Even During Recession, Hunting Remains Bulletproof Industry
Despite the current economic recession, consumer expenditures on hunting gear is on the rise while the number of hunters has decreased slightly. The increase in gear sales reflects continued hunting activity, in some part due to consumer efforts to cut down on grocery costs and save money.
In 2009, sales of hunting-related supplies and gear totaled $27.8 billion compared to $19.1 billion in 2008, according to the 2010 Firearms and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report. If accurate, the figures represent an increase of more than 45% over a single year.
Statistics from the National Sporting Goods Association show that more than 18.8 million people hunted with firearms in 2009, versus 19.8 million in 2008. However, despite this decline in the overall number of hunters, license sales were still on the rise in states where hunting is a large contributor to the economy.
Other license sales data provided by state:
- In April of 2009, the cost of a basic hunting license increased from $19 to $29 in New York, though license sales increased by more than 10% to 1.13 million from 2007 to 2009.
- In South Dakota, 393,000 licenses were sold in 2009, an increase of 4,000 from 2008.
- Pennsylvania license sales grew to 948,381 in 2009 from 924,448 in 2007.
- License sales in Texas increased by 10% from 2008 to 2009, and officials predict another rise in 2010 sales.