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University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute
Study Finds Waterfowl Hunters’ Spending Benefits Rural Areas
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[August 16, 2016]
CHAMPAIGN - Guns, gear, gas for the truck, drinks for the
cooler, and the faithful dog: such recreational expenses for a day
of duck or goose hunting in Illinois add up to a big boost to the
local economy, according to Craig Miller, human dimensions scientist
at the University of Illinois’ Prairie Research Institute.
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Before the start of the 2012-2013 hunting season, Miller and his
team surveyed 5,000 waterfowl stamp buyers in Illinois to track
typical expenditures of hunters for a big-picture view of the
economic impact of a single hunting trip. The survey divided the
direct expenses into three categories: transportation, food and
beverages, and other shopping, services and entertainment.
Expenditures provide by hunters were analyzed using IMPLAN, an
economics assessment modelling program used by the U.S. Forest
Service and others to determine economic outputs.
Results from 1,882 hunters (42 percent) revealed that trip
expenditures totaled $37.5 million, and durable goods
expenditures, including clothing, decoys, guns, dogs, boats, and
other costs, totaled $105 million. The total direct costs were
$143 million.
“Adding the total direct and indirect costs equaled $261
million,” Miller said. “This impact is huge, and it’s the rural,
local economies that benefit from this recreation market. Every
dollar that waterfowl hunters spend generates $1.86 for the
local economy. ”
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A further breakdown of the survey showed that for each bird
harvested in Illinois, $453 is generated for the economy. The sport
also generates 2,556 jobs and contributed $20.5 million in state and
local taxes.
Consequently, any policy or regulation changes such as a change in
the length of the hunting season could have a significant impact on
these rural economies.
“It is important to keep in mind that this is one recreation
activity for one season. When we consider economic contributions
across other hunting activities for multiple years we begin to see
the positive economic force that hunting has to our local, rural
economies,” Miller reported.
[Lisa A. Sheppard]
About the Prairie Research Institute:
The Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois
at Urbana-Champaign comprises the Illinois Natural History Survey,
Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological
Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable
Technology Center. PRI provides objective natural and cultural
resource expertise, data, research, service, and solutions for
decision making, the stewardship of Illinois’ resources, and the
public good. www.prairie.
illinois.edu |