Wisconsinites Headed Outside In Record Numbers To Escape Pandemic

MILWAUKEE, WI — Wisconsinites turned to the outdoors in record numbers to escape the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, according to a report released on Thursday by the Wisconsin Policy Forum.

The number of park visitors, hunters and fishers in the state all saw big jumps in 2020 compared to previous years as residents coped with many indoor entertainment options closed because of the coronavirus. The report came to its conclusion using data released by the Department of Natural Resources.

“With unemployment for a time at its highest levels since the Great Depression and other leisure activities often curtailed, pastimes like biking, fishing, birdwatching or just sunbathing were among the few options that could be practiced while maintaining social distance,” the report read. “Though perhaps not unexpected, the magnitude of the shift remains striking.”

Sales of state park vehicle stickers saw an uptick of 42 percent in 2020 compared to 2019 with more than 500,000 people purchasing them, according to the report. From April to December 2020, the state also saw more than 20,000 people purchasing passes for off-road vehicles, a 32.7 percent jump from 2019 and the highest sales have been in a decade.

Fishing licenses saw an increase in sales for the first time last year after being on the decline since at least 2016. From the beginning of March 2020 and through the end of January the state sold 1.14 million licenses to residents, a 13.2 percent increase from the 1.01 million sold in 2019, according to the report.

The state also saw a small gain in licenses sold to first-time fishers, going from 45,557 in 2019 to 93,414 in 2020.

While hard numbers aren't as readily available for the amount of hunting licenses sold, the report said they also saw a pandemic-fueled boost.

Although it's still unknown what the long-term effects are in the increase of people heading outdoors, the Wisconsin Policy Forum said the state increasing its investment in its open spaces may go a long way in maintaining people’s interests.

The full report, titled “Take It Outside: Pandemic Spurs Outdoor Pursuits,” can be found online at the forum’s website.