Economic Impacts of Waterfowl Hunting
Jordan Rash for SPLIT REED
The road is bumpy, built over the wave lines in the sandy bottom of a lakebed that dried up 10,000 years ago. Tumbleweeds are caught in the barbed wire fence paralleling the two-lane highway. The mountains ring the valley; a pass between them is visible in the distance. From the pass, a vast wetland complex is visible in the distance. Several days of waterfowl and upland bird hunting await in the valley below.
I pull into the gas station in town to fill up on gas and buy a six-pack for duck camp; I also drop off a couple of boxes of twelve gauge, size BB steel shot to my friend and store owner, John. The snow geese are expected any day; he’ll need the stock to meet the needs of any hunter who doesn’t want to travel 100 miles back to the closest sporting goods store should they run out or forget their box at home.
I open a tab with the ammo applied toward the balance sheet. Several days’ worth of gas, beer, and other necessities will go well beyond the cost of the ammunition. I always buy more from him than I probably need. He has a family to support, and I know the influx of cash I contribute to the local economy will pass between multiple businesses and households over the next several weeks. I’ll patronize the saloon as well, again probably more than I need.
Many waterfowl hunters know a store and a place just like this, with a John behind the counter and a family counting on the income generated by waterfowlers traveling from around the state and region to their community for hunting season. But, just how much of an impact do waterfowlers have on the economy?
Impact of Outdoor Recreation on the Economy
Waterfowler-specific data is hard to come by, but we know that every time waterfowlers purchase gear, food and gas, trucks and boats, and other items related to our pursuits, we are generating economic activity that keeps factories and stores open, funds schools and conservation programs, and provides jobs across the US.
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a federal agency that tracks macroeconomic trends in the US, outdoor recreation – including everything from hikers to hunters – contributes $862 billion annually to the US economy. The Outdoor Industry Association – a membership group comprised of some of the largest outdoor retailers and outdoor brands in the US (e.g., Carhartt, Black Diamond Equipment, Pelican, Gerber, and others familiar to waterfowlers) – utilizes this information to engage with members of Congress as well as state legislatures when advocating for projects and programs that benefit waterfowlers and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
What makes waterfowlers unique isn’t the amount of money we contribute to the economy; it’s where we contribute it. While we may buy or order gear in or from a city, often our time afield is in rural areas. And thus the dollars we bring to those areas represent a much larger fraction of the local economy than our impact on the national economy.
According to Rich Harper, Director of Government Affairs for OIA, “Hunters are critical to rural economic development, particularly in areas that are seeking to diversify economic opportunities beyond resource extraction. Hunters help to keep schools and shops open, roads paved, and fund access programs that create attractive outdoor spaces to bring tourism dollars to rural areas.”
A Hunting Economy
Anyone who has flipped through a Mack’s Prairie Wings catalog, Ducks Unlimited magazine, or visited Splitreed’s social media has seen the amazing waterfowl hunting opportunities afforded by Arkansas. Abound with waterfowl hunting opportunities from the storied green tree reservoirs to farmlands managed in concert with duck clubs, Arkansas is one of the top destinations for many a waterfowler.
Every year, tens of thousands of hunters – local and from out of state – purchase licenses, stamps, gear, gas, and food in their pursuits. And according to the Arkansas Fish and Game Commission, hunters contribute $1.1 billion to the state’s economy, much of which benefits small, rural communities.
Katherine Andrews is the Director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation at the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. She knows how important waterfowlers are to the local economy; she’s an outdoorswoman herself! She works across state agencies and in communities throughout Arkansas to increase opportunities for outdoor recreation, develop outdoor recreation economies, and promote the State’s bounty of opportunities.
“You can fish world-class rivers for massive brown trout as well as haul in trophy catfish in the bayous. Here you can hunt elk to alligators, doves to ducks. It's truly an outdoorsman's paradise,” says Andrews.
Outdoor recreation is a significant contributor to Arkansas’ economy. In 2022, nearly 40,000 jobs were attributed to outdoor recreation in one form or another, representing 3.1% of the State’s working population. But Andrews is not ready to hang up her waders and call it a job well done just yet. “Outdoor recreation is a way to diversify the local economy; it's about capitalizing on the assets of an area to retain our workforce and quality of life, as well as promote health and equity benefits for our residents and visitors alike,” she says.
That is why the State is continuously working to expand hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities, particularly opportunities for waterfowl hunting. The State is spending millions of dollars – generated in large part thanks to the licenses and tags purchased by waterfowl hunters – to renovate the green tree reservoirs, create “moist soil units” that provide seasonal habitat for waterfowl, and other infrastructure to support outdoorsmen.
Investments such as these create an environment that attracts visitors, creates opportunities for entrepreneurs, and supports secondary economic activities as well as local government programs and services. And Arkansas is not the only state to recognize the economic impact of waterfowlers.
For Josh Teff of FowlCo Outfitters, one of the premier waterfowl outfitters in the United States, Oklahoma provides the perfect combination of business and natural environments. FowlCo owns or leases nearly 400,000 acres across Oklahoma, providing hunters with opportunities for dabbling ducks as well as Canada, Snow & Ross, and White-fronted geese.
Josh is rightfully proud of his operation, which employs 16-20 people full-time from September through early spring. In the offseason, some of his crew stays on to maintain the lodge and their properties, while others take on other seasonal jobs such as horse training and habitat restoration; one is even a storm-chaser!
“We provide a high-quality experience to our guests with five-star food, exceptional hunting, and top-notch service,” says Teff. “Our guests come from around the US. Our target market is the waterfowler looking for the best hunting experience possible, and we provide that.”
That is why he is concerned about recent efforts by some states to limit out-of-state waterfowl hunters. While he understands the desire to protect sensitive resources, he doesn’t think anyone should be “hamstrung” simply because of the state they live in, nor should companies like his be limited in their market. He thinks there are ways to reduce the crowding while maintaining the experiences for hunters on public lands.
“I like the way some states like Missouri do it where you have designated spots and you draw for them in the morning. Unfortunately, some will not get drawn to hunt that day, but those that do get drawn will have a quality experience,” says Teff. But the alternative of closing or limiting out-of-state hunters will mean less economic activity as well as less tax revenue for rural communities like Teff’s that rely on the outdoors economy to maintain roads as well as their schoolhouse that serves elementary up through high school.
Planning for the upcoming season
Many waterfowlers frequent a community like Teff’s and care about it and its people. Our hunting recreation has an outsized impact on such communities, helping keep family-owned shops open, funding schools and road maintenance, and supporting habitat stewardship programs.
So, while it may be summer, the crisp, cool mornings of fall are just around the corner. What better time to start making plans for your upcoming waterfowl season?
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