U.S. Angler Numbers Drop 12 Percent in 6 Years

Those of you worried that your secret local fishing oasis will eventually be overrun by manic fishermen can rejoice. In the U.S., at least, the population of anglers is declining rapidly, according to a new Fish & Wildlife study of outdoor activities. It appears fishermen and hunters are being replaced by wildlife “observers.” “The number of anglers has dropped 12 percent since 2001; the hunter count has fallen off by 4 percent during the same five-year period. This doesn’t mean Americans aren’t spending time outdoors or interacting with wild animals; ‘wildlife watching’ is up 8 percent since 2001. They’re just choosing not to kill them so much.” Article by Newsweek‘s Steve Tuttle on MSNBC.com.