Feds Streamline Survey for Your Fishing and Wildlife Tales
Published Date: 2/12/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to update its National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Watching to make it easier and less time-consuming for people to share their outdoor adventures. If you love fishing, hunting, or watching wildlife, this survey affects you! You’ve got until April 13, 2026, to share your thoughts, and the changes aim to keep things smooth without costing you extra time or money.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
You may be contacted for a multi-wave survey
If you fish, hunt, or watch wildlife, you may be sampled and invited by mailed letter to take a screener and up to three detailed interviews during the survey year by web, phone, or mail. The agency estimates 184,309 total responses and a combined median completion burden of 41,026 hours across all instruments (for example, many web screeners are 13 minutes and some wave questionnaires are 13–14 minutes).
Survey adds many participation and species questions
The Service will add or reinstate many questions asking about prior-year participation (whether 2027 was the first year of participation and, if not, participation from 2022–2026), species pursued (freshwater, saltwater, big game, migratory birds, small game), days of archery and target/sport shooting, and boat types (motorized and non-motorized). These questions will appear across the screen, hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching questionnaires.
New questions ask about how much more you'd spend
The hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching questionnaires will add questions that ask how much more a person would be willing to spend to go on related trips. These willingness-to-pay questions are included to assess spending preferences for trips.
Some personal and land-ownership questions removed
The Service will eliminate certain questions including a marital status question and multiple questions about land co-ownership, co-leasing, and number of acres owned or leased. The change reduces the scope of personal and land-ownership information collected.
Coastal anglers get a short ratio questionnaire
Wave 3 includes a Coastal Freshwater/Saltwater Ratio Questionnaire targeted at coastal areas; the estimate shows 13,500 responses with an estimated 3 minutes per response for that questionnaire. This is intended to improve freshwater vs. saltwater angler estimates for coastal States.
Participation is voluntary and no monetary fees required
Responding to the survey is voluntary and the Service reports 'Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.' There is no required payment to take part.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-05678 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for 22 Species in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Territory of Guam
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to protect 22 special plants and animals in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands by marking nearly 60,000 acres as critical habitat. This means these areas will get extra care to help these species survive and thrive. People can share their thoughts by June 22, 2026, and an economic report is ready to show how this might affect local communities.
2026-06274 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget; Eagle Take Permits and Fees
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing its paperwork for eagle take permits and fees without any changes. This affects anyone who needs permission to handle eagles, keeping the process smooth and fees steady. You’ve got until May 1, 2026, to share your thoughts before the renewal is finalized.
2026-06243 — Foreign Endangered Species; Receipt of Permit Application
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service got an application to do special activities with endangered animals from other countries and wants your thoughts before deciding. If you care about protecting these rare species, now’s your chance to speak up by May 1, 2026. This process affects anyone interested in wildlife conservation and ensures permits follow the law without surprise costs or delays.
2026-06273 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Depredation and Control Orders
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing a paperwork process about controlling animals that cause damage, without making any changes. This affects farmers, landowners, and wildlife managers who deal with animal depredation. You’ve got until June 1, 2026, to share your thoughts, and there’s no new cost or extra hassle involved.
2026-05976 — Marine Mammals; Incidental Take of Northern Sea Otters During Specified Activities; Seward, Sitka, and Kodiak, Alaska
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has set new rules to protect northern sea otters in Seward, Sitka, and Kodiak, Alaska, during marine construction and pile driving. These rules allow some accidental, non-harmful disturbance to sea otters caused by noise, lasting for five years starting March 27, 2026. People involved in these activities should note the new guidelines and can comment on information collection by April 27, 2026.
2026-05451 — General Conservation Plan for the Alabama Beach Mouse; Categorical Exclusion; Baldwin County, AL
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing three requests from local builders in Baldwin County, Alabama, who want to build decks, a house, and a pool near the Alabama beach mouse’s home. These projects follow a special conservation plan that helps protect this endangered mouse while allowing construction. People have until April 20, 2026, to share their thoughts before permits are approved.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-02829 — Advisory Committee Charter Reestablishment
The Small Business Administration is renewing three important advisory groups for two more years to keep helping small businesses thrive. These groups focus on financial management, supporting underserved communities, and improving small business lending. This renewal runs through February 23, 2028, ensuring expert advice keeps shaping fair and smart SBA programs without extra costs.
Next: 2026-02832 — Limitation of Duty-Free Imports of Apparel Articles Assembled in Haiti Under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
Starting February 3, 2026, the U.S. is setting a limit on how much duty-free apparel made in Haiti can enter under a special trade deal. Only about 267 million square meters of these clothes can get the tax break this year, helping protect U.S. businesses while still supporting Haiti’s garment industry. This limit is based on last year’s import data and lasts until December 19, 2026.
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in