For sure, COVID-19 got more people to go outside. In 2020, 53% of Americans ages 6 and over participated in outdoor recreation at least once, the highest participation rate on record, according to the Outdoor Foundation.

More people were interested in fishing, hunting, biking and camping. Businesses selling RVs, ATVs and bicycles had trouble keeping up with the demand.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, reported that in outdoor recreation generates $688 billion in gross output during a year of shutdowns and closures.

Industry segments like boating and fishing, biking, camping and RVing, hunting and shooting sports experienced record sales and unprecedented growth.

Remarkably, 7.1 million more Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2020 than in the year prior. Camping reservations were up by one-third across the country, including 34% in Oklahoma, according to recreation.gov.

'Still a thrill':Meet the Oklahoma angler who has caught 200 double-digit bass in the state

The trend continued in 2021. Sales data comparing August 2020 to August 2021 show that the sales of tents, backpacks, coolers and camping equipment, trail running shoes, and other outdoor gear were up more than 20%, according to the Outdoor Industry Association.

According to the RV Industry Association, nearly 20% more RVs were built in 2021 than in any prior year, and the streak is expected to continue into 2022.

Sales of Oklahoma fishing licenses jumped by 49% in 2020 over the previous year. Hunting license sales were up by 15%.

The sales generated more than $12 million for the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Department, a 34% increase over the previous year.

"That's pretty incredible," said Micah Holmes, assistant chief of education and information for the Wildlife Department, who noted that the agency's goal for increased license sales is 3% to 5% annually.

Hunting and fishing license sales declined in 2021 over the previous year but were still above 2019 levels, he said.

Many people who bought licenses in 2020 were hunting and fishing for the first time in their lives as they were seeking recreation that was safe from COVID-19, he said. 

'True to its roots':The last American duck decoy factory has new life in Henryetta

Federal excise tax dollars the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service distributes to Oklahoma and all states under the Pittman-Robertson Act from the sale of merchandise for hunting, the shooting sports, and archery have increased, Holmes said.

"A lot of that has to do with guns and ammo," he said. "That's the biggest driver."

The same is true on the fishing side for taxes collected from manufacturers under the Dingell-Johnson Act, he said.   

As life returns to normal, how many newcomers to hunting, fishing and the outdoors in 2020 will continue to participate in the activity. The early indications are that at least some of them will.

"We, like a lot of other states, made a push to retain those anglers who came on board in 2020," Holmes said. "That seems to have been at least somewhat effective, keeping those folks buying licenses."

But barring something unforeseen, Holmes doesn't expect to see any big drops or huge spikes in the number of Oklahoma hunters and anglers in the future.   

Reporter Ed Godfrey looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports — you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at egodfrey@oklahoman.com or on Twitter @EdGodfrey. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.