States encourage hunting.

• Position: Statestats

Hunting brings millions into state economies each year, but it is diminishing.

The number of people buying licenses dropped to 12.4 million in 2001, from 14.1 million 10 years before. Over the past five years, there was a 7 percent decline in hunters, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

State economies need hunting. Not only has state revenue from hunting licenses dropped, but communities lose the money that would be spent by hunters on hotels, food, transportation and equipment. In addition, there is the worry that as hunting decreases herd sizes increase, creating imbalances in wildlife populations.

States are acting to reverse this trend. Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont and Puerto Rico have adopted constitutional amendments or statutory rights to hunt or fish. Youth and women are being encouraged to try the sport. From the designation of special seasons to offering skills programs, the effort to revive the nation's hunting community continues.

Of importance are statistics that show "wildlife watching" is on the rise; that also brings in revenue, and promotes conservation in the same way hunting does.

PERCENT OF HUNTERS BY AGE GROUP 16 to 17 years 4 percent 65 years and older 7 percent 55 to 64 years 11 percent 45 to 54 years 22 percent 35 to 44 years 27 percent 25 to 34 years 19 percent 18 to 24 years 10 percent Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2001 Note: Table made from pie chart. HUNTING PARTICIPATION BY REGION

Hunting was a popular activity for millions of U.S. residents in 2001. Nationwide, 6 percent of the population 16 years old and older went hunting. Regional participation rates ranged from 2 percent to 12 percent.

Mountain 8% West North Central 12% East North Central 7% Middle Atlantic 5% New England 4% South Atlantic 5% East South Central 9% West South Central 9% Pacific 2% Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2001 MONEY SPENT BY HUNTERS AND WILDLIFE WATCHERS (U.S. population 16 years old and older; expenditures in thousands of dollars)...