| Compiled by Southwick Associates. Source: Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Fishing License Buyers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| State | Number of License Buyers, 2003 | % Change vs. 2002 | Number of License Buyers, 2004 | % Change vs. 2003 | Number of License Buyers, 2005 | % Change vs. 2004 | Number of License Buyers, 2006 | % Change vs. 2005 | Number of License Buyers, 2007 | % Change vs. 2006 | Number of License Buyers, 2008 | % Change vs. 2007 | Number of License Buyers, 2009 | % Change vs. 2008 | Number of License Buyers, 2010 | % Change vs. 2009 | Number of License Buyers, 2011 | % Change vs. 2010 | Number of License Buyers, 2012 | % Change vs. 2011 | Number of License Buyers, 2013 | % Change vs. 2012 |
| Alabama | 475,746 | -3.00% | 486,877 | 2.30% | 465,206 | -4.45% | 482,318 | 3.68% | 503,853 | 4.46% | 482,586 | -4.22% | 677,586 | 40.41% | 650,119 | -4.05% | 681,385 | 4.81% | 646,374 | -5.14% | 640,963 | -0.84% |
| Alaska | 442,474 | 1.40% | 468,735 | 5.90% | 486,861 | 3.87% | 464,394 | -4.61% | 464,394 | 0.00% | 474,619 | 2.20% | 457,470 | -3.61% | 416,702 | -8.91% | 412,830 | -0.93% | 420,048 | 1.75% | 410,686 | -2.23% |
| Arizona | 381,705 | -0.80% | 361,958 | -5.20% | 399,148 | 10.27% | 418,857 | 4.94% | 418,857 | 0.00% | 412,664 | -1.48% | 407,715 | -1.20% | 409,507 | 0.44% | 369,878 | -9.68% | 375,361 | 1.48% | 374,686 | -0.18% |
| Arkansas | 684,834 | 0.30% | 685,634 | 0.10% | 692,212 | 0.96% | 660,790 | -4.54% | 671,266 | 1.59% | 633,475 | -5.63% | 613,105 | -3.22% | 620,872 | 1.27% | 594,350 | -4.27% | 649,201 | 9.23% | 514,946 | -20.68% |
| California | 2,124,452 | -1.90% | 2,024,709 | -4.70% | 1,974,187 | -2.50% | 1,804,741 | -8.58% | 1,849,461 | 2.48% | 1,883,816 | 1.86% | 1,765,069 | -6.30% | 1,736,324 | -1.63% | 1,600,054 | -7.85% | 1,651,053 | 3.19% | 1,651,053 | 0.00% |
| Colorado | 630,127 | -3.10% | 668,107 | 6.00% | 678,032 | 1.49% | 654,864 | -3.42% | 654,864 | 0.00% | 654,721 | -0.02% | 654,721 | 0.00% | 687,379 | 4.99% | 674,775 | -1.83% | 662,601 | -1.80% | 664,051 | 0.22% |
| Connecticut | 153,810 | -8.20% | 148,125 | -3.70% | 145,661 | -1.66% | 149,927 | 2.93% | 149,927 | 0.00% | 149,756 | -0.11% | 153,752 | 2.67% | 180,192 | 17.20% | 164,454 | -8.73% | 153,396 | -6.72% | 157,817 | 2.88% |
| Delaware | 19,867 | -10.80% | 20,544 | 3.40% | 20,772 | 1.11% | 21,128 | 1.71% | 22,603 | 6.98% | 22,467 | -0.60% | 84,920 | 277.98% | 86,841 | 2.26% | 81,610 | -6.02% | 82,412 | 0.98% | 84,955 | 3.09% |
| Florida | 1,045,564 | -4.10% | 1,296,328 | 24.00% | 1,377,692 | 6.28% | 1,420,703 | 3.12% | 1,435,335 | 1.03% | 1,405,964 | -2.05% | 1,357,979 | -3.41% | 1,462,021 | 7.66% | 1,367,933 | -6.44% | 1,388,124 | 1.48% | 1,373,554 | -1.05% |
| Georgia | 649,628 | -4.50% | 667,198 | 2.70% | 667,198 | 0.00% | 921,704 | 38.15% | 606,759 | -34.17% | 592,775 | -2.30% | 559,807 | -5.56% | 568,517 | 1.56% | 622,344 | 9.47% | 626,822 | 0.72% | 645,772 | 3.02% |
