Hunting Economic Impact - Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

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“Does hunting drive the economy?You bet, especially in ruralcommunities! A lot of us paygood money traveling and huntingon farms and ranches across theUnited States. And rural communitiessure are glad to see us.”Bill Miller, Executive Director,North American Hunting ClubMark LaBarbera, Outdoor Heritage Education CenterSales and the Ripple EffectThe shooting sports are so much morethan simply pulling a trigger or releasing abowstring. They represent financial opportunityfor every American community,especially rural economies. Each purchasemade by hunters sets off a chain reactionof economic benefits.When Marlin Firearms in New Haven,Connecticut, Leupold & Stevens inBeaverton, Oregon and Weatherby, Inc.in Atascadero, California pay theiremployees to produce hunting products,their employees use that money to buyfood, clothes, housing and other goodsand services. The stores, farmers, gasstations and others that make and sellthose goods and services, in turn, spendtheir earnings, and a positive ripple flowsthrough the economy.They all pay sales taxes and incometaxes. In addition, hunting productmanufacturers pay excise taxes to benefitconservation.North, South, East and West, hunting’spositive economic impact creates jobsand helps urban and rural communitiesthroughout the United States. Just askretailer Butch Hebert, owner of Boone’sCorner in beautiful southwest Louisiana,who said, “We beef up our inventory15%-20% each year to prepare forhunting season.”Top Ten States Ranked by Annual Hunting-Related Retail SalesAnd down the road, Trudy Young ofYoung’s Grocery, said she banks onextra sales of food, cooking supplies andeverything from batteries to toilet paperwhen hunting season begins in thisoutdoor paradise.“Hunter-vationists”“Most hunters don’t realize the enormouseffect they can have on state and nationaleconomies,” said John Baughman,Executive Vice President of theInternational Association of Fish andWildlife Agencies (IAFWA). “And mostelected officials don’t realize the conservationcontributions and economic power ofhunters and the hunting business. Thisreport should make it clear,” he said.Retail SalesTotal Multiplier Effect1 Texas $1,761,285,042 $3,636,484,7382 Pennsylvania $1,165,059,772 $2,275,366,6323 Wisconsin $960,104,751 $1,770,420,2304 New York $891,031,344 $1,529,508,7165 Alabama $799,303,993 $1,576,405,4556 Ohio $713,886,248 $1,539,487,8977 Michigan $671,670,664 $1,281,527,9148 Minnesota $664,200,412 $1,316,964,3129 Tennessee $623,025,977 $1,321,659,46710 Louisiana $581,066,601 $992,471,903Big Wheels Keep onTurning, Proud HuntersKeep on SpendingHunters travel near and far to spendtime in beautiful surroundings. Inperson or via phone calls, faxes andemails, they plan their outings withfriends and families, as they anticipatethe adventure, similar to planning thefamily vacation. When they drive torural destinations and spend the night,the cumulative effect is amazingly big.Even after September 11, 2001, whenthe travel industry was suffering,hunters were hitting the road andpatronizing rural motels, diners, gasstations and other businesses. Onlodging alone for the entire year 2001,hunters spent $276 million! Withoutthe steadfast economic input fromhunters, America’s economy—includingrural businesses that rely ontourism—would suffer.4
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation AllianceState natural resource agencies managefish and wildlife for the benefit of all citizens,regardless of whether they hunt orfish. Yet, sportsmen who buy licenses andpurchase equipment provide most of theirbudgets. Despite the significant contributionsby sportsmen and their supportingindustries, wildlife agencies constantlyhear the old, worn-out argument about“jobs versus the environment.” The fact is,employment, economy and environmentall start with “E.” Healthy naturalresources create jobs, enhance the economyand support both rural and urbancommunities that properly manage thoseresources.“Well, hunters and the hunting industrycan argue for both healthy habitat andjobs concurrently,” according to IAFWAPresident Brent Manning, who is also thelong-time head of the Illinois Departmentof Natural Resources. “It takes money toconserve and restore habitat and wildlife.Sportsmen are the single largest source ofconservation revenues. When people canaccess healthier habitats, they have morefun and spend more money. This cycle createsjobs and boosts revenues for greaterconservation efforts. Everyone wins.”The numbers in this report make it easyto understand the economic impact ofhunting in every state. While everyoneknows that hunting is good for families,our social well-being and environmentalstewardship, they often overlook itsimportant economic impact. Howeveryou look at it, hunting is a major boost tothe economy and the environment. Asthis report clearly shows, Americans havemore reasons than ever before to supporthunting—an activity that greatly benefitsthe country as a whole. The samewhistling of waterfowl wings and springgobbles that inspired George Washington,Thomas Jefferson and our other Americanforefathers, can stir the imaginations andeconomies of future generations. In theend, history and our heirs will judge ourleadership by the actions we take andthe decisions we make regarding ourresources—natural, social andeconomic—during our time on Earth.Tested and ReliableMost of the statistics in this reportare from the 2001 National Surveyof Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, initiated atthe request of state natural resourceagencies, and conducted every fiveyears for the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService by the U.S. Census Bureau.The numbers are based on U.S.citizens 16 years of age and older.Independent third parties, such asresource economics consulting firmSouthwick Associates, use provenresearch methods to develop economicinformation and analyze the data.Mark LaBarbera, Outdoor Heritage Education Center5
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