14.4 million
People hunted in the United States.
U.S. residents age 16 and older who hunted in 2022.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2022 survey ↗Reference / Outdoor recreation
Hunting and outdoor recreation statistics.
A concise, sourced reference for writers, educators, and outdoor organizations looking for current national context on hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, and participation.
Last updated October 16, 2026. The statistics below reflect the reporting year named with each source.
The snapshot
A shared stake in the outdoors.
These figures come from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation and its published follow-up reporting. They offer a useful national view, not a substitute for state regulations, harvest reports, or local conditions.
39.9 million
People fished in the United States.
U.S. anglers age 16 and older in 2022.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2024 report ↗148 million
People watched wildlife.
U.S. residents age 16 and older who participated in wildlife watching in 2022.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2022 survey ↗$45.2 billion
Spent on hunting.
Total U.S. hunting expenditures in 2022, including equipment, trips, licenses, land leasing, and ownership.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2022 survey ↗1.7 billion+
Outdoor recreation trips.
Trips taken in 2022 for hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, recreational boating, and target shooting by U.S. residents age 16 and older.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2022 survey ↗33%
Of new hunters were women.
Women made up 33% of hunting entrants in the 2022 survey, compared with 17% of all active hunters.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2024 report ↗Method and sources
How to use these figures.
Every statistic on this page is attributed to a federal source and carries its reporting year. The 2022 national survey changed its methodology, so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advises against direct comparison with earlier surveys.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2022 National Survey release, published October 12, 2023 ↗
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2022 National Survey report, published October 13, 2023 ↗
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recruitment and retention report, published September 27, 2024 ↗
Cite this page
MTN. Blood Traditions. “Hunting and Outdoor Recreation Statistics.” Updated October 16, 2026. https://mtnbloodtraditions.com/outdoor-recreation-statistics
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