| Hawaii | 5,251 | -27.00% | 5,796 | 10.40% | 5,233 | -9.71% | 6,279 | 19.99% | 6,400 | 1.93% | 6,425 | 0.39% | 7,915 | 23.19% | 5,305 | -32.98% | 2,650 | -50.05% | 1,994 | -24.75% | 3,999 | 100.55% |
| Idaho | 395,964 | -3.70% | 403,741 | 2.00% | 407,648 | 0.97% | 415,129 | 1.84% | 415,129 | 0.00% | 430,637 | 3.74% | 430,957 | 0.07% | 445,557 | 3.39% | 440,532 | -1.13% | 424,118 | -3.73% | 444,520 | 4.81% |
| Illinois | 701,381 | -7.30% | 713,120 | 1.70% | 761,832 | 6.83% | 719,101 | -5.61% | 719,101 | 0.00% | 720,792 | 0.24% | 726,868 | 0.84% | 769,946 | 5.93% | 721,551 | -6.29% | 721,671 | 0.02% | 705,308 | -2.27% |
| Indiana | 500,608 | -16.60% | 490,058 | 4.40% | 460,695 | -5.99% | 469,349 | 1.88% | 470,472 | 0.24% | 478,292 | 1.66% | 496,719 | 3.85% | 495,272 | -0.29% | 484,392 | -2.20% | 450,087 | -7.08% | 464,948 | 3.30% |
| Iowa | 418,786 | 7.60% | 429,689 | 2.60% | 422,110 | -1.76% | 428,538 | 1.52% | 420,024 | -1.99% | 414,308 | -1.36% | 395,091 | -4.64% | 444,614 | 12.53% | 360,778 | -18.86% | 359,767 | -0.28% | 370,160 | 2.89% |
| Kansas | 273,357 | -3.20% | 265,238 | -3.00% | 258,819 | -2.42% | 252,998 | -2.25% | 254,162 | 0.46% | 252,227 | -0.76% | 252,227 | 0.00% | 276,601 | 9.66% | 266,438 | -3.67% | 255,365 | -4.16% | 272,672 | 6.78% |
| Kentucky | 580,447 | -0.90% | 580,917 | 0.10% | 592,708 | 2.03% | 593,805 | 0.19% | 593,805 | 0.00% | 579,040 | -2.49% | 567,845 | -1.93% | 575,241 | 1.30% | 553,900 | -3.71% | 530,076 | -4.30% | 574,505 | 8.38% |
| Louisiana | 627,551 | 3.40% | 639,139 | 1.80% | 651,376 | 1.91% | 591,767 | -9.15% | 635,739 | 7.43% | 674,695 | 6.13% | 687,444 | 1.89% | 701,385 | 2.03% | 676,375 | -3.57% | 737,151 | 8.99% | 723,815 | -1.81% |
| Maine | 262,772 | -0.60% | 270,698 | 3.00% | 266,685 | -1.48% | 273,038 | 2.38% | 273,038 | 0.00% | 278,679 | 2.07% | 280,407 | 0.62% | 288,245 | 2.80% | 288,605 | 0.12% | 268,468 | -6.98% | 262,766 | -2.12% |
| Maryland | 377,212 | -5.50% | 362,181 | -4.00% | 311,315 | -14.04% | 283,064 | -9.07% | 288,591 | 1.95% | 258,281 | -10.50% | 258,281 | 0.00% | 267,795 | 3.68% | 254,314 | -5.03% | 278,349 | 9.45% | 321,913 | 15.65% |
| Massachusetts | 125,704 | -33.40% | 203,139 | 61.60% | 171,745 | -15.45% | 163,178 | -4.99% | 154,607 | -5.25% | 170,635 | 10.37% | 183,114 | 7.31% | 166,638 | -9.00% | 163,463 | -1.91% | 198,182 | 21.24% | 164,968 | -16.76% |
| Michigan | 1,189,822 | -3.60% | 1,171,742 | -1.50% | 1,161,432 | -0.88% | 1,166,739 | 0.46% | 1,164,630 | -0.18% | 1,160,790 | -0.33% | 1,139,230 | -1.86% | 1,186,215 | 4.12% | 1,134,007 | -4.40% | 1,081,946 | -4.59% | 1,127,726 | 4.23% |
| Minnesota | 1,461,112 | -2.10% | 1,467,677 | 0.40% | 1,458,013 | -0.66% | 1,478,193 | 1.38% | 1,478,193 | 0.00% | 1,492,087 | 0.94% | 1,481,758 | -0.69% | 1,518,357 | 2.47% | 1,492,460 | -1.71% | 1,418,995 | -4.92% | 1,487,547 | 4.83% |
| Mississippi | 362,569 | -6.20% | 369,252 | 1.80% | 380,933 | 3.16% | 359,854 | -5.53% | 366,301 | 1.79% | 378,299 | 3.28% | 368,836 | -2.50% | 352,694 | -4.38% | 349,872 | -0.80% | 358,393 | 2.44% | 343,492 | -4.16% |
