Hunting is big business in New York. That’s the message local and regional leaders representing New York’s sporting and business communities are hoping the public will understand with a new partnership called Hunting Works For New York.
“Hunting and shooting sports are huge drivers of our state economy, but I feel they haven’t gotten the credit they deserve,” said Brendan O’Bryan, the government relations manager for the Greater Binghamton Area Chamber of Commerce and a co-chair of Hunting Works For New York. “Hunters spend millions of dollars annually, and much of that money goes to New York’s local business owners and entrepreneurs. In fact hunters spend a great deal of money at stores like Bass Pro and Cabela’s but they also shop at locally-owned sporting goods stores, hardware stores, gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and cafes across our home state.”
Launched today with a press conference at Bass Pro Shops in Utica, Hunting Works For New York will educate the public on how hunting positively impacts New York’s economy, monitor public policy decisions and weigh in on hunting-related issues that impact New York jobs. The new partnership will serve as a vehicle to facilitate important public policy dialogue and to tell the story of how New York’s hunting heritage benefits conservation and jobs throughout the state.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation reports that 823,000 people hunt in New York each year. The new partnership wants to highlight the impact these hunters have in the state. For example, hunters in New York spend over $810 million on hunting trips and over $484 million on equipment. All in all, hunter spending totals $2.3 billion annually in the state of New York.
In addition to considerable economic contributions, hunter dollars also pay for conservation efforts. Many people do not realize that hunters pay an 11 percent excise tax, through the Pittman-Robertson Act, that is used to conserve and restore habitat whenever they purchase equipment.
“Hunters are huge in Upstate New York, and of course here in Oneida County, and not only because they support our businesses,” said Josiah Brown, owner of New York Welcomes You and New York’s Best Experiences and a co-chair of Hunting Works For New York. “The money hunters spend to hunt, on their licenses, stamps, and the taxes they pay on equipment is all earmarked for conservation. More than most anyone else, hunters are the people paying to keep the outdoors wild and free for everyone else to enjoy.”
Hunting Works For New York and its partners will be active in the state, attending events and educating the public and elected officials on why hunting and the shooting sports are so important to New York’s economy.
“Too many people just don’t know how integral hunting and the shooting sports are to state and local economies,” said Larry Steiner, owner of Steiner Packing company and a co-chair of Hunting Works For New York. “I was thrilled to join this partnership because I want to spread this information; I want people to know that hunters are responsible for thousands of jobs and thousands of acres of wildlife habitat.”
The newly formed Hunting Works For New York partnership has over 50 partner organizations and will be adding dozens more in the weeks and months to come. The effort is supported by sporting organizations such as the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
“We all benefit from a robust hunting heritage in New York,” said Brown. “Hunters may just be enjoying time with friends and family, but for everyone else they are supporting jobs, businesses and conservation. We should all be grateful for that.”
Hunting Works For New York is a local grassroots partnership of organizations focused on hunting and the economics derived from these activities.
Image courtesy of Hunting Works For New York
