HARRISBURG (TNS) — Hunters and target shoots in Pennsylvania spent more than $1.8 billion on their sports in 2020, according to a new report from the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation.
The report looked at the economic impact of hunting and target shooting at the national, state and legislative district levels.
The researchers found that the sportsmen contributed $149 billion to the national economy, supporting nearly 970,000 jobs with more than $45 billion in wages and income.
“The Sportsmen’s Alliance takes a three-prong strategy to protecting hunting, fishing and trapping nationwide,” said Evan Heusinkveld, president and CEO of Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Our advocacy is our most visible, but we also conduct research that guides our advocacy and supports our education efforts.
“This economic impact study makes it easy for sportsmen to educate friends, family and legislators on the importance of hunters and sport shooters to our national, state and local economies, as well as conservation funding at the state and federal level.”
For the first time the estimated economic impact of hunters and shooters has been quantified for each of the 435 U.S. congressional districts.
The report, prepared by the outdoor market research and economics firm Southwick Associates, found 780,000 hunters in Pennsylvania, spending $1.2 billion on hunting-related purchases in 2020 and supporting 13,600 jobs. Their spending generated $99 million in state and local taxes and #145 million in federal taxes.
Nationally there are 15 million hunters, spending $49.4 billion on their support, which supports 688,654 jobs and generates $5.4 billion in state and local taxes and $8.3 billion in federal taxes.
On the target shooting side of the ledger, the report placed the number of recreational shooters at 861,000 and their spending at $676 million. They support 10,600 jobs and pay $70 million in state and local taxes and $98 million in federal taxes.
Nationally there are 20 million recreational shooters, spending $15.7 billion, supporting 281,200 jobs, and paying $2.2 billion in state and local taxes and $3.2 billion in federal taxes.
“The economic impact of hunting and sport shooting to local, state and the federal economy cannot be overstated,” said Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates. “If hunting and shooting were a company, the jobs it supports would place it as the third largest private-sector employer, and $65 billion, the retail sales it generates, would place it at 52nd on the Fortune 500 list.”
The report, including individuals looks at each state and legislative district, is available at the Sportsmen’s Alliance website.
