Hunting, fishing and boating are endless sources of fun for those who participate. These outdoor sports are also a billion-dollar industry for the Peach State, according to Michael Spencer, Georgia Wildlife Resources Division’s license and boat registration unit.
“(Georgia) get(s) about $22 million a year from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses alone,” said Spencer, explaining the money generated from licenses was but a fraction of economic impact of the outdoor recreation industry. “When you consider the retail sale of hunting, fishing and boating equipment, ammunition, gas spent driving to and from hunting areas, lakes or rivers, then (lodging) costs and airline tickets — you’re talking about billions of dollars a year.
“And don’t forget about the jobs that support hunting, fishing and boating and the tax revenues generated from all these activities.”
According to fact sheets provided by Spencer, Georgia sold 997,651 resident and nonresident hunting licenses and more than 1.1 million resident and nonresident fishing licenses in 2011. These numbers illustrate the popularity of wildlife-related recreation in our state, he said.
Excluding hunting-related sales, retail sales for fresh and salt water fishing alone netted more than $1.1 million in 2006 with a total economic impact of nearly $2 billion for Georgia, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“(We must) realize that the economic impact from hunting and fishing goes well beyond the value of license sales,” Spencer reiterated. “Statistically, Georgia is the No. 1 destination for out-of-state deer hunters. We’re also in the top 10 for boating and fishing.”
Read more in the May 9 edition of the News.