Vermont’s 91,000 hunters and anglers are among the most prominent and influential of all demographic groups, spending more than $258 million a year on hunting and fishing...
In Vermont, spending by hunters and anglers directly supports 3,500 jobs, which puts $108 million worth of paychecks into pockets of working residents around the state. Of course, government coffers also benefit — spending by sportsmen in pursuit of these outdoor activities generates $20 million in state and local taxes. These latest figures demonstrate that season after season hunters and anglers are driving the economy from big businesses to rural towns, through booms and recessions.
“Because sportsmen enjoy hunting or fishing alone or in small groups, they are overlooked as a constituency and as a substantial economic force,”
Sportsmen support more jobs in Vermont than Mt. Snow and Okemo Ski Resorts combined (3,500 jobs vs. 3,000).
Annual spending by Vermont sportsmen is more than two and a half times the revenues of iTech US, Dealer.com, Anichini and Hubbardton Forge, the fastest growing companies in Vermont. ($258 million vs. $90.6 million).
Annual spending by Vermont sportsmen is more than twice the combined cash receipts for cattle, greenhouse/nursery, hay and maple products - four of the state’s top five agricultural commodities ($258 million vs. $105 million).
Vermont sportsmen outnumber the populations of Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, Barre and Montpelier (91,000 vs. 90,000).
The economic stimulus of hunting and fishing equates to an astounding $706,000 a day being pumped into the state’s economy.
Thanks for the link. I knew that Vermont’s warm weather tourism was rising, with fishing and camping, and we get a lot of hunters in our area, but I wasn’t sure about the effect on the economy.
I think Vermont is largely a tourist, farming, and logging state, since the government has managed to drive out most industries.