Ohio’s outdoor industry is big business, and anglers, hunters and wildlife-watchers pumped $3.6 billion into the state’s economy last year, an increase of more than 12 percent from 2006, according to a new federal survey.

About 45 percent of Ohioans 16 and older participate in wildlife-related recreation, and residents and visitors are spending more money on gear, trips, licenses, tags and other costs associated with leasing and owning land, according to preliminary data from a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service study.

Hunting, fishing and wildlife-observation are important parts of both Ohio’s and the nation’s tourism and leisure-travel sectors, and spending related to the activities account for about $1 out of every $100 of the U.S. gross domestic product.

“We have a lot of sites around Ohio that are fantastic wildlife-watching areas, and Ohio is known nationally as a trophy deer hunting state,” said Susie Vance, spokeswoman with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division. “We have these great resources here in Ohio, and they have such a huge impact on the local economy,”

About 4.1 million Ohioans 16 and older went hunting, fishing or wildlife-watching last year, up slightly from 4 million in 2006, according to the new federal study, which is released every five years. In Ohio, participation in these activities has grown from 3.4 million people in 2001 and 3.3 million in 1996.

In the last decade, spending on wildlife-related recreation in the state rose by 20 percent, and it has increased 25 percent since 1996, the study said.

About 35 percent of Ohioans 16 or older, or about 3.2 million people, enjoyed wildlife-viewing in 2011, dwarfing the 1.6 million residents of this age group who hunted and fished (18 percent). Wildlife watching includes closely observing, photographing and feeding wild animals.

But the popularity of wildlife viewing has dipped, while hunting and fishing have enjoyed gains. The number of hunters and anglers in the state increased 8 percent between 2006 and 2011, while the number of wildlife watchers fell by 7 percent.

“Ohio has been well known in the hunting community as one of thee places to go for the big bucks during deer season,” said Tamara Brown, spokeswoman with the Ohio Office of Tourism. “And we’ve got great fishing all across the state.”

The economic impact of hunting and fishing far exceeds that of wildlife viewing. Spending on hunting in fishing in the state reached $2.8 billion in 2011, up from $2 billion five years earlier. Expenditures on wildlife watching was $745 million last year, down from $1.2 billion in 2006. Officials spending by hunters, anglers and wildlife-watchers supports many jobs in the state and generates important tax revenue.

Vance said the Wildlife Division partners with and provides grants to conservation groups to host youth events, fishing derbies, education classes and other programs that are designed to introduce newcomers to the joys of nature and wildlife-related activities. She said Ohio has a strong tradition of outdoor recreation, and she is glad more residents are taking advantage of the state’s natural attractions.

“It’s really good to see local businesses benefit from birders, wildlife-watchers, hunters and anglers,” she said. “There is a definite benefit to Ohio, economically.”