When I lived in South Texas, I used to hunt a bit with a sometimes-taxidermist who wrote the book on free rides. He could never take his own vehicle but never contributed to fill the tank with gas. Never remembered to bring lunch, but was quick to “share” what the rest of us had brought. Never remembered a cooler, but always had the first and last drink. He loved the trips, but never could see to pay his way. Come to think of it, I’m not sure why we kept taking him along!

Written by, and posted with the permission of Lee Leschper

But he shares a similarity to many of the people in Texas today who enjoy our outdoor resources, yet contribute almost nothing to their protection and perpetuation.
Whether they are birders visiting near-tropical South Texas, or hikers enjoying a trail through the Hill Country, the majority of these “non-consumptive” users appreciate the same things us hunters and fishers do—our wildlife, our wide range of habitat, scenery and rich heritage.
They love it, as they should, but they don’t give back to support it.

This is important first because outdoor recreation is a powerful engine within the economy, and second because most of the money spent in this country on conservation was generated by federal and state taxes on hunting and fishing products.

Here are some eye-opening statistics.
More than 38 millions Americans hunt and fish. They support 1.6 million jobs-more than Wal-Mart, the largest employer in America. Annually American hunters and fishermen spend more than $70 billion-that’s with a capital B-on their recreation. That would rank 11th among America’s Fortune 500 companies, ahead of AT&T.

Add the “multiplier” effect of each dollar circulating several times and you have a $179 billion economic ripple effect.
That’s a lot more than minnow money.
These facts are according to a report was produced by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and the National Shooting Sports Foundation compare the spending by hunters and anglers to other sectors of the economy.

Some more big numbers:
The country’s 34 million anglers generate the lion’s share of this. There are five million more anglers than there are golfers in America. Each year they fish a total of 557 million days-averaging 18 days of fishing each.
Since most of us both hunt and fish, there are duplications. But nationwide, more than 13 million people hunt. That’s the population of Houston, New York City and Los Angeles combined. They spent 228 million days hunting last year.
They spend their money too. Bird hunters spend $605 million each year on their canine hunting companions-almost $100 million more than America skiers spend on their ski equipment.
Shooters spend $677 million on shotguns, $907 million on rifles, and $277 million on handguns.
In many states, hunting and fishing carry more bang than “mainstream” industries.

In Florida, the country’s number one fishing state, sportsmen generate three times as much money as oranges.
In Idaho, hunting and fishing generate as much money as potatoes.

Texas, by the way, is head and shoulders above all other states in retail sales generated by hunters. In Texas, 1.2 million hunters generate $1.76 billion a year in retail sales. They also support 31.711 jobs paying $864 million a year in wages and salaries. Those purchases also generate $93 million on state taxes and $148 million in federal income taxes.

The Lone Star State comes in a near third, behind Florida and California, in number of anglers, with 2.37 million. Florida has 3.1 million and California 2.4 million. Those Texas fishermen generate more than $2.18 billion a year in retail sales, another 41,313 jobs, $1.1 billion in wages; $124 million in state sales taxes and $186 million in income tax.

Nationwide, about $70 million a year is collected from taxes on the purchase of outdoor items for boating and fishing. Another $36 million from the sales of shooting and hunting items goes for hunting safety and wildlife management.

In the past 60 years, taxes collected from outdoor purchases have amounted to more than $7.6 billion for conservation project in each state.

What has that got to do with my free-loading former friend?

Just this:
You and I and the rest of us “consumptive users” of the outdoors are also paying for the conservation that every one else enjoys for free-the birders, the photographers, the windshield nature lovers, the joggers and the campers.

And that’s just fine. So long as they remember who’s paying for the ride.

For more on contributions that outdoor folk make to conservation, look online at www.sportsmenslink.org.

Leschper’s outdoor column appears weekly in newspapers throughout Texas. Email him at lee.leschper@yahoo.com.