Number of hunters in Massachusetts dropping – Berkshire Eagle Online

By Gene Chague

LENOX

Hunting statistics detailing five and 10-year trends were recently released by the Quality Deer Management Association. The data sources were: Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and US Sportsmen’s Alliance.

According to the USFWS, 5 percent of the US population that was 16 years and older hunted in 2006, or roughly 12.5 million. In 1996, there were 14 million hunters so there was a loss of about 10 percent nationwide representing 31 states. It appears that Massachusetts had the largest percentage loss – 40 percent, followed by Washington at 36 percent and Rhode Island at 33 percent.

Some 19 states experienced increases in hunters: North Dakota gained 40 percent, followed by Tennessee up 29 percent, and Oklahoma at 27 percent. Some 73 percent of Americans approve of hunting while only 10 percent believe it should be illegal.

Deer hunters comprised 81 percent of the total hunters with 10.1 million in their fold. According to the QDMA, these figures highlight the importance of deer hunting and emphasizes that deer drive the hunting industry. The USFWS report showed deer hunting was nearly four times more popular than turkey hunting (the next most sought after species). Deer hunting is popular across the U.S. but in some places more so than others. For example, 96 percent of all hunting in Pennsylvania is for biggame and some 95 percent of the hunting in Maine, Michigan, New York and Wyoming is likewise. Click link below for full story!

Number of hunters in Massachusetts dropping – Berkshire Eagle Online.