Hunters Spend $189 Million in Vermont
OutdoorHub 10.19.11
Barre, Vt – The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reports that hunters spend more than $189 million in Vermont annually according to a survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Census Bureau.
“More than $20 million of that is trip-related, such as food, lodging, transportation, and related costs,” says Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry. “Another $151 million is spent on equipment, and more than $17 million is spent on other items.”
“Hunting is economically important not just because of its total economic impact,” said Berry, “but also because most of the expenditures occur after foliage season and before skiing, and because much of the money is spent throughout state, including in our most rural areas.”
In 2010, 79,603 people purchased Vermont hunting licenses, including 68,723 residents and 10,880 nonresidents. Deer are the most important species sought by hunters in Vermont, with 92 percent of license buyers going deer hunting according to the Fish and Wildlife Department.
Fees for hunting licenses and federal taxes on hunting equipment provide most of the funding for wildlife management and conservation in Vermont.
Vermont ranks third in the nation in participation in wildlife-related recreation, including hunting, fishing and wildlife watching, with 62 percent of our residents enjoying these resources. Residents and nonresidents spend $376 million annually in Vermont in pursuit of these activities.
