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Outdoor Recreation Use
Based on a statewide survey of citizens 16 years of age and older in Nevada conducted in early 2001, 84 percent of Nevadans participated in outdoor recreational activities in the year 2000, and most report engaging in several. The top ten most popular activities, based on the percentage of the population participating, were pleasure driving (55%), picnicking (48%), walking without a dog (41%), swimming in a pool (40%), wildlife viewing (39%), swimming in a lake or stream (39%), hiking (38%), walking with a dog (34%), lake fishing (34%), and motor-boating (33%).  Least popular were water sailing, cross country skiing, roller/in-line hockey, snow shoeing, wind surfing, and hang gliding/parasailing, all with less than 5% participating (Nevada Division of State Parks, 2002).
When similar types of outdoor recreational activities are grouped, water related activities are the most popular (82%), followed by swimming (60%), walking (55%), fishing (42%), camping (39%), bicycling (31%), off-road motorized recreation (29%), winter related activities (28%), and hunting (13%). Water resources remain a major attraction for outdoor activities. Of the individual water related activities, 39 percent said swimming in a lake or stream was an activity in which they participated, demonstrating the importance of meeting water quality standards established for contact recreation uses.
Changes in the state's socio-demographic characteristics are reflected in the survey results. Comparing 2001 and 1986 data shows that the percentage of the population participating increased slightly in golfing and motor boating while decreasing significantly in every other comparable activity except downhill skiing, which decreased only from 19% to 17%. While difficult to fully explain, an aging population and limited expansion of recreation opportunities with a simultaneous explosion in population are possible explanations.
Survey data specific to wildlife-associated recreation activity is collected and reported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service every five years. The state-by-state survey presents data on participation in and expenditures for
hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching activities, such as observing, feeding, and photographing wildlife (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1998). According to the 1996 FWS survey data for Nevada, the number of residents and nonresidents anglers increased since 1991, but fewer were hunting and wildlife watching (Table 5-4). The 1996 estimates indicate that the number of Nevadans and visitors choosing to go wildlife watching approximates the combined total of those choosing fishing and hunting combined.
More recent preliminary data shows that fishing and hunting participation in 2001 declined from 1996 levels, and wildlife watching increased. Among the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast states, Nevada has the lowest estimated number of residential and nonresidential hunter and anglers. Compared to Nevada, California is the only state with a smaller percentage of the resident population participating in any wildlife-associated outdoor recreation activity than Nevada (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002).
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| Anglers at Wild Horse Reservoir show off their catch. Fishing is one of the most popular outdoor recreation activities in Nevada, according to the NDSP Citizen's Survey. Fishers in Nevada spent over $73 million on trip-related expenses during 1996 (Table 5-4). Photo courtesy of NDSP. |
Despite the arid climate and limited water, a large number of lakes and reservoirs are available for boating, fishing, swimming, wildlife watching, and other water recreation. In total, there are more than 200 ponds, lakes, and reservoirs that provide nearly 400,000 surface acres of sport fishing opportunity. In addition, more than 500 streams and rivers offer nearly 3,000 miles of fishable habitat (Nevada Division of Wildlife, 2001). The 1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation Survey for Nevada, reports that in 1996 anglers spent an average of 9 days fishing and an average of $900 per year on fishing related expenses. In 2000, Nevada resident anglers purchased 97,912 fishing licenses and 34,029 combination licenses (for fishing and hunting). Nonresident anglers purchased 32,215 fishing licenses. Total fishing license sales increased between 1990 and 2000, from 136,385 to 164,153.
Boating activity, including use of motorized and non-motorized craft, is growing in popularity. Nearly 62,000 vessels (i.e., any watercraft used for transportation on the water) were registered with NDOW in 2000. Personal watercraft, like the use of other motorized recreation vehicles
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| Boating on the Middle Carson River. The growing popularity of canoeing and kayaking is an example of changes in public recreation activities in Nevada. Access was made possible with the acquisition of riverfront ranch properties next to Fort Churchill State Historic Park. A portion of the state administered land is leased for agricultural uses. |
(e.g., all terrain vehicles and snowmobiles) has grown substantially. In some locations, the use of personal watercraft (i.e., jet skis) has generated controversy. Because jet skis are operated near shore, concerns are related to the significance of negative effects on water quality, fish and wildlife, habitat, shoreline vegetation, noise, and safety of other water recreationists. The most popular boating water in the state is Lake Mead, located in Clark County where over half the boats in the state are registered. Other popular boating waters include Lake Tahoe, Lahontan Reservoir, Pyramid Lake, Wildhorse Reservoir, and the Ruby Marshes.
With public "multiple use" land abundant, Nevada offers ample open space for hunting. Almost 30,000 big game tags were sold by NDOW in 2000 to hunt deer, pronghorn antelope, Desert and California big horn sheep, elk, and mountain goat. Deer hunters spent a total of nearly 112,000 days in the field and over 11,000 days were spent in pursuit of other big game animals in 2000. Upland game and waterfowl hunters numbered 143,000 in 1999 (NDOW, 2001). The 1996 National Survey reported that total in state hunting expenditures amounted to nearly $95 million in 1995. Of that total, $20 million were spent on trip related expenses, which provides vital income for rural Nevada businesses (U.S. Fish and Wildlife, 1998).
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