| Missouri | 851,518 | 0.60% | 844,318 | -0.80% | 843,784 | -0.06% | 833,543 | -1.21% | 832,289 | -0.15% | 838,828 | 0.79% | 781,895 | -6.79% | 844,650 | 8.03% | 810,594 | -4.03% | 766,997 | -5.38% | 815,596 | 6.34% |
| Montana | 383,374 | 0.10% | 379,252 | -1.10% | 379,497 | 0.06% | 389,534 | 2.64% | 389,534 | 0.00% | 396,254 | 1.73% | 389,882 | -1.61% | 399,916 | 2.57% | 393,126 | -1.70% | 363,175 | -7.62% | 399,282 | 9.94% |
| Nebraska | 190,794 | -1.60% | 176,619 | -7.40% | 186,363 | 5.52% | 194,982 | 4.62% | 195,379 | 0.20% | 202,497 | 3.64% | 198,213 | -2.12% | 217,450 | 9.71% | 200,364 | -7.86% | 196,507 | -1.92% | 223,036 | 13.50% |
| Nevada | 136,256 | -7.50% | 124,408 | -8.70% | 118,313 | -4.90% | 123,925 | 4.74% | 123,925 | 0.00% | 112,512 | -9.21% | 119,328 | 6.06% | 121,158 | 1.53% | 121,257 | 0.08% | 119,159 | -1.73% | 118,557 | -0.51% |
| New Hampshire | 141,061 | -5.00% | 143,835 | 2.00% | 140,595 | -2.25% | 140,824 | 0.16% | 140,824 | 0.00% | 146,509 | 4.04% | 144,993 | -1.03% | 149,970 | 3.43% | 146,443 | -2.35% | 151,141 | 3.21% | 155,174 | 2.67% |
| New Jersey | 166,708 | -2.60% | 169,418 | 1.60% | 161,219 | -4.84% | 158,907 | -1.43% | 158,907 | 0.00% | 169,359 | 6.58% | 172,823 | 2.05% | 182,724 | 5.73% | 177,705 | -2.75% | 173,790 | -2.20% | 177,334 | 2.04% |
| New Mexico | 198,708 | -18.20% | 205,291 | 3.30% | 200,996 | -2.09% | 221,338 | 10.12% | 193,027 | -12.79% | 208,993 | 8.27% | 192,204 | -8.03% | 203,701 | 5.98% | 199,507 | -2.06% | 183,265 | -8.14% | 205,494 | 12.13% |
| New York | 988,171 | -3.00% | 983,812 | -0.40% | 954,107 | -3.02% | 985,454 | 3.29% | 966,688 | -1.90% | 975,729 | 0.94% | 1,012,028 | 3.72% | 1,188,110 | 17.40% | 934,038 | -21.38% | 963,413 | 3.14% | 922,604 | -4.24% |
| North Carolina | 661,688 | -5.20% | 692,257 | 4.60% | 708,928 | 2.41% | 738,968 | 4.24% | 946,668 | 28.11% | 1,099,678 | 16.16% | 1,147,505 | 4.35% | 1,166,345 | 1.64% | 1,198,746 | 2.78% | 1,241,895 | 3.60% | 1,224,710 | -1.38% |
| North Dakota | 167,344 | -1.60% | 168,497 | 0.70% | 157,656 | -6.43% | 156,671 | -0.62% | 168,057 | 7.27% | 167,350 | -0.42% | 162,508 | -2.89% | 172,286 | 6.02% | 174,781 | 1.45% | 171,948 | -1.62% | 210,941 | 22.68% |
| Ohio | 950,767 | -2.90% | 917,902 | -3.50% | 874,366 | -4.74% | 856,315 | -2.06% | 777,997 | -9.15% | 818,729 | 5.24% | 797,694 | -2.57% | 849,951 | 6.55% | 799,197 | -5.97% | 739,616 | -7.46% | 802,490 | 8.50% |
| Oklahoma | 584,596 | -7.90% | 668,924 | 14.40% | 641,090 | -4.16% | 587,572 | -8.35% | 680,039 | 15.74% | 624,577 | -8.16% | 682,958 | 9.35% | 701,129 | 2.66% | 663,874 | -5.31% | 656,078 | -1.17% | 675,168 | 2.91% |
| Oregon | 684,517 | -2.50% | 666,454 | -2.60% | 634,722 | -4.76% | 639,530 | 0.76% | 639,530 | 0.00% | 664,491 | 3.90% | 630,582 | -5.10% | 665,040 | 5.46% | 612,331 | -7.93% | 606,376 | -0.97% | 615,016 | 1.42% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,051,043 | -3.50% | 1,018,756 | -3.10% | 1,029,960 | 1.10% | 943,791 | -8.37% | 948,431 | 0.49% | 963,265 | 1.56% | 942,645 | -2.14% | 987,453 | 4.75% | 954,914 | -3.30% | 985,335 | 3.19% | 1,032,277 | 4.76% |
| Rhode Island | 27,534 | -14.50% | 26,629 | -3.30% | 26,712 | 0.31% | 26,464 | -0.93% | 26,464 | 0.00% | 26,464 | 0.00% | 25,893 | -2.16% | 26,303 | 1.58% | 23,680 | -9.97% | 23,999 | 1.35% | 59,257 | 146.91% |
| South Carolina | 470,877 | -8.20% | 498,088 | 5.80% | 488,378 | -1.95% | 492,219 | 0.79% | 505,616 | 2.72% | 496,922 | -1.72% | 508,743 | 2.38% | 611,171 | 20.13% | 544,166 | -10.96% | 571,149 | 4.96% | 565,989 | -0.90% |
| South Dakota | 204,285 | -6.60% | 206,349 | 1.00% | 199,287 | -3.42% | 181,579 | -8.89% | 181,807 | 0.13% | 181,756 | -0.03% | 185,255 | 1.93% | 195,828 | 5.71% | 192,267 | -1.82% | 192,138 | -0.07% | 222,550 | 15.83% |
| Tennessee | 992,727 | -0.80% | 1,028,386 | 3.60% | 996,873 | -3.06% | 1,027,264 | 3.05% | 900,240 | -12.37% | 901,491 | 0.14% | 911,397 | 1.10% | 898,675 | -1.40% | 716,282 | -20.30% | 786,442 | 9.80% | 919,614 | 16.93% |
| Texas | 1,479,414 | -0.80% | 1,632,016 | 10.30% | 1,565,384 | -4.08% | 1,493,895 | -4.57% | 1,516,267 | 1.50% | 1,627,648 | 7.35% | 1,626,164 | -0.09% | 1,573,437 | -3.24% | 1,615,426 | 2.67% | 1,643,377 | 1.73% | 1,675,278 | 1.94% |
| Utah | 370,325 | -8.50% | 373,834 | 0.90% | 386,127 | 3.29% | 425,404 | 10.17% | 425,404 | 0.00% | 430,435 | 1.18% | 449,372 | 4.40% | 468,045 | 4.16% | 463,728 | -0.92% | 452,868 | -2.34% | 469,356 | 3.64% |
| Vermont | 121,874 | -3.30% | 121,701 | -0.10% | 119,154 | -2.09% | 122,784 | 3.05% | 128,484 | 4.64% | 128,484 | 0.00% | 124,215 | -3.32% | 131,231 | 5.65% | 129,607 | -1.24% | 115,838 | -10.62% | 120,803 | 4.29% |
| Virginia | 587,295 | -6.00% | 619,853 | 5.50% | 619,802 | -0.01% | 629,038 | 1.49% | 698,508 | 11.04% | 590,524 | -15.46% | 598,730 | 1.39% | 601,883 | 0.53% | 594,162 | -1.28% | 563,647 | -5.14% | 513,922 | -8.82% |
| Washington | 668,414 | -6.10% | 691,191 | 3.40% | 647,556 | -6.31% | 661,362 | 2.13% | 670,895 | 1.44% | 697,780 | 4.01% | 714,060 | 2.33% | 714,090 | 0.00% | 651,222 | -8.80% | 687,931 | 5.64% | 651,060 | -5.36% |
| West Virginia | 266,277 | -4.50% | 269,727 | 1.30% | 264,104 | -2.08% | 263,050 | -0.40% | 263,050 | 0.00% | 263,497 | 0.17% | 264,801 | 0.49% | 269,615 | 1.82% | 252,977 | -6.17% | 245,190 | -3.08% | 261,031 | 6.46% |
| Wisconsin | 1,413,804 | 1.40% | 1,391,173 | -1.60% | 1,389,183 | -0.14% | 1,380,133 | -0.65% | 1,380,133 | 0.00% | 1,397,163 | 1.23% | 1,371,035 | -1.87% | 1,426,460 | 4.04% | 1,379,621 | -3.28% | 1,366,345 | -0.96% | 1,404,177 | 2.77% |
| Wyoming | 258,158 | -1.80% | 247,583 | -4.10% | 247,399 | -0.07% | 253,885 | 2.62% | 253,885 | 0.00% | 244,124 | -3.84% | 223,962 | -8.26% | 237,040 | 5.84% | 230,332 | -2.83% | 215,214 | -6.56% | 227,005 | 5.48% |
| U.S. (total) | 27,908,272 | -3.30% | 28,466,875 | 2.00% | 28,199,068 | -0.94% | 28,128,889 | -0.25% | 28,129,559 | 0.00% | 28,383,089 | 0.90% | 28,387,701 | 0.02% | 29,316,000 | 3.27% | 27,939,297 | -4.70% | 27,922,787 | -0.06% | 28,463,499 | 1.94% |
| 2.0% | = 10 year change | |||||||||||||||||||||